The Sun.
London, England, 1867-10-03 00:00:00

THE LOSS OF THE HIOGO.

A detailed report of the loss of the Hiogo, on the
Eddystone, is published in the Western Morning
News of yesterday. The vessel was a new iron
screw steamship, built and owned by Mr. Lang of
Sunderland. She was handsomly modelled, built in
compartments, and fitted up. with all the modern
improvements and luxuries of a first—class passenger
steamship. Built to meet the requirements of the
increased trade opening up with Japan, she was en
route to the port in that empire, after which she was
named, Hiogo, one of the new ports that will, under
the recent treaty, be opened to English traders in
January.next. On her arrival out she would have
been for sale or to trade, according as business cir-
cumstances might determine. She had on board a
very valuable cargo, and had also been freighted for
the Diamond Steam Navigation Company to carry
passengers and goods to Madeira, Table Bay, Algoa
Bay, and Natal. At London, on completing her
loading, she embarked six passengers, the Rev. Mr.
Parkes, Mrs. Parkes, and two sons, for Madeira,
and "Me.ssrs. Marks and Murison for Kagosima. She
left the East India Docks at 1.30 p.m. on Saturday
for Fahnouth to embark four more passen gess, and ship
some small consignments and a mate there. On her
way down she made a short stay at Gravesend,
discharging her river pilot there, and subsequently
her Downs pilot at Deal. On Sunday and
Monday she experienced very rough weather, the
wind being from an adverse quarter, but on Mon-
day night and Tuesday morning the weather was
clear, and light winds prevailed. The middle watch
between twelve and four was kept•lay the star-
board watch. The captain remained on deck dur-
ing the early part of the watch, but ultimately,
the Start light having been passed, he went below
to obtain some sleep, leaving the deck in charge
of the second officer, a young man about twenty-
six years of age, with directions to run for the
Eddystone light, in order to get into a favour..
able current for proceeding to Falmouth, but
to pass the reef at the distance of at least a
mile, and to call him while the vessel was pass-
ing. As the steamer neared the Stone the second
mate went below to consult the captain as to the
course, when the captain, Waking out of his nap,
gave certain directions. The second mate returned
on deck, and at a few minutes after half-past two
on Tuesday morning the steamer ran at a speed
of about ten miles an hour full on to the Sugar
Loaf rock at the north-east end of the Eddystone
reef, running several fathoms up the rock. The rock
is about 150 yards from the lighthouse, the full
glare of the light from which was shining down on
the vessel's deck when the accident occurred. The
dangerous proximity of the vessel to the rock
does not appear to have been perceived until
the vessel was almost touching it, when the
second officer, who was on the bridge, shouted
" Port ! port ! hard a-port!" But it was too late,
for in an instant, with a thump which shivered
every glass and dish on board, and turned every
man out of his berth, the ship ran full tilt upon the
reef. The second officer at once ordered the engines
to be reversed, which order was promptly carried
out., but without any success, perhaps fortunately,
as had she at that moment slid off into deep water
the loss of nearly all on board would have been
inevitable. From the engine-room the men on duty
rushed on deck, except one of the firemen, who
bravely remained to let off the steam to preyent any
danger of an explosion. rho passengers and the
watch of the crew below, rudely awoke by the
shock and the change in the vessel's position, in-
stantly came on deck. Captain Bainton imme-
diately took prompt steps to provide for the safety
of those under his charge. Rockets were
thrown up and blue lights burnt, and pistols fired,
but signal guns could not be fired through the
ammunition being destroyed or mislaid. As the
tide rose the stern part of the vessel was lifted, and
she began to settle down forward, her fore com-
partment filling rapidly. The five boats of the
vessel were speedily got out, and the passengers
placed in one of them. At five o'clock two pilot
cutters bore down to the vessel to render assistance,
and in one of them (No. 7) the passengers were
placed. About the same time the vessel heeled
over on her starboard side, and sank in deep
water, leaving her port aft gunwale just show-
ing at high water. The pilot boat then
took the boats in tow, and brought them into Ply-
mouth Sound. On arriving in the Sound the captain
proceeded ashore in his gig, followed shortly after
by the crew and passengers in the other boats. On
the wreck being announced active measures were
taken by the vessel's agents, Messrs. Fox, Sons, and
Co., to recover the cargo. When the captain came
on shore the chief and second officers, carpenter, and
three seamen were left in charge of the wreck. The
cargo consists principally of bale goods, dungarees,
calicoes, and cottons, with cases of rifles and
swords. She had also on board two cases of treasure,
said to be of the value of £20,000. These, together
with the ship's chronometers and plate, were saved,
and brought on shore by the captain, the plate in
charge of the chief steward. The passengers and
crew saved very little of their personal effects, and