The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-05-05
From the London Times.
WRECK OF THE BRITISH STEAM
FRIGATE BIRKENHEAD.

Another terrible disaster has happened
at sea. At 2 o'clock in the morning OF
the 26th of February, her Majesty's Stea-
mer, the Birkenhead, was wrecked be-.
tween two and three miles from the shore
OF Southern Africa. The exact spot at
which the calamity happened was Point
Danger. Off this point she struck upon a
reefofsunken rocks. The ship was steam
ing eight and half knots at the time
The water was smooth, and the sky Sc.
rene, but the speed at which the vessel
was passing through the water proved her
destruction. The rock penetrated through
her bottom just aft the foremast. and in
twenty minutes time there were few float.
ing spars and few miserable creatures
clinging to them. and this was all that re-.
NAMED of the Birkenhead. Of 638 per-
sons who left Simond's Bay in the gallant
ship but few hours before, only 1874 re-
main to tell the tale. No less than 454
Englshmen have come to so lamentabe
an end. ia
There is no mystery about the calami-
ty. We are not left, as in the case of the
Amazon, to conjecture the origin of the
disaster. Just what happened to the Orion
off the Scottish coast, or to the Great Liv-
erpool off Finisterre, has happened now
Captain Salmond, the officer in command,
anxious to shorten the run to Algoa Bay
as much as possible, and more than was
prudent, hugged the shore too closely
Four hundred and ffty.four persons have
lost their lives in consequence of his te-
merity As soon as the vessel struck upon
the rocks the rush of water was so.great
that the men on the lower troop-deck were
drowned in their hammocks. Theirs was
the happier fate. Atleast they were spared
the terrible agony of the next twenty min
utes. At least the manner of death was
less painful than with others, who were
first crushed beneath the falling spars and
funnel, and then swept away to be devour-
ed by the sharks, who were prowling round
the wreck. From the moment the ship
struck, all appears TO have been done that
human courage or GOODNESS could effect.
The soldiers were mustered on the after
deck. The instinct Of discipline was
stronger even than the instinct of life
The men fell into place as coolly as on
the parade ground. They were told-off
into reliefs, and sent-some to the chain
pumps, some to the paddle-box boats
Captain Wright. Of the ninety.frst regi.
ment, who survives. to relate the dreadful
scene, tells us:- ST. ad s5s
Every man did as he was directed, and
there was not cry or murmur among
them until the vessel made her final plunge.
I could not name any individual officer,
who did more than another. All received
their orders, and had them carried out as
lif the men were embarking instead ofg
| ing to the bottom; there was only this diff
ference that never saw any embarkation
conducted with so lttlenoise or confusion
Poor fellowsl Had they died in the bat
tle-feld, and in their country's cause, their
fate would have excited less poignant re-.
gret; but there is something inexpressbly
touching in the quiet, unfinching resolu.
ton Of so many brave hearts struggling
manfnlly TO the elast against an inevitable
disaster. II is gratifying, also, 10 find that
the woman and children were all saved.
They had been quietly collected under the
poop awning, and were as quietly got
lover the ships side, and passed into the