Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-11-01
Ballp QnlOn Il American
AwfnI shspwreck az Australia.


A fine steamer, The Admella. Of about six hundred
tons. and three hundred horse power running be-
tween Adelaide and Melbourne, was wrecked on the
oth August BY striking on reef thirty miles TO the
west OF the imaginary line separating Victoria from
South Australia The details are the most frightfu
OF any shipwreek that ever occurred on the Aus
trallan coast The sacrifice Of life although large
upwards Of fifty persons having been lost is not the
most horrible part Of the catastrophe The suffer-
lngs Of the unfortunate survivors exceeded ANYTHING
described IN the history of suffering and disaster at
sea. For seven days they were on the wreck dur
ing nye OF which they were without food of any
description The ship struck at half past four in
the morning. In less than minutes after the ap
paIng shock the ship parted in three pieces. About
f0rty people continued TO cling TO the bow por-
ton for nearly two days, when they nearly all
washed Of and lost, with the exception Of about if
tsen who were brought TO the after part Of the YES
sci BY means Of rope.
Some very horrible scenes of separation among
the families of the fore cabin passengers occurred
at this time All the provisions that were saved in
the first instance was filter full of water small
bag OF almonds, about twenty pounds cheese half
ham, ten pounds of beef eight bottles ofporter and
one bottle of whisky, but portion of these was af
forwards washed away. The surf dashed over
them night and day, yet all appeared composed and
collected. The chief mate Games Hutchinson) in
describing the scene, says each night carried off its
Flcnms-about twenty died Tuesday night from cold
lit was bitter night--deaths frequent as
10 lose all terrors TO the survivors, who looked cal
lousy on. Captain Harrison, of the Waitemata did
all that man could do, diving for provisions he
suffered much from the exertion that he died from
exhaustion on board. He relates other acts of he
roism and self denial which to extent relieve the
pain of the melancholy narrative !.
The country near where the wreck took place is
very thinly populated, and 1t was not till Monday
morning that the two sailors who got ashore on a
raft reported the calamitous accident to the light
house keepers at Cape Northumberland Informa-
ton was Immediately communicated TO Melbourne
and Adelaide. The Victorian government did noth-
ing. On Tuesday a number of people from Mount
Gambler visited the scene of the wreck and discov-
cred that number of people were alive, whom the
Msssrs. Honty, Immediately ordered the Lady Bird,
then lying at Belfast proceed at once to the wreck
The Lady Bird was unable 20 find the wreck and
had to return TO Portland for information it was
Friday at midday before she reached the spot
Equally unavailing were the efforts of her crew,
augmented by a number of experienced whalers
from Portland. 10 effect communication with the
wreck The sever IN night closed upon the wretched
survivors, reduced to 81 their hopes of relief
almost utterly extinguished. Four men died during
the night. On Saturday morning the survivors
were safely brought TO shore, in all 90 great deal
of feeling has been manifested against the govern
ment for the anathv they eyinced.