The Sun.
London, England, 1866-09-17 00:00:00

AMERICA.

ARRIVAL OF THE HIBERNIA,
(Via Greencastle.)
NEW YORK, Sept. 8 (Morning).
President Johnson received an enthusiastic re-
ception in Chicago. No offensive demonstration
occurred. He afterwards left for St. Louis.
The Philadelphia Radical Convention has issued
an address denouncing President Johnson, and de-
claring that his policy wrought the most deplorable
consequences, morally, socially, and politically
throughout the South, and expressing a hope for
the success of the Radical cause at the ballot box.
Resolutions were adopted in favour of the re-
storation of all States to the Union under the con-
ditions proposed by Congress. Several members
of the Convention repudiated negro suffrage ; the
Convention, however, adjourned, after adopting a
report in favour of negro suffrage.
The New York Republican State Convention has
nominated Governor Fenton for the Governorship.
The President in his journey through Illinois
was several times insulted by the Radical crowds
assembled at the railway stations.
It is asserted in official circles at New Orleans
that the Emperor Maximilian had arranged for an
early departure from Mexico some weeks ago, but
the French refused to permit him to leave them, he
would, however, shortly depart for Europe.;
It is reported that the delegates of the Fenian
Congress now being held at Troy had defermined
to reinvade Canada.
The public debt of the United States on the Ist
inst. was 3,730 millions, and the coin in the Treasury
was 132 million dollars.

MEXICO.

NEW YORK, Sept. B.(Morning):

Advices from Dlatamoras to the 2d inst. state that
Juarez has refused to recognise Cavajal Canoles,
and has appointed General Tasselu Governor of
Tamaulapas. General Cortinas also claims the
governorship.
It is rumoured that the French have re-captured
Tampico.

Shipwrecks on the New South Wales Coast.

(From the Melbourne Age.)

For many years past so violent a hurricane has
not been experienced as that which lately raged for
several days on the New South Wales coast. The
number of shipwrecks and the loss of life have, so
far as information has reached us, been very great ;
hut the real extent of the disasters resulting from
the storm has not yet been ascertained. The gale
commenced about Wednesday, July 11. It was pre-
ceded by heavy rain, which flooded the low-lying
lands in the New South Wales colony, and played
havoc with the property of the settlers. The rain
was followed by a gale from the S.E., which gra-
dually increased to a hurricane, lashing the sea into
fury, and driving the shipping in harbour on
shore. The fears apprehended at the destruction
of shipping on the coast were unfortunately realised.
The Cawarra steamer, bound from Sydney to
Queensland, whilst running into the port of New-
castle for shelter, foundered in sight of the shore,
and of hundreds of people, who were powerless to
render assistance. She was heavily laden, and
there were five cabin and sixteen steerage
passengers on board, but only one of them
was saved. This was the prelude to other disas-
ters experienced in the effort to reach the har-
bour. The ship Lady Bowen, for London, was com-
pelled to put back, and on entering Sydney har-
bour, went on the rocks at Bradley's Head, but has
since been got, off with some damage. The Tiger,
schooner, was wrecked at Wollongong, in running
in for shelter, and all hands were lost. The barque
William Watson, in making for Newcastle, got
ashore, and became a total wreck, and only two of
the crew were saved. The schooner Rhoderick Dhu,
cedar laden, from Richmond for Sydney, was
wrecked at Moruya Point. The Bungaree, tug-
boat, in attempting to tow the Midas, barque, into
Newcastle, was driven ashore and became a total
wreck ; and it was not without some difficulty and
risk that the Midas was saved from destruction.
The rain that fell during the first day of the hurri-
cane is described by eye-witnesses as a wall of
water, which rendered it almost impossible to see
objects a few yards distant. At Sydney the sea is
represented to have broken right over the Heads
into Watson's Bay, a thing almost incredible, the
Sydney Heads being 500 feet in perpendicular
height ; and according to calculations made by com-
petent persons, the wind was estimated to have had
a velocity of 61 miles per hour, and exercised a force
or pressure equal to 191 b. per square foot. The loss
of the steamer Cawarra created a profound sensa-
tion, and the following particulars were obtained
from the sole survivor, named F. V. Hedges, who
was born in Bristol, England, and came to the colo-
nies in 1857, in the Granite City, and is now 31 years
of age. He states the Cawarra cleared Sydney Heads
about six o'clock on Wednesday evening, strong
south-east breeze blowing ; as they proceeded the
wind freshened, blowing heavy squalls; sea increas-
ing; heard the captain intended putting into Port
Stephen or Newcastle. The weather was very thick
at the time, and it was eleven o'clock before they
made out land. At two, they made out Nobby's ;
the captain at once made for the port, and rounded
Nobby's shortly after two o'clock ; in doing so the
heavy sea running struck the steamer several times
with tremendous force, and the rush of water on
deck, some of which went below, was frightful; the
vessel almost became unmanageable ; she was driven
over and passed the Eleanor Lancaster's mast. The
captain ordered the foresail to be set as the vessel
had turned round with her head towards Nobby's.
Hedges thinks it was the captain's intention to make
the harbour, but the sea came on board in such
volumes that the captain ordered the sail to be taken
in, and the steamer to go ahead full speed, evidently
with the intention of going out to sea ; three or
four tremendous seas struck the steamer, and she
gradually went down by the head, and the fires
almost immediately went out. Captain Chatfield
ordered the boats to be cleared away. Some China-
men had previously taken possession of one boat,
but the captain ordered them out to make room
for the females on board, two or three of whom
got into the boat with five or six men, among
whom was lledges. A sea swept all out, but
Hedges managed to lay hold of the davits, and
succeeded in getting on board again, and by this
time another boat, the cutter, was manned by seven
or eight men, and put off from the steamer, but she
almost immediately capsized, and only one of the
crew regained the ship. Hedges got into the main
rigging with three or four others, but had not been
there long when the funnel went over the side,
carrying him and the others with it ; he struck out
for some minutes, and succeeded in laying hold of a
plank, which drifed towards the harbour, near the
red buoy. As he was drifting along, he says he saw
two or three men in the water floating on pieces of
wreck, and who, he thought, would be picked up by
boats. He believes they all perished in the surf close
to the Oyster Bank. Hedges says he heard no
screaming. There was some slight confusion on
board, but all appeared calm and collected, and
perfectly resigned ; he says he has often seen more
confusion and fright in much less real danger. The
Chinamen willingly got out of the boat when ordered.
When the boat of the steamer was going down the
passengers and crew went aft for safety. When the
mainmast went he (Hedges) was in the water. He
saw her foremast standing, and the next chance he
had of seeing around him all was gone. Just before
Hedges was swept off the wreck the second engi-
neer, who was by him clinging to the main rigging,
said, " I think it is a case with most of us, Fred."
About this time a report was spread through the
vessel that the lifeboat was coming ; the captain
said, " Coolly, lads, the lifeboat is coining." Up to
the time that Hedges was washed off the steamer,
the captain appeared perfectly self-possessed
and cool ; in fact, all stood at their posts to the
last. Hedges saw the chief engineer, who he
made sure would be saved, as he was near the har-
bour. Hedges did not see the lifeboat, and was not
aware that she was out at all, but he saw another
come out to their assistance. He saw the schooner
Von° coming in ; he did not, however, see the boat
that picked him up until close to him. lie saw the
red buoy two or three times before he was picked
up. Mr. Hannell's boat came alongside him when
he was in the water, and he was assisted in, and re-
moved immediately to Mr. Hannell's residence, at
the lighthouse. The following is a list of the crew
and passengers : —Henry Chatfield, commander;
Joseph P. M'Dowell, chief officer ; Thos. Burrows,
second officer; IVilliatn Ray, carpenter ; William
Freeman, boatswain ; Joseph Jenkins, Thos. Butler,
Francis Hubert, Augustus Coste, quartermasters ;
Wm. Bland, Gabriel Hanson, Frederick V. Hedges
(saved), William R. Philips, John Callen, Edward
Carey, seamen ; William Manton, lamp trimmer ;
John Fountain,. chief engineer ; John Auchincloss,
second engineer; Robert Barrett, Alexander Living-
stone, Peter Coley, Daniel Rodgers, James Taylor,
James Leonard, firemen ; David Auchinson, coal
trimmer ; Robt. M‘Murray, donkey driver; Edward
Jones, David Thoburn, trimmers ; William
Henry Morgan, second steward ; Stephen God-
dard, Pantry_inan John Darvell, fore cabin
steward ; J.
'Donald,
Abrahams, officers' servant ;
John 11.‘Dermid
chief cook ; James Fox, second
cook ; slush
Donald third cook ; Catherine
Crozier, stewardess. Alo'st of the above have left
widows, and some ofthem large families, to mourn
their sudden and irreparable bereavement. Other
losses and disasters have
become known, which are
thus epitomised :—A ketch,
supposed to be the
Caroline, and the schooner Seagull, went down in
Newcastle harbour. The Lismore also went
steamerashore
there, but all hands were saved.
Coonambra, which left Newcastle for Sydney,
luckily reached port in safety. The ship Esk,
from
New Zealand, in entering the Sydney harbour, near
the North Head, grounded and became a wreck.
The crew were saved. She was insured for £2,000.
The schooner Cheetah, insured for £l,OOO, was also
wrecked. The Carnation, from Port Macquarie,
was wrecked at Seal Hoek Bay on the 12th. Crew
and passengers saved. The steamer West Hartley
was wrecked at Lake Macquarie, and the crewsaved.
The brig Freak was wrecked at Tuggerah Beach,
between Broken Bay and Newcastle ; she was in-
sured for £BOO. The steamer Corio is supposed
to have foundered at sea, as portions of her fittings
ave come ashore. The schooner Mary and Bose,

from Warrnambool, was wrecked off Port
Stephen, and five of the crew drowned. The
schooner Sarah Barn was wrecked at Trial Bay. The
Slippery Charley was wrecked at Pumbucra, and 11
passengers and six of the crew drowned. The Ceres
went ashore at Grafton. The Woodpecker is re-
ported to be lost, and the captain and some of the
crew drowned, and this intelligence has since been
confirmed by some of the crew who were saved.
The Eclipse, cattle laden, from Gladstone, was
wrecked north of the Manning River bar, and all
hands are said to have perished. Her commander
was formerly master of the Souchays, steamer, and
for several years in the service of the Australian
Steam Navigation Company, The Government of
New South Wales appointed a commission to in-
quire into the circumstances connected with the
wrecks along the coast, and despatched a steamer
to search the coast line, and their report has tended
to show that the hurricane committed great ravages,
the whole coast being strewn with pieces of wreck.
Much indignation has been displayed at the
scandalous neglect of the Government in not mak-
ing better provision for, the security of life and
property, especially at such an important port as
Newcastle. Though a lifeboat has been provided,
there was no one in authority to order it out ; and
when launched it was not manned with that alacrity
which was calculated to render its services really
available. After much delay the boat put out, and
approached within 300 yards of the wreck of the
Cawarra when a heavy sea broke some of the oars,
and the crew deemed it advisable to return. The
verdict of the jury at the inquest on some of the
bodies of the passengers per Cawarra condemned
the unsatisfactory arrangements for the manage--
ment of the lifeboat, which are undoubtedly defec-
tive. The mischief committed by the hurricane has
not been confined to the sea. The storm spread
inland, and the country was flooded with water.
The district of the Hunter and the llawkesbury
were submerged, and all the rivers are swollen, and
in some places flooded over their banks. With a
cessation of rain, which was experienced after the
hurricane had moderated, it was hoped no further
mischief would be done ; but reports still come to
hand adding to the list of calamities.