The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-11-14
THE WRECK OF THE ROYAL CHARTER.

THE WRECK Of THE ROYAL CHARTER.
Additional Particulars OF tho Disaster
The Vessel Caught An the Great Cham
mel Gale near shorc-Anchors Let Go, as
No Pilot Could BE Had-Gotng ON the
Rocks OF Moclfra Bay-A Brave Sailor
Ship Asundcr, and Four Hundred and
Fifty-Five Persons Killed and Drown
ed-All the Chief Omcers and Women
and Children L0st-Busld and Coat OF
the Vessel-Casualitics to American Ves-
sels During the Storm, &c.
BY the City Of Baltimore received brief accounts Of
the wreck of the steamship Royal Charter and Of
the fearful loss of life involved therein. We now in
possession OF graphic and copious details of the sad Gala
nifty
1t appears thai the Royal Charter, when within two or
three hours sail Of Liverpool fer rapid passage from
Melbourne experienced the full fury Of terrible north
east gale, which prevailed all England during the
night of the 25h and 2eth u The stcam power Of the
vessel being merely auxiliary 1t was insufficient to pre-
vent her from being driven towards the shoe and the
water rapidly shoalng became necessary at about
ten O'Clock at night TO let go the anchors guns having
been previously fred and rockets discharged the hope
Of attracting pilot, but wthovt success.
The gale meantime increased to perfect hurricane,
and at two O'Clock in the morning the port anchor chain
parted, and shortly afterwards the ship beating
rocks in place called Moelfra Bay, Putin Island on
the coast Of Anglesea The masts cut away, but
without any beneficial result
About daylight (six oclock) a sailor with cord tied
around his waist jumped overheard, and although the
tremendously high he succeeded in reaching and
maintaining footing the rocky shore, which not
than ten yards distant from the ship almost
perpendjcular IN he heght FORTY fact ha
then got ashore and boatswan chair was attached TO il
with view Of hauling the passengers and crew shore.
About dozen seamen were by this means landed,
and it was hoped that all on board might be saved
AT about seven O'Clock, however, the waves beating
against the ships broadsde with continued Violence
suddenly snapped asunder amidships and tumbled IN
pieces As the passengers d mostly kept below, large
numbers were killed by the crashing debris, and only
twenty six managed TO get ashore, making the whole
number saved only hirynine out Of total passengers
The scene was terrible in the extreme. Many were
washed and of the rocks several times, and in
rous instances those who thought themselves
waves.
Not superior officer was saved neither uoman nor
child.
Captain Taylor cxerted himself to the utmost but was
finally struck on the head while struggling in the water,
by boat falling from the davits and no more
Tae destruction OF the ship rapid and complete
that by eight O'Clock nothing visible but OF
wreck, mingled with bodies of the dead washed the
strand The prostraton Of the telegraph wires and
destruction by the sea of portion of the Chester and
Holyhcad Railroad (Which passes the locality, caused
considerable delay in the reception of the Liver
pool and consequent loss Of time in sending tug
the spot The vessel had board (supposelD $4,000
ounces Of gold besides large number OF sovereigns
timated Of the total value Of from $780, 900 $780,
0oo and hopes were entertained that this might be
cred by divers.
The Royal Charter was an iron vessel, OF 274e tons
register clipper built and furnished with auxiliary sore W
engines She built in 1856, cost Of ESQ Ooo
and insured for ESQ Her general cargo was not
very vauabc--say f5, 900.
Of the persons board the Royal Charter when she
left Australia sixty three were cabin passengers 1875 other
passengers and l23 crew-toal 51 OF these seventeen
passengers landed at Queenstown, and thirty nine
saved from the wreck that the total of life
was 455. Among those reckoned were eleven
riRgers who transferred from tug the Roy
al Charter in the Channel Cor conveyance to Liverpool
assurances being effected at l.yds ON the bullion
at twenty five per cent premium.
NEWSPAPER ACCOUNTS OF THE WRECK
AND ITS CONSEQUENCES
SPLENDID RUN FROM AUSTRALIA-SIGHTING THE
LAND.
From the Liverpool Times Oct 90
our painful duty to record the total loss of the
of her passengers and The Royal Charter was well
known as one of Messrs. Gibbs Bright Co IS aeet Of
Australian clippers, and famed for the regularity and
speed Of her voyages TO Australia.
This amenable event occurred during the gale the
morning Of "Wednesday, the 2e,h, in Red Wharf Bay,
Putin Island, Menai Straits and six the north
west of Beaumaris, on the coas. Of Wales, four
hours sail from Liverpool.
This catastrophe has in marked manner cast gloom
this town. and in London painful sensation
perenced on the distressing becoming known
there.
The following is detailed report Of the wreck
After splendid passage from Melbourne, accomplished
in about fifty six days. and having landed seventeen pas
senges al Queenstown and teegraphed her safe arrival
TO the owners she made for Liverpool Tuesday last
At half past four p. NJ. she passed Holyhead, when
strong breeze from the ~ sprung up At forty five
minutes after she passed the Skerrics and the
wind began 10 to the north and TO increase in
strength At O'clock being near high water and the
he w n IN, rcaOQ
from N f., and the vessel was put under all steam and
left with bare poles, steering f. by E. quarter
made 10 put her about but the gale furious
that the small strength Of the screw compared with
the size Of the ship and the height of her mass and
upper gear, was of little avail, and they could
not get her round. Captain Taylor deck
about nine o'clock and lead was kept constantly go.
ing finding that they nearing and nearing the
shore, the port anchor let go, in 16 fathoms,
about rs fathoms Of chain paid out They let the
sarboard anchor the wind still blowing perfect hurri
cane and the weather SO thick and dark that nothing
could be Before this rockets and gun firing and
blue lights had been sent up in the hope of attracting
pist, but all in vain, not living thing TO be
GOING ON THE ROCKS IN GALE.
AT two O'Clock on Wednesday, morning she parted her
anchor chain and the stream anchor was got over the
bow The ship having now gov eoangied with the land,
and struck stern on the malnast cut away half
past two and in going over the side ii away the
mizen top along with it with fearful crash It is said
that axe for the purpose not readily oand In the
excitement but that not necessary on cutting
the stays SO strong was the gale that topplcd at
once AT 3&5 A. NJ they cut away the foTemast but the
remedy was too late Still she kept beating the rocks
and heeng at the stern, she swung with her broadside
70 the land
About daylight (six o'clock) Portuguese seaman.
named Joseph Rodgerson tied cord around his waist
and jumped board The land not more than ten
yards away; but the tremendously high that
every wave beat over the ship like cataract and
dered every attempt at safety dangerous The seaman,
however, got firm footing, and by OF the cord
hawser was got ashore and fastened tn the On
this boatswans chair Hxcd which could be hauled
to and from the ship by at each end. few Of the
Islanders came promptly to render assistance, and the
chair about dozen seamen were hauled ashore When
daylight was dawniDg this process, it supposed,
would be sufficient to land all the passengcrsor
10 and them until day light revealed better oppor
tunity
THE VESSEL BEATEN BY THE WAVES FALLS TO
PIECES HARRow1NG SCENES ON BOARD AND IN
THE WATER.
At about seven O'Clock, the beating against her
broasidc with continued Violence she idenly snapped
asunder amdships and tunbled in pieces like house of
cards.
The scenes on board during tho last were painful
beyond description. Wives and husbands children aud
parents lovers and friends, embracing each other