The Sun.
London, England, 1860-11-02 00:00:00

THE FOUR MISSING STEAMERS.

DISCOVERY OF PORTIONS OF THE WRECKS.
No doubt is now entertained respecting the
melancholy fate of the four steamers which have
long been missing, namely, the Edinburgh, iron
screw steamer, 800 tons, belonging to Leith, out-
ward hound to Cronstadt ; the Moscow, also an iron
screw steamer, 600 tons, of London, bound to the
same port ; the Viscount Lambton, steamer, belong-
ing to Sunderland; and the Thor, from Copen-
hagen for Hull.
It will be remembered they started on their voyage
a day or two prior to the outbreak of the terrible
storm which swept the North Sea and Baltic on
the 3d, 4th, sth, and 6th, when so many vessels
were wrecked. With the exception of the Moscow,
nothing has been heard of them from the period of
their sailing, and from quantities of wreckage and
cotton that have been met with in the North Sea
it is inferred that the whole of the ships in question
must have foundered during the fearful hurricane,
and every soul belonging to them met with a
watery grave. .

jThe -Edinburgh was a superior class iron
ship, being rated in Lloyd's register A 1 for
12 years. Her crew consisted of Captain Steel
and twenty-seven officers and men. Like the
Arctic steamer, which was lost in the course of the
storm, she was burthened with a dangerous deck
load at this advanced period of the season, namely,
two steam-boilers and nearly 500 bales of cotton
piled in tiers fore and aft. She carried out some
passengers for St. Petersburg, among them was Dr.
M'Kenzie, his wife, and several children. It is be-
lieved that there are 24 widows and nearly 60 chil-
dren bereaved by the deplorable loss of this ship.
The wreckage seen, supposed to be part of the
steamer, consisted of cabin furniture, panels, &c.,
and a board with the letter " H" on it, painted blue
and gold. It was passed in lat. 55 N., long. 3.30
E., together with a large quantity of cotton bales.
The owners of the Edinburgh believe the wreckage
to have belonged to that vessel.

Respecting the Moscow, a quantity of wreck and
bales of goods, known to have formed part of her
cargo, have been washed ashore on the coast of
Jutland. Among the wreckage was some baggage
belonging to one of the cabin passengers, of whom
there were six on board. The bales of cotton are in
the possession of Captain Boulton, of Lloyds' Asso-
ciation, who was sent out to Jutland to protect the
underwriters' interest in the wreck of the Arctic
steamer. At first the cotton was supposed to have
belonged to that vessel, but when closely inspected
it was discovered they bore the brands of the Mos-
cow. It is somewhat remarkable that the Moscow
and Arctic, which were both from one port
(Grimsby), sailed at the same time for St. Peters-
burg. She kept company with the Arctic on the
passage across the North Sea, until within a few
hours of the wreck of the Arctic. when the master
of the latter lost sight of her, and that was the last
time she was seen. She, like the Edinburgh, bad
an immense deck cargo, chiefly cotton bales, piled
the whole length of the deck, and which has mainly
accounted for her loss. That she was one of the
two steamers seen to founder near the Skaw, on the
Danish coast, there appears to be very little doubt.
Her crew numbered about 25 hands, most of whom
were married men, and have left families unpro-
tected. Other wreckage has been washed ashore
on the coast of Jutland, evidently from the other
missing steamers, the Thor, and the Viscount
Lambton.
The Board of Trade having ordered an inquiry
into the loss of the Arctic steamer, the whole ques-
tion of steamers being allowed to carry heavy deck
cargo when bad weather must be experienced, is to
be fully gone into, and which it is expected will
terminate in some recommendation to the Govern-
ment to pass an enactment prohibiting deck loads
at the period abovementioned, as both dangerous to
life and property. It is on record that a great
many vessels have been lost with their crews in
consequence of carrying heavy deck loads. It is
computed that the loss of these five steamers and
cargoes will exceed £lBO,OOO.