The true Democrat., 1854-10-11
Appalling Shipwrecks.


 Appalling Shipwrecks
 We have already published paragraph, an- nouncing the loss. in the Indian seas, of several vessels with China emigrants. The last over- land mail brings full particulars:
 One of the unfortunate vessels is known to have been large sized brig called the Hygeia, of about 45O tons, which had been bought up by some speculators for the purpose of using her as Chinese passenger or grant ship to California. IL appears that she was formerly under the Danish flag, and bore different name. She had been lying at Whampoa the last two or three years, and on her purchase she was sent to Hong Kong in order to be fitted as passenger ship and to be surveyed for the English flag. She was rejected by the emi- grant agent and she then left, as we under stood, for Macao. Whether she went there aas not been clearly ascertained; but on the 21st of May she received on board sos souls. somewhere near the Green Island, and proceed ed on her voyage to San Francisco, her crew consisting of eleven hands, underth command of MT. Drbble, the Captain. Nothing more was heard of the movements of the br;o- Last mail brought news of Chinese ericrant ship, called the Topaz having been wrecked upon reef known as Pratas Sandbank mid way between Formosa and Hong Kong. and that although most of the passengers were saved, yet they were cast upon wild, barren. and uninhabited island
 Tldlngs were received at the same time of another vessel having been seen upon the island but no description or account of her could be given. On the loss of the Topaz being made known, and the position of her passengers and crew, a small schooner called the Victoria be- longing to MT. Roberts, shipwright of Hong- Kong, was dispatched to the island on the 18th of June. She returned to Hong- Kong on the 23d, and reported that the second vessel which had been seen on the rocks was the brig Hvgeia. and that no tea0er than 29O had been left to pe,1sh on tue aoreck. It seemed that the Hvgeia after beating about the coast for several days, en- countered heavy gale from the eastward, and on the nlght ot Saturday, the 18th, she struck reef and became wreck. Captain Dribble, with some of the crew and passengers, then left the brig, and having reached the island, found upon 1t anumber of those who had es- capped from the wreck of the Topaz Some others on board the Hygeia succeeded, after great difficulty, in gaining the land, but twenty nine poor creatures who had taken to raft. were carried out to sea, and no doubt perished. On the schooner reaching the island, she took on board ell she could-l47 persons She had on- ly half dozen casks of water to supply such a large number of famshed creatures. Herpro- visions were almost as scanty.
 However, they did the best under the cir cumstances to save the greatest amount of life; but the melancholy fact is to be told that when the Victoria left 3,9O of the emigrants were to be seen on the broadside of the hull of the wreck under burning sun, without a particle of food or drop of water to sustain lfe On the authorities at Hong Kong being informed of the catastrophe application was made to the agent Of one of the large steam navigation con- panies for the dispatching of a steamer to the island, and although several were in the harbor. none were forwarded. It is said that the mo- derate sum of f1OOO was demanded before a. vessel would be allowed to leave. Bv the last accounts, the poor creatures were still left upon the wreck; but little had been done to save them, and it is feared that the next mail will bring tidings of their having been starved to. death.
 The second melancholy loss is supposed to. be that of the British ship Lady Nugent, Capt. Banerman, chartered by the Governor of Ma dras, for the conveyance of the staff and head quarters of the 25th regiment of Madras Native Infantry for Rangoon. The ship sailed from Madras on the 10th Of May, having on board the following officers and men: Lieutenant Co., lonel Johnson, Lieutenant and Quartermaster King, Lieutenant Bumford, Assistant Surgeon Simpson. One warrant officer, native com manding staff officers, 247 rank and file, s public officers, and 56 followers. The Brgader General, Sir s. s. Steel, K. c. B., was to have accompanied the troops out, but he sailed in the Oriental steamer, and has since arrived st Rangoon. The Lady Nugent has been over- due for considerable time, and it is known she must have encountered terrific monsoon three weeks after her departure. Other ships which have since sailed from Madras with troops for Rangoon have reached that port, and it is feared that the Lady Nugent has foundered with all on board. Later dates from Rangoon mention that the government authorities had dispatched steamers from that port, as also from Calcutta, in quest of the missing ship, but nothing had been seen or heard of her.