The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1859-12-03
Particulars Of the Royal Charter Dis.
aster.-.
TERRIBLE Loss OF LIFE.

It appears that the Royal Charter, when
within two or three hours sail of Liverpool,
after rapid. passage from Melbourne, ex-
perieneed the full fury of terrible north
east gale, which prevailed all over England
during the night of Nov. 25th. The
steam power of the vessel being merely aux
iliary, it was ins efficient to prevent her from
being driven towards the shore, and as she
was rapidly shoaling, it became necessary,
at about 10 o'clock at night, to let go the
anchors, guns having been previously fired
and rockets discharged, in the hope of at
tracing pilot, but without success. The
gale meantime increased to perfect hurri-
canoe, and at O'Clock in the morning the
port anchor chain parted, and shortly after
wards the ship was beating on the rocks in
place called Moelfra Bay. near Putin ISL
and, on the coast of Anglesca. The masts
were cut away, but without any beneficial
result. About daylight, o'clock, sailor
with cord around his waist, jumped over
board, and although the sea ran tremem-
dous high, he succeeded in reaching and
maintaining a footing on the rocky shore,
which was not more than ten yards from
the ship, but was almost perpendicular to
the hight of 40 feet A hawser was then
got ashore, and a boatswain's chair was at
tached to it, with view of hauling the pas
sengers and crew ashore. About dozen
seamen were by this means soon landed, and
it was hoped that all on board might be saved.
At about O'Clock, however. the waves
beating against the ships broatlside with
continued violence, she suddenly snapped
asuuder amidships and tumbled in pieces.
AS the passengers had mostly kept below,
large numbers were killed by the crashing
debris, and only &c persons managed to GET
ashore making the whole number saved
only 80, out of total, passengers and crew,
of 493. The scene was terrible in the ex-
IRENE many were washed on and off the
rocks several times, and in numerous in
stances those who thought themselves Sc
cure on Juttlng rocks were hurled back into
the sea by the furious waves. Not ,supe-
rior officer was saved, neither a woman or
child. Capt. Taylor exerted himself to the
utmost, but was finally struck on the head
while struggling in the water by q boat fa i
ing from tho davits, and was seen no more
The destruction of the ship was rapid and
complete, SO! that by eight O'Clock nothing
was visible burt masses of wreck mingled
with bodies of the dead, washed on the
stand. The vessel had on board. it is sup
Poseu' '0'ooo ounces Oh SoId,- 1oesldeS
large number of soyereigns, estimated of
the total value Of from :f5OO, 900 to .E8oO,-
600, and faint hopes were entertained that
this might be recovered by divers. The
Royal Charter was an iron vessel of 2749
tons registered, clipper built and furnished
with auxiliary screw engines. She was
built, in 1855, at cost of over 100000,
and was insured for $50, 900. Her general
cargo, was not very valuable, say f500O.
OF the persons on board wien she left Aus
tralia, 6S were cabin passengers. $50 other
passengers, and 1G3 crew-total ST. OF
these; II passengers were landed at Queens
town, and 80 were saved from the wreck,
so that the total loss of life was 454.