, 1859-11-17
TIE LATE TERRIBLE GALE,
A Thrilling Narrative

ono Of the most appalling disasters on record.
Mr. John Bradbury, one Of the survivors, says,
in his account:
We sailed from Melbourne on tbs 26th Of
August, and had on board, a I know, about 500
passengers and crew. The captain wns Mr.
Thomas Taylor, the chief officer, Air. Stephens,
and the second mate, Mr. Cowie. The ship ran
almost entirely under canvas up TO the equinoc;;
tial line, when she encountered strong head
winds; her screw power was then brought into
requisition. On The 10th Of September, about
4 o'clock in the morning, the weather being
thick and dark, We ran close past large ice.
berg. Mr: Cowie was on watch, and had it not
been for his able nanGurring, the ship would
showed their appreciation Of bis ability by pre-
senting him with testimonial on the eve Of
the dreadful disaster. We arrived ut Queens~
town on Monday forenoon, When twelve pas
sengers d,sembarked- We left Queenstown
about o'clock. under steam alone. The ship
was laid on her course for Liverpool, hut tue
storm had the effect of diyerting her to such IN
extent that saw the Great Eastern at Ho1y~
head. The wind Ems then blowing very hard.
We sighted The light on Point Lynus about five
o'clock in the afternoon. The Sea was running
high, but not equal TO what we had experienced
on the passage, but the wind was stronger. II
Was found We could make no headway and two
anchors rere dropped. She drugced her anchors
and the engines were working. but understood
the screw was broken. About two O'Clock on
Wednesday, morning the vessel struck. a
great number Of passengers were then ID thcir
berths; but they suddenly rushed upon deck,
aud many or them but partially dressed. There
wss not much confusion at first, bpt it increased
as people became aware Of the real danger. !
believe the captain was not sober; but Captain
Nithefs, who WAS Il passenger, and the chief
mate and officers, did NIL they could to save the
ship.
At this point we take up The following graph.
ic narrative Of another surviving passenger:
On entering the saloon, Nr. Allen, the head
steward Of the second cabin, came and told the
passengers they had better not go on deck, as
it might cause confusion. The order was I'M.
plicitiy obeycd. Time passed an1iouslr and
wearly; the storm still ragged. Suddenly the
vessel struck, not violently, not even with suf
ticient force to throw tho passengers of their
seats. Water then came pouring down into the
cabin. A voice shouted for the second-class
passengers to 60 into tue lower saloon, as the
mainmast was going to be cut away. The pas
sengers nearest to The entrance doors attempted
to open them (they we're hinged in the ceiling},
and finding some difficulty, they were immeJi-
ately smashed. Still tLcre was no husr5ing or
crushing; all silently took thfirs seats. On deck,
sailors and officers, ,stript.d to the waist, IL
rolled and thumped so heavily, that in deliver
ing their blows, the men were many times
thrown on to the deck, but the motion Of the
vessel assisted the work; the waves, too, lent
their aid, and soon the mast tottered, then fe!!
with crash overheard. Immediately after
wards the raging sea threw the vessel still
higher up upon the rocks. The foremost was
then cut away, aud almost at the GAME time The
mizzenmast broke of ut the mizzen-masthead.
Boats were lowered, but the moment they
touched the wares they were carrid with ire.
sistible force against the rocks. and their in.
mates were either crushed OF drowned in the
sea. No boat could live in such storm.-
There appeared scarcely any need of boats,
60 close upon the shore WIS the vessel. Har-
ing struck, the vessel slowed round port side to
the rocks. When in the lower saloon, about
this time, an apprentice boy, Charley, entered,
telling tue passengers from the captain that they
were 10 keep up their hearts, oil was we'll, they
still remained quietly in the cabin. Mr. Cowie,
the second mate, accompanied by the purser
and two men, came down; they were stripped,
having on only their shirt and troWsers. They
passed through The saloon to the powder maya
zine. as they went bidding the passengers keep
up their hearts, they we're not far from the
shore. The water entered the saloon ut the
ly, the vessel thumped harder. Those in the
lower saloon then passed into the upper one.
There they found assembled some of the first
and third class passengers, No words we're
tp"'."n. hope and fear struggled for the mas
ter: IN their counteuances-by this nloue was
it s. cn that life and death were in the balances,
The til|uess Of the assembly was broken once
ayoung lady, about twenty years, Miss Mur.
ray, who was on hoard with her father, mother
and brother, fainted, aud was Immediately car.
RED to her cabin, from whence she neyer
emerged. Daylight now began to dawn. They
had been tossing On the sea aud laboring on the
rocks all night Shortly after daylight, third
C1ARA naEkpnrHF down. bo Ind L. l.:
tsowsers, and had been in the bows Of the YES
sci for several hours. He said the forerart Of
the vessel and the bows touched the laud-
every one could wade ashore All bopeo of
saving the vessel hRrlng disappeared, and the
boats having been rendered unseryiceable, the
captain ordered hawser to be got ready. i
seaman, named Joseph Rogers, volunteered to
swim ashore with it, The line vas made fast
to his body, aud the noble fellow gallantlr
dropped overheard aud breasted the wares will
the resolution Of q British sailor. For time be
was lost 10 sight. as wave after wave dashed
over the vessel and broke upon tue rocks then
the line frightened, and the man was seen clam
ber1ng up the rocks. The villagers crowded
round, the hnwser was hauled ashore aud made
fast to rocl. boatswain's chair was aune On to
the rope, and number Of sailors ordered ashore
to workit. Every order was obeyed without con.
fusion. amongst others landed we're two brave
fellows-Georee -Suaicar, Malta, boasswain's
mate. and William Foster, Liverpool, carpenter.
Word was passed down to the saloons that the
ladies' we're to come on deck. There was a
increment Immediately towards the staircase.
At the same time the ships timbers began to
creak then there were two heavy thumPs ex-
perienced and the ship broke in two across
were stapding amiaships. and when the vessel
parted they disappeared forever. At the same |
TINA boat abaft the lore rigging fell The
chief officer. Mr. Stevens, and the chief en- |
gneer, Mr. Rogers. were standing under it, and
both were killed. 4 second line was attempted |
bis wife ind chill ren, on gaining the deck 'ound |
that they we're on the stern part Of the vessel, |
from the fore part By yawning |
chasm, into which every moment human beings |
were dropping, or being driven bY tue waves.
It was moment of the intensest anguish. As |
each clnug 10 the rail, st tho top Of The stairs,
a hurried farewell was spoken; then tlev
awaited death calmly. Mr. Russell had several
times essayed 10 get q rope. So close were they
to the shore. be imagined he might fasten the
rope around his family, cast the rope ashore
md save them. In vain we're his efforts, They
we're still clinging to each other, when huge
wave came and separated them When the
ware had passed, Mr- RusseIl's eldest daughter
was missing; n box had been washed on her
leg. Mr. Russell moved the boz aud liberated
her, and again for few minutes they were uni.
led. Another wave canle-they lost hold of the |
rail; Mrs. Russell and the two girls were wash.
I'd against the side of the vessel, Mr. Russell
overboard. As the water returned. Mr. Rus.
sci sprang at piece Of iron, which hung from
lbs side, seized It, then caught rope; ip an
nther moment he Was on deck. His youncest
laughter was nearest to him; he attempted to |
ay bold Of her, had his hands just on her, when
mother wave came, broke orer the ship.
poured down with Irresistible force, md washed
aim overheard agsin. For time be was
struggling in the waves conyulsively; he Clutch
ID at something which he felt against his body: +
t was only piece Of canvas; another moment
md he felt seaweed under As feet. A wave
came. he was almost insensible, yet he SAN
nan standing before him. Was it a dream, or
reality? lie stretched ont his hand, he grasp.
d anoiher hand-Tet another ware CANE. aud
land uuloosed--he Was borne back again-a
nightier ware broke, and hand VAS again grasp
dit held him-he was sared. In . moment |
" two he recovered bis senses, he was living On
rock be turned his eyes seaward, there was
10 living creature efi on the stern Of the vessel,
le then became insensb1e again. and was borne |
" the villagers to the hospitable cottage of
If. and Mrs. Lewis, in the neighberhood-
There were one or two scenes lust before
ir. Russell was finally washed Oft The
Erect, which imprinted themselves on
lis memory; words uttered which no time
an ever oblterate; they were the last glimpses
aught of fellow-rosagers; the dyiug express
ions Of old companions. Mr. Henderson, q
merchant Of Melbourne, on bis way to London,
Fas holding On to the binuaele with gentleman
nmed Watson. one Of the firm Of Watson, Pass.