The Sun.
London, England, 1859-12-01 00:00:00

LAMENTABLE CATASTROPHE 1N THE
FRITH OF CLYDE.

(Flow the Glasgow IleraM.)
We lament to announce a collision in the Frith
of Clyde yesterday morning, by which the screw-
steamer Eagle, trading between this port and Lon-
donderry, has been sunk, and many lives have been
lost. The Eagle lett Glasgow, and ultimately
Greenock, with passengers and 200 sheep, on her
passage to Derry on Mond-iy evening, between
eight and nine o'clock, and when off Lamlash, about
midnight, she came into collision with the Pladda,
a ship laden with timber, and waterlogged, which
was proceeding up Channel in charge of a tug. The
night was, on the whole, clear, but there were occa-
sional gusts of wind and showers of sleet. The tug
and ship were seen at some distance from the deck
of the steamer, and it would appear that the former
had been cast off from the ship, which, under the
influence of the freshened breeze, was making up
upon her. Some alteration was being made on the
Pladda's sails, which was not completed, as is
alleged, when the Eagle came up opposite to her,
but at a sufficient distance to pass safely. At
this moment, however, the ship refused to answer
her helm, when she swung round and struck
the steamer heavily on the port side, a little
behind the gangway ; and from the effects of
this collision she went down in a quarter of an
hour, when, although 34 were saved, it is feared
that not fewer than 20 people have perished. As the
ship floated close to the sinking steamer, and two
tugs were close at hand, it appears lamentably
strange that there should have been such a
loss of life on a comparatively clear night, and in
moderate weather; but until we have authentic
particulars we must attribute the loss of life to the
confusion caused by the steam rushing direct from
the boiler, the shattered state of the after-part of
the Eagle, and the uncertainty which prevailed for
a time as to whether she or the Pladda was most
seriously damaged. Meanwhile, 'we give the fol-
lowing particulars, gleaned from the captain and
other persons who were on board the Eagle, as we
have not yet had an opportunity of communicating
with any of those on board the Pladda.
Captain Eiglesham, of the Eagle steamer, says
that vessel left Glasgow on Monday afternoon about
4.45, and, after touching at Re:ufrew, steamed to
Greenock, which port he left at 8.45 p.m. The
weather was then moderate and clear, except at
intervals, when slight showers of sleet fell, with a
slight haze. Everything progressed favourably
till about a quarter or 20 minutes to 12 o'clock,
when the man on the 100k-out reported a light on
the port-bow, which proved to be the light of the
tug steamer Reckless, which had the ship Pladda
in tow. The red light of the Pladda was also visi-
ble. The captain of the Eagle then caused his
vessel's helm to be ported, so that the vessels might
be a greater distance apart from each other. This
course was kept until the ships came pretty near
abreast of the Eagle, when all of a sudden the
Pladda's green light became visible, and imme-
diately thereafter her bow struck the Eagle's port-
side midships, carrying away her funnel, steam-
pipe, boat, mainmast, and cutting the steamer down
to the water's edge. The confusion now was great
—the smoke and steam preventing the captain and
crew from ascertaining accurately the extent of
damage, or enabling them to suggest to the pas-
sengers the best course to adopt. The ship con-
tinued in the same position for about ten minutes,
and then backed out clear from the Eagle. The
steamer's head then fell to eastward, and came in
contact with the ship's bow again. During both
of these occasions the passengers on board the
Eagle could havelgot on board the Pladda, but they
were in a dilemma, not knowing whether she or
the steamer was most damaged. When it was
found that the Eagle was sinking, the chief engi-
neer, got the lifeboat in readiness, but before it
could he of any use the steamer went down, leaving
those who had not been fortunate enough to get on
board the Pladda struggling in the water among
wreck and 200 sheep. The captain was in the
water about 15 minutes before he was picked up.
All the crew of the steamer were saved, except the
second mate, Robert Campbell, who is missing ; but
as there was a second tug in the vicinity of the
wreck, it is possible he may have been picked up.
The Pladda, it appears was waterlogged, had her
sails set, and, the breeze freshening, she did not
require the tug's assistance. This being the case
the order was given to shorten sail, which was
done at the fore part of the vessel, but before the
other sails could be taken in she refused to answer
her helm, changed her course, and the dreadful
collision was the consequence. The Eagle remained
afloat between 15 and 20 minutes after the acci-
dent. Some of the steerage passengers state
that the number was about 507 but we are informed
that there were not so many, 35 or so being abort
the number. When the collision took place they
rushed on deck in the greatest state of alarm,
and in the confusion, thinking the cabin the safest
place, proceeded thither; but, on being informed
that the steamer was fast sinking, they made the
best of their way to the bow of the Pladda, clung
to her rigging, and by these means several were
saved. There were three female passengers in
the steerage ; one of them had three children, all of
whom were drowned. Two cabin passengers,
named Mr. and Mrs. Hunter, were both drowned.
They belonged to Donegal. and :the sheep which
were on board were their property. The stewardess
of the Eagle had a narrow escape when the vessel
went down. She was actually sinking, when she
fortunately seized two sheep which were struggling
in the water, and by these means she was supported
till picked up by a boat. One gentleman was
awakened from his sleep by the concussion, and on
ascending the cabin stairs felt the greatest difficulty
in getting upon deck, in consequence of the stairs
and doors being smashed in, from the effects of the
collision. From the clouds of steam and the dis-
rupted state of the afterpart of the vessel he could
see no one, but observed the bowsprit of the ship
across the steamer's deck. He succeeded in getting
on board the Pladda, and thereby saved his life.
Perhaps the most miraculous escape was that made
by the chief engineer of the Eagle. When the
ship was sinking he made all haste to one of the
lifeboats which was not smashed, for the purpose of
unfastening the lashings, so that it would be in
readiness. Before, however, the boat could be
launched the steamer went down, stern foremost,
in an almost perpendicular form. The engineer
unfortunately got entangled) among the debris,
by which he was kept under water for several
minutes and nearly suffocated. In his struggles he
came in contact with a wooden grating, which he
caught and supported himself. At this juncture
he observed two men struggling with the waves a
short distance off, one of whom was of stout make
and the other thin: In a minute he heard a gur-
gle coming from the throat of the stout man, and
he immediately sank. The other man was picked
up. The engineer says he was within 30 feet of the
steamtug when he called for help, but no attempt
at this time was made by those on board the tug to
save anyone. He then observed one of the boats a
short way off, and hailed her. Those on board re-
cognised his voice, and pulled towards him, but he
told them he could hold out a while longer, and if
they saw any other person floating to take him on
board first. Unfortunately, however, no other per-
son could be seen, and the engineer was hauled on
board, and then transferred to the Pladda. The
survivors, numbering in all 34, were treated with
great kindness while on board the Pladda, and
they were conveyed to Glasgow by the Rothesty
steamer Eagle yesterday afternoon. It is impos-
sible to state the number lost ; but it is feu eed that
the sufferers will amount to not less ttan twenty.
As yet, however, there is no actee'-ate means of
knowing. The crew would hmount to about
20, and the average rarmber of passengers
carried at this se-ssen is about 30. This would
give in all :`,71, of whom 34 were saved. But
this may hot be all. Up to the time of the catas-
trophe the captain had not proceeded to lift the
fares or tickets, and, as some went in with
tickets at the Broomielaw, and some at Greenock,
while others travelled with free passes, by reason
of their being traders, it is thus impossible as yet
to give an accurate statement of the loss of life.

The Eagle was comparatively a new vessel,
having been built by Messrs. Denny and Sons, of
Dumbarton, in 1857. She was 400 tons burden,
her engines were 60-horse power, and she was con-
sidered a safe seaboat.
We have already said that, with the exception of
the second mate, who is missing, all the crew were
saved. Among the passengers saved are,—Mrs.
M'Kenna, Coleraine ; Mr. Stubbs, of Messrs. Gray
and Co.'s, Glasgow ; John Wilson, provision mer-
chant, Pollokshaws ; Mr. Mitchell, land steward,
Ireland ; James M'Cann, Coleraine ; David M'Mas-
ter (who was severely injured) ; Terenee Kavany,
county of Fermanagh ; W. Brown, 36, King-street,
Glasgow ; Robert Johnston, sculptor, Dumarton
Peter Tierney, Lomey, Sligo ;4 John Bishop,; Quality-court, Leith; Patrick Boyle, Duntoeher ;
John Dougan, Middle Kildrum, Donegal; Francis
M 1 Laren, Lemaugh, county of Antrim ; Thomas
Connelly, Balinakill, county of Galway ; W. Gil-
lam, Lemaugh, county of Antrim; Thomas M'Hin-
rney, Ballinamore, county of Antrim; Thomas
M'Ginley, Meananr• ; John Grawny, Glead ; James
Winn, Jogliaby, Kildronnan, county of Roscom-
mon ; Thomas Bryson, Londonderry ; John Mit-
chell, Creoagh, Londonderry; John Sheridan,
Small Quarter, county of Antrim.

The leading merchants of London interested in
the trade with Mexico are about to present a memorial to
Lord John Russell requesting the protection of the British
Governmeot against the outrages and speiiations to which
the Unglish mercantile residents in th; country are now
exposed,.