The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1859-11-29
A THRILLING NARRATIVE.


have been one of the most appalling disasters on
record Mr. John Bradbury, one of the few survi-
vors, says in his account:
1--WE sailed from Melbourne on the Goth of Au-
gust and had on board, as [ know, about five hun
bred passengers and crew. The captain was MIR
Thomas Taylor, the chief officer Mr. Stephens, and
the second mate, Mr. Cowie. The ship ran almost
entirely under canvass up to the equinoctial line,
when she encountered strong head winds. On the
10th of September, about four clock in the morn
ing the weather being thick and dark, we close
past large iceberg. Mr. Cowie was on watch, and
had it not been for his able maneuvring the ship
would have been in imminent danger. The pas
sengers showed their appreciation of his ability by
presenting him with testimonial on the eve of
the dreadful disaster. We arrived at Queenstown
on Monday forenoon, when twelve passengers dis
embarked We left Queenstown about two o'clock,
under steam alone The ship was laid on her
course for Liverpool, but the storm had the effect
of diverting her. The sea was running high, but
not equal to what We had experienced on the pas
sage, but the wind was stronger. 1t was found we
could make no Roadway, and two anchors were
dropped. She dragged her anchors and the en-
gnes were working, but understood the screw
was broken. About two o'clock Wednesday
morning the vessel struck. A great number OF
passengers were then in their berths; but they
suddenly rushed upon the deck, many of them but
at first but it increased people became aware of
the real danger. [ believe the captain was not So
Der; but Capt. Withers, who was passenger, and
the chief mate and officers, did all they could to
save the ship"
At this point we take up the following graphic
narrative of another surviving passenger:
'sOn entering the saloon Mr. Allen, the head
steward of the second cabin, came and told the
passengers they had not better 60 deck, as it
r. l,a,RIx
obeyed. Time passed anxiously and YEARLY the
storm still ragged Suddenly the vessel struck, not
violently, not even with sufficient force to throw
the passengers off their seats. Water then came
pouring down into the cabin voice shouted for
the second-class passengers to go into the lower
saloon, as the mainmast going to be cut away.
The passengers nearest to the entrance doors at
tempted to open Them (they were hinged in the
ceiling) and, finding some difficulty, they were
Immediately smashed. Still there no hurrying
OF crushing; all silently took their seats. On deck
sailors and officers, stripped to the waist, labored
to cut away the mainmast. The vessel rolled and
thumped so heavily that in delivering their blows
the men were many times thrown on the deck, but
the motion of the vessel assisted the work; the
waves, too, lent their ad and soon the mast tot
tered, then fell with a crash overheard Immedi-
ately afterwards the raging threw the vessel
still higher up upon the rocks The foremost was
mizzen- mast broke off at the mizzen- cad
Boat: were lowered, but the moment they touched
the waves they were carried with irresistible force
against the rocks, and the inmates were either
crushed or drowned in the sea- No boat could live
in such storm. There appeared scarcely any
need of boats so close upon the shore was the YES
sci. Having struck, the vessel Slowed round port
side to the rocks.
''When in the lower saloon, about this time, an
hov oil no
sengers from the captain that they were to keep
up their hearts, all well, they were only on
sandbank The passengers still remained quietly
in the cabin. Mr. Cowie, the second mate, accom-
panied by the pprser and two men, down;
they were stripped, having only their shirt and
trousers They passed through the saloon to the
powder magazine they went bidding the pas
sengers keep up their hearts, they we're not far
from the shore The water entered the saloon at
the same time, and the waves striking more heavi-
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 were spoken; hope
and fear struggled for the mastery In their cOunte-
nances by this alone was it seen that life and death
were in the balances. The stiffness of the assem-
bly, was broken once-a young lady, about twenty,
Miss Murray, who was on board with her father,
mother, and brother, tainted, and was Immediately
carried to her cabin, from whence she emerg-
ed Daylight now began to dawn. They had
been tossing on the sea and laboring on the rocks
all night. Shortly after daylight third class pas
senger came down; he had on only his trousers,
and had been in the bows of the vessel for several
hours. He said the forepart Of the vessel and the
bows touched the land-every could wade
ashore All hopes of saving the vessel having dis
appeared, and the boats having been rendered I'M
serviceable the captain ordered hawser to be got
ready. seaman, named Joseph Rogers, voun-
tcered to swim ashore with it. The line was made
fast to his body, and the noble fellow gallantly
dropped overheard and breasted the waves with the
resolution of British sailor. For time he was
lost to sight, after wave dashed over the
vessel and broke upon the rocks; then the line
frightened, and the man cambering up
the rocks. The villagers crowded round, the haw-
was hauled ashore and made fast to a rock, a
bcatswalns chair was slung on to the rope, and
number of sailors ordered ashore to work it, Eve
ry order was obeyed without confusion. Amongst
others landed were two brave fellows George Suai-
car, boatswain's mate, and William Foster. carpen-
ter
"Word was passed down to the saloons that the
ladies were to come on deck. There was a move
ment Immediately towards the staircase. At the
same time the ships tinbers began to creak then
there were two heavy thumps experienced, and the
ship broke in two across the main hatch. A great
number OF passengers were standing amidships,
and when the vessel parted they disappeared for
ever. At the same time boat abat the torerig-
cling fell The chief officer Mr. Stevens, and the
chief engineer, Mr. Rogers, were standing under it,
and both waro Rillod 4 SoconJ linz M.