The Sun.
London, England, 1857-08-31 00:00:00

THE LOSS OF TH & TRANSIT.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Sir,—The accompanying letters have this day
been received at this office from Commander Bar-
nard, of her Majesty's ship Racehorse, reporting
the loss of the Transit in the Straits of Bauca.
Admiralty, Aug. 29.

"Her Majesty's ship Racehorse,
Singapore, July 18.
" Sir,—l have the honour to transmit you herewith
for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the
Admiralty a crpy of a letter I have received, as seni^r
officer in the Straits of Malacca, from Commander Ennis
Chamb.rs, of her Majesty's steamship Transit, reporting
that ship having struck upon a sunken rock off Cape
Oclar, in the Banca Straits, and requiring immediate
assistance, which I instantly rendered by despatching
her Majesty's ship Acta3)n and her tender, the Dove,
and also the chartered American ship Brand, of 800
tons, with provisions for 1,000 men for 15 days. Since
their departure I regret it is not in my power to afford
their lordships any further information respecting the
Transit.—l have, ;c.,
" E K. BARNARD, Commander.
" The Secretary of the Adm.ra4y."

" Her Majesty's ship Transit,
" Off Cape War, Island of Banes, July 11.
" Sir,—lt is with great regret I LI, vet to raport that
her Majesty's ship under my c .mmand struck on a
sunken rock off Cape Clear, on the I, la: d of Banes, yes-
terday morning, about half-past tine, and received so
much -damnge that it was nece,sary t,) immediately die-
embatk the whole of the troops on the island.
" This will be conveyed to you by Lieut. Downes, of
this ship, who will give you all the particulars ; and it
is needless for me to point out the necessity cf serdit g
some vessels immediately to embark the troops, which
number upwards of 7001.—1 have the honour, &c.,
" ENNIS CHAMBERS, Commander,
" The Senior Officer of her Majesty's ships
and vees_ls at Singapore."

The f)llowing is extracted from a letter dated
Island of Banca, July 11, 1857 :
" The Transit has come to grief at last. Yesterday
morning, at 10 o'clock, we were steaming along at about
nine knots an hour, when the vessel suddenly struck on
a reef. In a luarter of an hoor the water was over the
engine passage, and it became very evident that we
should be oblfged, to abandon her. The boats were got
out, and conveyed the soldiers to a reef about a mile
and a-half away. The size of the rock where we were
stowed, was not more than-25 yards, and the tide was
rising. The boats kept going backwards and forwards
landing tsoops, and when I lett the rock-(one of the last
three) the .rater was within two feet and a half of me
Thanks to God, all were got sillily to land, fires were
lit, branches puled dowri, and things made as snug as
circumstances would allow. Of course, everything I
p ,ssessod is lost. In fact, a shirt, a pair of flannel
trousers, and shell-jacket are the sum total of my effects.
I sav,cl my watch and chain and There are two
Dutch vessels near the Transit; one of thßm is going to
Singapore to detail our di.aster. The soldiers behaved
splendidly. No joke, I can tell you, to he on a bit nf a
rock for six or seven hours under a tropical sun. I must
wind up, as this is going on to Singapore by the Dutch-
man."