Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1859-11-26
WRECK OF THE ROYAL CHARTER.
THRILLING NARRATIVE.

nave ioW luh pditlCululS' P'VNeS W nave neeh
one of the most appalling disasters on record.
Mr.. John Bradbury, one of the few survivors,
says, in his account
We sailed from Melbourne on the 26th of
August, and had on board as | knew, about
800 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 canvas up to the equinoc
ta line, when she encountered strong head
winds; her screw power was then brought into
requisiiion. 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 maneuyering, the ship would
have been in imminent danger. The passengers
showed their appreciation of his ability by pre-
senting him with a testimonial on the eve of
the dreadful disaster We arrived at Queens
town on Monday forenoon, when twelve passen
gers disembarked. We left Queenstown about
2 o'clock, under steam alone. The ship laid on
her course for Liverpool, but the storm had the
effect of divcrting her to such an extent that l
saw the Gredt Eastern at Holyhead. The wind
was then blowing very hard. We sighted the
light on Point Lynas about Ave o'clock in the
afternoon. 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 headway and two anchors
were dropped. She dragged her anchors, and
the engines were working, but understood the
screw was broken. About two o'clock on
Wednesday morning the vessel struck. great
number of passengers were then in their bcrths;
but they suddenly rushed upon deck, many of
them but partially dressed. There was not
much confusion at first. but it increased as peo-
pie became aware Of the real danger. | believe
the captain was not sober; but Captain 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;
On entering the saloon Mr.. Allen, the head
steward of the second cabin, came and told the
passengers they had better not go on deck, as
il might cause confusion. The order was i'm
plictlv obeved Time passed anxiously and
YEARLY; the storm still ragged. Suddenly the
vessel struck, not violently, not even with suf-
ficient force to throw the passengers off their
seats. Water then came pouring down into the
cabin A voice shouted for the second-class
passengers to 90 into the lower saloon, as the
mainmast was going to be cut away. The pas
sengers nearest to the entrance doors attempted
to open them (they were hinged in the ceiling)
and finding some difficulty, they were immedi-
atelv smoshed. Still there was no hurrying, or
crushing; all silently took their seats On deck,
sailors and officers, stripped to the waist, labor I'd
to cut away the mninmast. The vessel rolled
and thumped so heavily, that in delivering 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 fell with a crash
overheard. Immediately afterwards the raging
sea threw the vessel still higher up, upon the
rocks. The foremast was then cut away, and
almost at the same time the mzzen-mast broke
off at the mizzen-mast head Boats were low
ered but the moment they touched the waves
they were carried with irresistible force against
the rocks, and their 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
vessel. Having struck the vessel slowed round
port side to the rocks. When in the lower sa-
loon, about this time, an apprentice boy, Char-
lev entered. telling the passengers from the
captain that they were to keep up their hearts,
ali was well, they were only on a sandbank
The passengers still remained quietly in the
cabin. Mr.. Cowie the second mate, accompa-
MED BY the purser and two men came down
they were stripped, having on only their shir
and trowsers. They passed through the saloor
to the powder magazine, as they went bidding
not far from the shore The water entered the
saloon at the same time, and the waves striking
more heavily, the vessel thumped harder. Thos'
in the lower saloon then passed into the uppe
one. There they found assembled some OF thu
first and third class passengers. No word
were spoken, hope and fear struggled for th
mastery in their countenances-by this alon
was it seen that life and death were in the bal
ances The stiffness of the assembly was broker
once-a young lady, about 20, Miss Murry, wh'
was on board with her father, mother and broth
er, tainted, and was Immediately carried to he
cabin, from whence she never emerged. Day
; light now began to dawn. They had been toss
ing on the sea and laborng on the rocks a
night Shortly after daylight, a third-class pas
senger came down; he had on only his trowser'
+ and had been in the bows of the vessel for sey
, eral hours. He said the forepart of the vesst
and the bows touched the land-every one coul
wade ashore. All hope of saving the vess'
having disappeared, and the boats having bee
rendered unserviceable, the captain ordered
| hawser to be got ready. A seamen, name
Joseph Rogers, volunteered to swim ashore wit
= it. The line was mede fast to his body, and tn
> noble fellow gallantly dropped overheard an
. breasted the waves with the resolution OF a Bri
9 sh sailor For time he was lost to sight, q
i wave after wave dashed over the vessel an
: broke upon the rocks; tnen tne ilc uSltSHc'
4 and the man was seen clamberng up the rock
d villagers crowded round, the hawser was haule
: ashore and made fast to rock, boatswain
a chair was slnng on to the rope, and numb
n of sailors ordered ashore to work it. Eve
r order was obeyed without confusion. Among
J. others landed were two brave fellows-Geors
Suaicar, Malta, boatswain's mate, and Villa
Foster, Liverpool, carpenter. Word was pas
- ed down to the saloons that the ladies were
come on deck. There was a movement imm
y diately towards the staircase. At the san
:! time the ships timbers began to creak; th'
4, there were two heavy thumps experienced; al
- the ship broke in two across the main hate
= great number of passengers were standil
= amdships, and when the vessel parted they di
- appeared forever. At the same time boat
~ II bait the fore rigging fell. The chief officer
~ II Stevens and the chief engineer, MIR. Roge
~ -, were standing under it, and both were kille
u A second line was attempted to be carried
b shore, but failed. Mr.. RUSSELL his wife al
children, on gaining the deck, found that tn
were on the stern part of the vessel separat
of from the fore part by yawning chasm, III
- which every moment human beings were drc
ad ping, or being driven by the waves. 1t was
to moment of the inteEsest anguish. As ca
" clung to the rail- at the top of the stairs, HI
re - .yai