Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-12-02
Wreck of the Royal Charter.


l..
which we have now full particulars, =
proves TO have been one of the most aP-
palIing disasters on record. Mr.. John
Bradbury, one of the few survivors, says,
in his account
We sailed from Melbourne on the
18th of August. and had on board, as |
knew, about 500 passengers and crew.
The captain was Mr.. Thomas Taylor,
the chief officer, Mr.. Stephens, and the
second mate. Mr.. Cowie. The ship ran
almost entirely under canvas up to the
eauinoctial line, when she encountered
strong head winds; her screw power
was then brought into requisition. On /
the 10th Of September, about 4 o'clock F.
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 tnaneuvering.
the ship would have been in imminent !
danger. The passengers showed their
appreciation of his ability by presenting
him with testimonial on the eve of the /
dreadful disaster. We arrived at Queens !
town on Monday forenoon, when twelve
/ passengers disembarked. We left
Queenstown about O'Clock, under steam
alone. The ship laid on her course for
Liverpool, but the storm had the effect Of
digerting her to such an extent that /
saw the Great Eastern at Holyhead.-
The wind was then blowing very hard.
We sighted the light on Point Lynas
about five O'Clock in the afternoon. The
sea was running high, but not equal 10
what We had experienced on the pas
sage, but the wind was stronger. 1t was
found that we could make no Roadway
and two anchors were dropped. She
dragged her anchors, and the engines
were working, but l understood the
! screw was broken. About two O'Clock
on Wednesday morning the vessel struck.
A great number Of passengers were then
in their berths; but they suddenly rush
ed upon deck, many Of them but partial
. ly dressed. There was not much con
: fusion at first, but it increased as people
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
z they could to save the ship.
i At this point We take up the fol- ow
7 ing graphic narrative Of another surviv-
ing 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 it might cause confu
sion. The order was implicitly obeyed
, Time passed anxiously and YEARLY tbs
y storm still ragged. Suddenly the vesse
" struck, not violently, not even with suf
icient force to throw the passengers of
" their seats. Water then came pouring
. down into the cabin. A voice shouted
:, for the second-class passengers TO 90 int
the lower saloon, as the mainmast wa
" going to be cut away. The passenger
nearest to the entrance doors attempte'
- to open them (hey were hinged in tn
" ceiling.) and finding some difficulty, the
were Immediately smashed. Still Their
was no hurrying, or crushing; all silent
" ly took their seats. On deck, sailor
and officers, stripped to the waist, labol
ed to cut away the mainmast. The We:
- sci rolled and thumped SO heavily, thu
II in delivering their blows, the men wer
many times thrown on to the deck, bg
'aS the motion OF the vessel assisted th
"a work the waves, too, lent their aid, an
-''' soon the mast tottered. then fell with
." crash overheard. Immediately aftp
wards the raging sea threw the vess
60 still higher up, upon the rocks. I'll
forenast was then cut away, and almo
at the same time the mizzen-mast brok
off at the mizzen-nast head. Boa
p we're lowered, but the moment they toucl
ed the waves they were carried with
'0' resistible force against the rocks, al
their inmates we're either crushed
drowned In the sea. No boat could Ii
in such a storm. There appeared sea
cely any need Of boats, so close upon Il
:, shore was The vessel. Having stru,
the vessel slowed round port side to 4
rocks. When in the lower saloon, abo
this time, an apprsntice boy, Charlie
entered, telling the passengers from 4
captain that they were to keep up th,
their hearts, all was well, they were on
on a sandbank. The passengers still 1
''' manned quietly in the cabin. Dir. Cow
~ the second mate, accompanied by I
'"1 purser and two men came down I'd
i were stripped, having on only their sh