The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-08-07 00:00:00

WRECK OF THE LORD WILLIAM BENTINCK.

(From the Bombay Times)
One of the most melancholy and heart-rending shipwrecks
occurred yesterday which has ever fallen under our notice.
The Lord William Bentinck, Captain Ord, with ]5O troops
and passengers on board, hadbeen beating off the mouth of
the harbour for the last two or three days, but Was prevented

entering by the violence of the weather. Yesterday after-
noon she was seen standing across the opening of Back Bay,
in gallant style, and every hope was entertained, if she could
stand on five minutes longer, of her weathering the S.W.
prong of the lighthouse. Unhappily, an immense sea forged
over and pooped her, and she struck heavily on the rocks at
10 minutes past 4 p.m. Previously, Captain Hayman had
fired two guns from the lighthouse to warn her of her danger,
and before a third could be discharged she was on the rocks.

Heavy squalls of wind and rain soon drove her masts overher
side, and a quarter of an hour after the commencement of
the occurrence she was a complete unmanageable wreck.
The crew and passengers were seen to crowd forward to the
forecastle. Three ladies were on board, Mrs. Fraser, Mrs.
Eckford, and Miss-Robertson, also a maid servant, and some
soldiers' wives and children. Capt. C. Benbow was in com-
mand of the troops, and Dr. Fraser, Mr. Manson (a cadet),
and several other passengers, whose names we are notable
yet to learn, were on board. She kept firing guns andshow-
ing the signals of distress, but, alas ! little aid could be af-
forded. The surf was f6o violent for a boat to live in, and
the most dismal apprehensions were entertained. She first
hoisted out her gig, which rode gallantly for awhile, but
was soon engulphed. Her launch was then got alongside,
and some men were seen to enter her. One gentleman was
observed, before he descended the side, to elevate his hands
to Heaven as if in prayer; he then went into her, but in a
moment she shared the fate of the other boats. Having
nothing to hoist her out by, the longboat appeared to be
pushed over the side by main force. She also sunk never to
rise. The cries of the unfortunates were distinctly audible in
the lulls of the wind, and filled every spectator on shore with
horror and distress. No hand could be held out to save.
After much delay, boats were brought from the dockyard
by coolies, and we observed the very great exertions made
by the captains belonging to this Dort in endeavouring to
bring them up and launch them. As boats were brought
down (of course, after great delay, from the distance from the
fort) every means were tried to float them and steer them to
the wreck. Captains Saunders and Hayman, of the Indian
navy, were especially conspicuous in their exertions, leaving
no means untried; while Captains M`Gregor, Baxter, and
many others, attempted in vain to steer the ill-fated craft.
She tried to fix a rope from a gun after Captain Manby's
principle, but failed. In the meantime the superintendent
of the Indian navy had ordered the Victoria steamer to pro-
ceed as near as she could to the spot, but it was evening be-
fore she got her steam sufficiently up to move, and even then
she could not approach the wreck with the smallest chance
of success. Thousands of anxious spectators were assembled
at the lighthous9 during the evening, and perhaps a more
painful: and intense interest was never excited in the society
of Bombay. Night, dark and lowering, fell, and we believe

many a heartfelt prayer was offered up to the throne of grace
for those who were so near on the brink of eternity. The
moon rose about nine o'clock, and hopes were entertained
that the vessel might hold together until morning, but the gale
still continued violent. By twelve o'clock at night, a raft
with ten men had, by treat exertion, reached the shore, but
at half-past three the vessel finally went to pieces. Another
raft had been prepared, on which the ladies, seven children,
and the passengers were placed. Hopes, however faint,
were breathed that she might bring her precious cargb safe
to land ; but, alas ! a lofty wave struck her, and when she
rose from the shock neither the ladies, children, or 16 of

Those

their comrades could be descried by the survivors
who remained reached land naked, cold, and shivering
Captain Benbow, Dr. Fraser, and Mr. Manson were among
the survivors, also two of the officers of the vessel. _
The captain and his son were reported drowned, but as
yet no accurate information on these points can be collected.
Another raft with 17 men on it was carried into Back Bay,
and, getting entangled among the rocks, remained until
morning, and 15 of them (two having died during the night)
were saved by the exertions of Captain Saunders. But, as
if misfortunes were never to come single, the Castlereagh,
Captain Tonks, from Kanack, with 150 troops on board,
about 12 o'clock at night, having, as it is said, seen the lights
is the wreck, and mistaking her for a vessel at anchor, bore
up, and also went on shore within a few yards distance of the
other wreck. This morning before daylight, as active means
as could be taken (considering the paucity of boats and men)
were set on foot to bring off crew and passengers, and the
same parties still exerted themselves, and by 10 a.m. about
150 sepoys of the 24th native infantry, were got on shore ;
four were unforttmately drowned in the surf getting out of
the boats, and Captain Saunders, with one European seaman
belonging to the Clive, who tried to swim from a part of the
wreck of the Lord William Bentinek, were lost in the
attempt. The Castlereagh had commenced cutting away her
masts, and this afternoon it is hoped that every soul on
board will be safely landed. The officers in her are Captain
Earle, 24th regiment ; Ensign Grant. Ist European regiment;
Lieut. 'Walker, engineer ; and Dr. Davis. The Castlereagh,
as was reported by a " Seacunnie," who came on shore, had
lost her rudder, and was full of water, but as yet did not
pump much, but we fear she will be a 'total wreck. At the
time we left the spot, exertions were still being made to
reach her. We believe, though of course can only guess
from a rough calculation, that from 50 to 70 persons have
been saved from the Lord William Bentinck out of between,
200 and 300 souls. We have every confidence under Provi-
dence, that those on board the Castlereagh will all be saved.
Gazette Extra, June 18.
In addition to what we reported in our yesterday's extra,
we are deeply grieved to have to announce that the catalogue
of human suffering and woe had not reached its climax.
Yesterday, at three p.m., about ebb tide, the Castlereagh
went to pieces, and the crew and passengers were seen drift-
ing on shore on pieces of the wreck. In attempting to save
them, Mr. Atkinson, second master attendant, nearly lost
his life, his boat being upset. Captain M`Gregor (late of the
Hannah), Mr. Webster (of the American press), and some
others, at considerable personal risk, picked up the com-
mander, Captain Tonks, clinging to a small plank, and in a
sinking state. Out of nearly 200 souls, it is feared that not
more than 70 are saved. Ensign Grant, one of the passen-
gers, was a survivor, but of the rest we have no certain

accounts.
We have been favoured with an authentic list of the pas-
sengers, captain, officers, and crew of the late unfortunate
vessel the Lord William Bentinck, with an account of those
lost and saved :
Passengers saved.—Captain Benbow, Lieutenant Coombe,
Dr. Fraser, and Mr. Manson. cadet.
Missing.—Mrs. Eckford, Mrs. Fraser, Miss Robertson,
Jones, servant, and Messrs. Whitehorne, Day, and
M'Pherson, cadets.
Ship's Officers and Crew Saved.—Mr. Pennington, second
officer, Kingcome, third ditto, Bush, fourth ditto ; Camp-
bell, midshipman ; carpenter, John Lothian ; sailmaker,
James Crosby ; seamen, Samuel Coombs, William Ander-
son, David Law, Jame King, John O'Connor, John Hum-
berston, Hugh M`Callar, George Brown, steward, John
Prichard, James Araton, Kelby, Sweetman.
Missing.—Captain Ord, Ord, his son, Mr. Kempthorn,
first officer, Villiers, midshipman, Dr. Stockley, surgeon.
There were 150 recruits on board, many of whom are saved,
but an account has not yet been obtained. The crew and
officers consisted of 39 persons.
Thus 21 of the latter have perished, and of the passengers
7 out of 11, making a total of 28 persons out of the ship
exclusive of the recruits. We have heard it reported that so
many as 85 of the latter have escaped, but we cannot, how-
ever willing, give credence to the report.
Mrs. Eckford's body was found in Upper Colabah yester-
day evening, and the corpse buried.

The Phillips' testimonial, consisting of a splendid service
of plate of the value of 800 guineas, is to be presented to
Sir Thomas Phillips, the late mayor of Newport, at a grand
public dinner to be given to him soon after the prorogation,
at which Lord Granville Somerset, the member for the
county, is expected to preside.
MORE EXTRAORDINARY ANGLING IN THE RIBBLE.—
A few days ago, an extraordinary pike was killed in the river
Ribble, by three members of the Settle Angling Club, with
a frog bait. The pike weighed 1811bs. It was sent to Leeds.
An old angler on seeing it said, " Catching one of these
chaps does more good than catching ten poachers," It is
more than twenty years since one so large was caught before.
WHALES IN THE FRITH OF FORTH.—There are no less
than three of the firmer tribe of whales in the Frith at pre-
sent, one of them very large. They have been seen in cross-
ing from Newhaven to Kirkcaldy. These fish indicate an
abundance of herring, as they follow the shoals. White bait
have also made their appearance in the Frith ; and as they
swim near the surface in hot days, they are attended by great
flocks of sea-fowl who feed upon them.

The marriage announced between the Earl of Shelburne
and Kerry, only surviving son of the Marquis and Marchi-
oness of Lansdowne, and Lady Georgiana Herbert, sister to
the Earl of Pembroke, and niece to the Russian-General
Count Woronzow, will take place at Wilton House, near
Salisbury, early next month. The earl is in his 24th year,
and the noble bride-elect in her 23rd. The event will be
celebrated by brilliant festivities at Bowood.
MANCHESTER AND LEEDS RAILWAY.-011 Saturday
last, an experimental trip was made on part of the unopened.
line of this railway, .for the distance of sixteen miles, com-
mencing at Hebden- bridge and continuing to Bradley Wood,
near Mirfield. The admirable arrangements of Messrs.
Tredwell and the other contractors on the line caused the
affair to come off with great eclat. At one o'clock, p.m. a
train of ten carriages drawn by eight horses, decorated with
evergreens and rosettes of the gayest description, started from
the former place, carrying. nearly one hundred individuals,
consisting of neighbouring gentry, engineers, contractors,
and their friends, including a number of well-dressed ladies,
and accompanied by two bands of music, which greatly en-
livened the proceedings of the day. The procession moved
along the vale of Calder to Sowerby-bridge, Elland, and Brad-
ley, and at every village, was greeted with the warmest ac-
clamations of immense multitudes assembled to witness the
spectacle. At Brighouse the party, which with frequent ac-
cessions-then numbered.about three hundred, sat down to, a
splendid cold collation laid out on two very long tables in the
open air. Mr. Carr, of Halifax, took the chair ; and Mr.
William Sutcliffe, solicitor, acted as vice ; both of whom dis•
charged their respective duties with ability and satisfaction.
After the repast, the toasts of the Queen, Prince Albert,
Manchester and Leeds railway directors, George Stephenson,
Esq., Mr. Scott, the resident engineer, &c, &c, were seve-
rally given and responded to most enthusiastically. The fine
specimens of superior architecture and masonry exhibited in
many of the tunnels, bridges, and crossings on the line tra-
m veiled over, elicited great praise and admiration ; and more
especially the contracts completed by Mr. John Tredwell,
were alike remarkable for their substantial workmanship and
beautiful finish. The day was unusually fine. and we are
happy to say that the occasion was celebrated with great hi-
larity, and concluded without accident. The general opening
of the line is anticipated to take place in November.—Man-
chester Guardian.
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ROBBING PETER, &c.--When rogues fall out, honest
people come by their own. At any rate honest people get a
laugh for their money. The reader cannot have forgotten
what a delectable row there was a short time back between
O'Connell and Mr. Peter Purcell. Peter, who is a sharp
man of business, would not let Dan have the banking of
some £1,300 or £1,400; in short, Peter would not trust
Dan, and the result was that Dan denounced Peter. Peter
stood fire like a trump, until there wa
Father s a bit of a job for the
Irish mails—how it happened, perhaps, Murphy alone
knows—but Dan was propitiated, and Peter got the contract.
Everybody seemed to think then that Dan and Peter were
sworn brothers. Peter declared that he would trust Dan
with his all (though three months before he would not trust
him to draw upon a few hundreds in the Tralee bank), and
Dan declared that Peter was a patriot, though three months
before he had proclaimed him a traitor. Well; but after
having made up the row, one would suppose that, after the
Irish fashion, they would be all the better friends for it.
Not a bit. Peter has some deep grudge against Dan, and
what does he do but start a paper called the Monitor, and
profess it to be the official organ of Lord Ebrington. Dan,
having a paper too, roars like a bull of Basan. "It is too
bad," quoth he, " that the public should be disturbed by
this affectation of familiarity with Lord Ebrington on the
part of the Monitor; and then, just like a liberal, declares
that he will drag forth the " registered proprietor" who dares
to pretend that he is "hand and glove with his excellency."
Dan's jealousy is natural enough ; he' hates the press with a
hate beyond even that of Cobbett, because the gentlemen
whose duty it is to report faithfully are not to be bougkt or
bullied. But Peter! thou broth of a boy, go on with the
Monitor; for though Dan may rob you of a few subscribers
in Dublin, provoke the great bear into such dances as you
did last Thursday, and you will get the more readers in
Englandlor the fun of the thing...-Morning Herald: