The Sun.
London, England, 1869-04-21 00:00:00

MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT AT SEA.

A correspondent of the Liverpool Couriv. gives particulars
of a fatal accident which happened during the last voyage of
the National screw steamer Queen, from Liverpool to New
York. It appears that on the morning of the 19th of
March, during a heavy sea, Captain Crogan, the com-
mander of the vessel, gave orders to stow the jib,
which the men at first refused to do, but afterwards,
on the order being repeated, five of the crew pre-
ceded to carry it out, but had not been on the
boom two minutes when they were all washed off. One of
the men, Nathaniel Thompson, succeeded in saving himself
by seizing the bowsprit shrouds. The other four men,
whose names are Augustus Otto, Samuel Wood, William
Williams, and John Williams, were drowned. The writer
adds that at the time of the occurrence the boats were all
"lashed in their chocks," and not prepared for an emergency,
and that at the time the order to stow the jib was given the
sea was so heavy that the jib was frequently out of sight
under water.

THE TVBECK OF THE STEAMSHIP HER_
MANN, AND THE LOSS OF 250 LIVES.

the arrival of the China mail we have particulars of
the wreck of the Pacific Mail Company's ship Hermann
(already reported by telegraph), which struck on a reef
about Seventy-five miles from Yokohama. She was on her
way to Sugar Straits, which divide Yezo from the main-
land. The imperial troops have begun to move northwards,
and the Hermann had on board 350 soldiers, together
with a crew of 80 men. Of the latter 58 remain alive ; of
the former it is impossible to say how many, Captain
thatle bnetuwtewounhtaodfptehreishwedre.
Newellf saying that he cannot estimate the loss of
r
ekeistpwtaoiuln dNewseeemll
from
ra2sohia anda account
states that three of the boats were washed away b
only one boat got safe to shore,
Lights being shewn from
the shore enabled the boat to steer into a small harbour.
About midnight
the shi
p parte the
breaking over both fore
andaft. I s hips,
several Japanese boats amid n
the morning sea
• with the boat that had reached
the shore in safety overnight
vivors from the wreck. ma cave off to take the sup.
sea during the night, and
Many bad been washed into the
to
were clinging to
the rigging refused or were uns
aolom
lee into the boats.
On shore the people were very backward
r in
giving
any
boats to bring
them on to Yokohama, but they would
not lend them.
The behaviour of the Japanese soldiers
Captain Newell, is worthy of the highesas described
t. by
There was "no stampede, no disorder," says the ca t 13n;
" from the first they were quiet and cool,
retPainailn%
wonderfully their presence of mind and calmly awaiting'
the commands of their leader." After consultation with
Captain Newell this officer ordered them to keep hi their
cabins, which they did until the water rose as the ship
settled down, and drove them again on deck. Then,
when permission was given to those who chose to take
the risk to try to swim on shore, they threw off their
clothes, girded round their naked bodies their swords—
the living souls of Samurai, and boldly made the attempt ;
in too many cases, unfortunately, unsuccessfully—for the
sea ran high, and though life belts, of which there was
most properly a great store on board, preserved them from
drowning, most were killed or horribly mutilated by being
dashed upon the rocks which fringe the coast. The sur-
vivors walked across country for two days, and arrived at
Otake, where they stayed at a tea house, and were treated
very kindly. Next morning they started and arrived at
the village of Hama-no-Moura,, where the people were full
of sympathy, and after giving them board and lodging for
the night, provided them with the boats in which they
arrived at the French hatchet.