The Sun.
London, England, 1861-08-30 00:00:00

LOSS OF THE BRITISH SHIP ASIATIC
WI2H FIFTEEN LIVES.

The sad details of tlie foundering of the ship
Asiatic, nearly 1,000 tons burden, while on her
homeward voyage from Akyab to Falmouth, for
orders, and the loss of the greater portion of her
officers and crew were made known yesterday at
Lloyd's, by a despatch from Lloyd's agent at St.
Helena. The survivors, nine in number, had
reached that island by the Hanoverian barque,
Olympia, Captain Tobias, which picked them up on
the morning after the loss of their
_ship. -Among
the survivors is Captain Watts, the commander, who
gave the following version of the catastrophe :
" The Asiatic started on her voyage from Akyab
on the 28th of Mareh last, and on the 15th of June
she was in lat. 34 56 S, long. 27 E. On the 17th
a gale sprung up from the N.W., of a most threaten-
ing character. They took in all sail and hove to on
starboard tack under lower maintopsail. By nine
o'clock the gale had reached to almost a hurricane
with a turbulent sea, which caused the ship to
labour violently and ship large quantities of water,
filling the decks fore and aft. About the time a sail
could be observed some four miles distant, evidently
in the same trying position as the Asiatic. She was
seen to be hove too on the same tack, and was under
the main trysail. The Asiatic's pumps never ceased
Working for a moment. About noon a terrific sea
caught the ship, washed aw y port bulwarks, port
quarter boat, galley water cask, and everything on. '
deck. At 5.30 p.m., another sea struck the ship,
which drove in the front of the poop and topgallant
forecastle, and carried away all the internal fittings.
The storm gradually became more furious, and
the ship rolled and laboured greater than before.
The pumps, although kept constantly going, could
not relieve the ship of much water. Fro this time
up to midnight the gale continued to rage with in-
creased violence. About half-past tvso on the fol-
lowing morning, the 18th, the ship was evidently
fast settling down, the foretopmast staysail was set,
with a view of wearing the vessel round, and the
helm had been put up, when all of a sudden, the
crew at the time being engaged in hauling on the
weather main brace, the ship fell on her broadside
and commenced sinking. Captain Watts and eight
of her crew who happened to be on the poop at the
moment, had barely time to get to the weather side
and jump into the lifeboat before the ship disap
peared. She went down instantaneously, the lash-
ings of the boat had been cut, and the heavy sea
threw her over the masts of the ship as retie went
down. As it was, the bow of the boat struck the
mast and stove one of her planks, and it was with.
the greatest difficulty and exertion ttiat they could
prevent her sinking. At times she was half full of
water, they kept baling her oat with their boots
and caps. With the exception of one man, he saw
nothing of the remainder of the crew. Tiny en-
deavoured to save him, but owing to the strong and.
heavy sea running they could not reach him. The
survivors in the boat kept her head to wind until
daylight, using the bottom boards in the boat for
paddles, having lost the oars. About five o'clock
they saw a barque four miles distant to the S.E.
They paddled towards the sail and succeeded irn
getting alongside about six o'clock, and they found
the ship to be the same vessel they had been in
company with on the previous evening, and which
was the Hanoverian barque Olympia, also from.
Akyab. The Olympia took them on board, treated
them with much attention, and conveyed them to
St. Helena. Both the vessel and cargo were frilly
insured. Several of the sufferers have left widows
and families.

COUNTRY MARKETS.

MANCHESTER-AUG. 28.

New English wheat was in better demand, and in most
cases is dearer ; old sorts neglected, and foreign was less in
request. New English flour in moderate request, but for
all other sorts business was limited.. and prices unchanged.
Oats and oatmeal were difficult to sell, and rather cheaper.
Beans and Indian corn 6d cheaper.