The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-07-09

of death in Austria and Baden, ID under that SEN
tence in Saxony, and, II given up to Russia, of
which he il q sabjecp viii sssuredly be sent TO
The Terrible Wreck or the orisn steamer.
Prom the Liverpool Mail, June 25)
II is our painful duty TO record the melancholy
loss Of the Orion Steamship, the weu-known ira
der between this port and the Clyde, which hap
pened on Tuesday morning, between and two
o'clock, by the vessel striking upon the rocks
iiule northward of Port Patrick The loss OF life
very considerable, and the catastrophe occur
ring Unexpectedly at this season of the year. on
clear summer night, and with calm sea, has
given rise to much excitement and conjecture.
Whilst the majority Of those on board were uncon
ciously slumbering in their berths, and few on
deck were endeavoring to render the sable hours
of night less tedious, and the wind blew 30 gently
as hardly to disturb the tackling of the mast, the
Loble vessel struck upon unPerceived rock,
houndered about for little moro than ten minutes,
and then sank amidst the cries OF the drowned and
drowning. The Orion was commanded by Captain
Henderson, and was great fayorte with pissen-
gers. She was built on the Clyde, about three
years ago, by Messrs. Carne and M'Gregor, and
has made some of the fastest passages on her sta
ton. She was an iron vessel, with engines of $50
horse power, and was upwards of 800 tons burthen.
She was for several months at the beginning Of
this year, upon the station between this port and
Havre, and was raced on her old line when the
ne w steamer Camilla was brought out.
The steamer left Liverpool for Glasgow on
Monday afternoon, shortly after three o'clock,
with full complement Of passengers, large pro-
portion of whom were ladies'. The weather was
sereEely calm, and everything seemed TO betoken
a rapid passage, when, at quarter to two, A. M,
short distance to the north OF Port Patrick, the
vessel struck on a sunken rock, and almost imme-
diately filled. The shock, accompanied as ii was
by the rushing OF the water in among the machinery
and into the furnaces, made greater portion leap
at once from their beds. They were instantly up
TO their knees in water on the cabin floor, and
the chip evidently fast sinking, general rush
to the deck took place The boats were immedi-
ately lowered, but the two first were so crowded
naming two, However, reached the shore in
safety. For those who were not fortunate enough
10 obtain place in either of them, there was no
left but to cling to the rigging, and any OF
the loose articles floating about which they could
get hold of, the ship sunk in about seven
iathoms water in a. few minutes after she struck
through he forward and midshp compartments,
so that ne engines were instantly rendered use
lees, otherwise the vessel might have, perhaps,
been ran ashore, and 80 large sacrifice OF life
prevented. The two boats which remained ser
viceable made each two trips between the shore
and the vessel, and lauerly one Of the two boats
that had been swamped was righted, and landed
all that remained clinging to the top rigging of the
wreck. After landing, the passengers saved, who
| were almost in state of undress, were removed
| to Port Patrick, where every attention was shown
TO them by the people at the hotel, &C., and their
wants, especially in the matter Of clothing, far
| as possible provided for. A boat was manned by
some Of the surviving officers and crew of the ILL
fated ship, which put off TO the wreck, to pick up
| any property that might reach the surface Another
| was also despatched to hail the Fenella steamer,
| as she went by on her passage from Fleetwood to
Troon, and shortly after six o'clock this steamer
\ made her appearance. On being hailed she i'm
| mediately lay to, and received on board as many
of the Orion's passengers considered themselves
| capable of removal. They were about twenty in
number, and they reached Troon early in the
| forenoon. They were taken on by special train,
which arrived at Glasgow about half past one on
| Tuesday afternoon. The passengers speak in tho
| highest terms of the attention shown them by
| Captain Wheeler, Of the Fenella, and his crew.
| Or. Burns of Glasgow, the brother of the prin-
| cipal owner of the vessel, was the hrst person
| whose loss was positively ascertained, his body
having been washed ashore. This excellent man
(says the Glasgow CoSrier) had, in great degree,
withdrawn from the active duties OF laborious
profession, and was enjoying in the twilight ola
long, useful, and an honoraby spent life, the ease
which competent fortune, acquired by unremitiing
industry, entitled him to, and was returning to
Scotland from yearly trip to London, which he
was wont TO indulge in and, though person Of
strong piety, from whose mind the contemplation
Of death could be seldom absent, we dare 10 say
that the mode in which he encountered il was the
last he could have anticipated.
STATEMENT oP Mr.. THOMPSON, OF INGRAM
STREET, GLASGOW.
II was about halfpast one that awokc by
hearing ard feeling strange tearing sort OF noise,
as IL some strong paper torn. Ii was gentle
that thought little of it, and remained in bed, al
though all the other passengers in the cabin started
al TO their feet and rushe deck After brief
interval, one 81 my neigbbors returned, and began
with great trepidaton 10 dress then spprehended
danger, and jumped out Of bed, and drawing
my trousers, went deck, calling at the ladies'
cabin on passing, TO tell my wife that she had bet
ter get up and dress, although there might not be
sny immediate danger On getting TO the quarter
deck found large number OF the passengers
stmbled in great alarm. The vessel, by this time,
| had settled somewhat by the head, and was lurch-
| ing ever little toward the land. instantly went
below to hasten my wife with her toilet, and put sn
/ some more dress, and sought for small trunk
had, and brought tito the middle OF the floor. NV
wife and now went on deck, and the vessel was
dipping deeper and deeper into the water. by this
time the water was over the bulwarks al the bow,
and the heel cf the deck was becoming greater and
greater. ] then feared that all was over, and
| clasrng my wife TO my breast felt resigned to my
fate We then proceeded, at my wife's sugges-
ton TO the stern Of the vessel at the larboard sde
and as the inclination Of the deck became great
as TO prevent our standing, laid bold of one of
| the Delaying pins, and placing my wife between
my breast and the buwaik, / there held on.
lady at this moment had got hold Of my wife's
shawl but az il was not fastened at the throat, il
dropped of, and the unfortunate creature slid
| down the deck. On turning round, | found the
whole space within the bulwarks and up TO nearly
the centre line Ct the deck filled with struggling
multitude in seething waters; and most Of these
were very. Soon drowned As soon as the water
reached the companion, the pent air in the cabin
forced of the fkylights with boUid crash, and in
an instant after we were under water, sucked down
in the vortex Of the sinking ship. When below the
surface, lost hold Of my wife, and striking out,
found myself above water, and in contact with one
Of the stays Of the mizen mast, which laid hold Of
al once. had hardly done So when my wife rose
also TO the surface, and / at once took her hand
and caused her TO hold on by the same rope. |
placed my legs round the rope the better TO secure
my hold, and told her TO rest herself on my knee,
which che did AS soon as we had so far secured
ourselves, the ship gave heavy lurch TO starboard,
which immertcd us under water, but swinging
back, che lurched again to port, and again we were
under water. Gradually the lurches decreased in
extent, and after few more rolls the masts
continued stationary. had only my head above
water, az ! was supporting my wife and was
afraid TO elevate myself further, as | knew that
IN that case the weight would be increased.
Above me, on the mast, sailor was perched, who
called out in the most imploring accents to some
persons in boat. to come and take the people off