The Sun.
London, England, 1856-12-06 00:00:00

LOSS OF TH
PATERSB

E NEVA, HULL AND ST.
URGE STEAMER.

The foundering of the Neva screw steam-ship
while on her homeward voyage from Cronstadt to
Hull was briefly announced in this journal on
Tuesday last. The following are the details of the
loss, by which it will be seen that the crew and,
passengers had a most marvellous escape :—The
Neva was an iron-built vessel and was only launched
four or five months ago. She was put on the Hull
and Cronstadt station) and left the latter port on
the 13th ultimo, under the command of Captain
Mellon, to call at Gothenburg on her return
voyage. In addition to her crew, which numbered
26, she had 8 passengers on board, among whom
were Mr. Atkinson and two daughters, of Cron-
stadt ; and Mr. Colley and Mr. Conolly, off
Manchester. On reaching Gothenburg she
filled up her cargo, which consisted of a large
quantity of timber, iron, ac., and received on
board eight shipwrecked seamen. She resumes
her homeward run on the morning of Sunday, the
23d ult., and went on favourably until 6 o'clock in
the evening, when a gale sprang up. The Neva
was then off the north-west coast of Jutland, and
the wind was blowing on the land. During the
night the storm continued with increased violence,
and the ship laboured heavily. On the following
morning, about 6, to the alarm of all on board, it
was discovered that the steamer had sprung a leak,
which penetrated into the ladies' cabin. Captain
Mellon immediately adopted the usual measures
for stopping or lessening the leak, but the water
flowed in so fast that the pumps, which could not
be worked during the whole time, and the mean*
the crew bad at hand, could not reduce it. The
leak gradually increased, and at midnight the
water reached the fires and extinguished them. The
position of the ship now became somewhat critical.
The captain directed the deck cargo to be thrown
overboard, and the greatest exertions were used by
all on board in endeavouring to diminish the water
in her. Such of the pumps as could be worked
were kept in operation until 4. o'clock on Tues-
day morning, and, there appearing not the least
chance of resisting the increase of the water, and
the foundering of the ship seeming inevitable, the
boats were got out. At the commencement of the
voyage the Neva had five boats, but, one having
been carried away by the storm, only four were
available, and into these four went the crew and
passengers—between 40 and 50 persons. The gra-
dual sinking of the vessel had been visible for some
time, and when she was abandoned there were •
nearly eight feet of water in her hold. The boate
were buffeted about for two or three houri, when
two Dutch galliots appeared in sight. It is stated
that when first seen they were sailing in the direc-
tion of the boats, but on observing them they
changed their course to avoid them. However,
the Dutch vessels did not render them aid, but
bore away, and soon disappeared. Fortunately,
however, soon after another vessel, the Belford,
of Dundee, Captain Smith, from Dantzic far
London, came in view. She immediately
bore down towards the boats and received all
on board. But now another difficulty arose ; the
Belford was short of provisions, scarcely sufficient
for her own crew. Captain Mellon, with two or
three others, at once volunteered to return to the
fast sinking steamer, with a view of obtaining what
food they could get out of her, but before the boat
in which they were could reach her she went dovra
stern first in 22 fathoms of water, 120 miles
W.N.W. of Holm Reef, on the coast of Scotland.
The boat then returned to the Belford, and she
continued her voyage to the Thames. Much un-
avoidable suffering from scarcity of provisions If
i tl5
experienced. In two or three days they fell n
with a Prussian bark from Dantzic, which took on
board from the Belford 11 of the steamer's crew
and some of the passengers, who were landed at
Dover. Those who remained by the Belford Were
put ashore at Southend. The Neva is reported to
have been insured. Notice of the loss has beeni
sent to the Marine Department of the Board 01
Trade, and it is probable that an inquiry will 12°
instituted, the Nova being a passenger ship.