New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-01-25
TERRIBLE SHIPURECK.
LOSS OF TWENTY-ONE LIVES.

Early on Saturday morning, Oct. "a, Sydney Aus
tralia thrown into state OF considerable excite
ment and alarm. The loss of the Inflated Dunbar,
with so many familiar friends and acquaintance gone
in Der total wreck, but nine weeks previously was
stiH fresh to memory and most melancholy to con-
template. And now the Catherine Adamson, the
queen ship of AnglocolOnial vessels Is lost also. We
call her the queen ship because she has beaten all
other sailing vessels in her home She left this
port on the 10Th of last March and landed her mail
on the CSth day. The time from leaving Sydney
that occasion until her return and fatal disaster was
less than seven months She was on her third voyage,
an Aberdeen clipper, of $50 tuns, and was commanded
from her launch by Captain Stuart, man OF great
energy and perseverance, and who, we regret tohear
has lost by this catastrophe the hard earnings oil
busy and industrious life.
The following is an account Of this sad affair: The
Catherine Adamson Aberdeen clipper, $50 tuns, was
commanded by Capt Stuart. About 9p. M. on FRI
dav Oct % she was off the Heads, and signaed for
pilot. 1t was then moonlight night, sea moderate,
and the wind blew down the harbor Hawkes., the
pilot who took charge, ehdeav0red tn beat in, but the
ship worked badly, and missed stays off the Inner
North Head. The anchors were let 60 and bluehghts
burned, which were seen from the steamer Williams,
as she entered the Heads, about midnight. Captain
Greer made attempt to take the ship in tow but a
hard squat and heavy swell setting in from the south
ward compelled him to cast off the warp, and the
vessel struck. The life-boat was now lowered 1.-THE
gig having previously reached the steamer), and
Captain Stuart went away in her, promising to return
or get the Williams TO approach nearer this, how,
ever, he did not accomplish the boat being swamped
soon after reaching the steamer which then bore away
TO the opposite side of the harbOr to fetch boats from
the pilot station her own being useless. TN her re-
turn, the Inflated Catherine Adamson was nearly
broken up and all souls on board, numbering Il, had
peiished. -,
The passengers lost were Messrs. Leathes tbrother
to the Secretary of the Liverpool and London lnsur-
ance Company, Sydney - Ramsay the Rev. jacob
Jones and two servants, with fifteen of the crew, IN
f HeG t Sb seeona oG ar sha wilson and
ants were saved as were Capt Stuart and the CHEF
officer. The value Of the cargo was estimated al
$4,000.
The Rev. Jacob Jones, a Congregat onal minister,
had accepted aninvtatiOn in connection with the New
South Wales Home Missionary Society. He was pas
tor Of the Independent church at Melksham, near
Bath, and for six years was student at Sprlng-hil
College, Birmingham
Mr.. Ramsay was the second brother of Mr.. Robert
Ramsay of Darling Downs.
Mr. Pilot Hawkes. we regret n say, has left widow
and four children. He arrived in this colony on the
Goth of September, 1893, a. chief officer OF the Lazy
Fitzherbeit. Afterward he commanded several En-
gsh and colonial vessels, and finally, for the last iour
or FIVE years has filled with considerable credit one OF
the posts of pilot at the Sydney Heads.
Coroners jury, after protracted iaquiry, nave
returned the following verdict That the deaths OF the
persons named in this inquiry caused by an error
in judment displayed by the late Mr. PILOT Hawkes. IN
attempting TO bring in the ship Catherine Auaulson
into barbor during the unayorab state of the weather
at the tine and that through that error the hves were
lost The jury would remark that it is their impress
sion that the late Mr.. Pilot Hawkes. boats crew
should not have left the ship when they did without
the orders Of their employer thereby rendering them
selves censurabe. They also think that some urther
efI, IT'S should have been made with the leboat to
save if possible more lives of the late Passengers ana
crew. II il with great pleasure the jury now ayal
themselves of this opportunity OF expressing LneT
high Of the very praiseworthy manner III "nru
boil Capt. Greer Of the steamer Williams, and M:
Pilot Robson acted in rendering their services TO ad
the Catherine Adamson with crew and passenger; 10
distress. ISydney Herald