Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1852-04-24
TOTAL WRECK OF THE BRITISH STEAM
rRIcaTE BIRKENHEAD.

the following account Of terribls disaster al
sea, and loss of life;
AT 10 O'Clock on the morning OF the 26th
of February, Her Majesty's steamer, the
Birkenhead, was wrecked, between two and
three miles from the shore Of Southern Af-
rica. The exact spot at which the calamity
happened, was Poin, Danger on this point
ehe struck upon reef of sunken rocks -
The ship was steaming eight and half
knots at the time. The water was smooth
and the sky serene, bu, the speed at which
the vessel was passing through the water,
proved her destruction. The rock penetra-
ted through her bottom just aft the ioren.asi,
and in twenty minutes time there were
few floating spars, aud a few miserable
creatures cinging TO them, and this was all
that remained of the Bhkenhead Of 63S
persons who had left Simon's Bay in the
gallant ship, but few hours before, only
1874 remain 10 tell the tale. No less than
asa Englishmen have come 10 so lamentable
an end.
There is no mystery about the calamity.
We are not left, as in the case Of the ANA
zou, TO conjecture the origin of the disaster.
Just what happened to the Orion, off the
Scottish coast or TO the Great Liverpool off
Finisterrre, has happened now. Captain
Salmond the officer in command, anxious TO
shorten the run TO AIgoa Bay as much as
was possible, and more than was prudent,
Rugged the shore too closely. -Four hundred
and 6fty-four persons have lost their lives in
consequence of his temerity. As soon as
the vessel struck upon the rocks, the rush of
water was so great that the men on the low
er troop-deck were drowned in their ham
mocks. Theirs was the happier fate at
least they were spared the terrible agony of
the next twenty minutes. AT least the man.
ner of death was less painful than with
others, who were first crushed beneath the
falling spaTs and funnel, and then swept
away to be devoured by the sharks, who
were prowlng round the wreck. From the
moment the ship struck, all appears 10 have
been done that human courage could effect
The soldiers were mustered on the after
deck. The instinct of discipline was strong.
er even than the instinct of life. The men
fell into places as coolly as on the parade
ground. They were told off into relief, and
sent, some TO the chain-pumps, some TO the
paGdle-box boats. Captain Wright of the
91st Regiment, who survives 10 relate the
dreadful scene, tells us
Every man did as he was directed, and
the was not cry or a murmur among them
until the vessel made her final plunge.
could not name any individual officers, who
did more than the other. All received their
orders, and had them carried out as if the
men were embarking instead of going 10 the
bottom there was only this difference
that never saw any embarkation conduct.
ed with so little noise or confusion. 1t is
gratifying, also, 10 find tina. the women and
children. They had been quietly collected
under the poop-awnng, and were as quietly
got over the ships sde and passed into the
cutter. The boat stood off about $50 yards
from the iIl-starred Birkenhead, and all
were saved. There is rot the name of
single woman or child upon the list of per.
sons who perished. The other boats, as is
usual in such cases, were not forthcoming in
the hour OF need. One gig and two cutters
were all that could be rendered available -
In one account we find that when the men
were ordered 10 get the paddle.box boats out,
the pin of the davits was rus,ed in, and
could not be got out. Captain Wright, on
the other hand, tells US that when the fun
mel went over the side it carried away the
starboard paddle-box and boat, and that the
other paddle-box boat capsized as it being
lowered OF the 1874 persons who were
saved, l16 made their escape in the three
boals which succeeded in getting clear of
the wreck
Annexed are the names of the military Of
fcers drowned
Major Seaton, Leu,s G w. Robinson, A.
H, Booth ; Ensign Boyland, Ensign Med
ford, Ensign Russell, and Corne, Rolt.
The following are the names of the naval
officers lost
Mr., R. Salmond master commanding ;
Mr.. w. Brodie, master Mr.. r. D Speer,
second master Mr.. J, o, D. Davis, second ;
Mr.. w. Whyham, chief engineer Mr., c,
w. Hare, masters assistant Mr.. James Me-
Clymont, assistant engineer Mr.. Deeley,
assistant engineer; Mr.. T. Harris, boatswain
Mr.. James ROBBERS, carpenter
CENTRAL INDIANA RAILwAY.-The Cam
bridge Reveille states that Mr.. Meredith has