The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-07-12
LOSS OF The STEAMER MALABAR.
Interesting Particulars Of the Wreck..Nar-
row Escape of the English and French
m ha


Ambassadors.
In the London Times of June 9th, we f,ud
graphic description Of the loss of the steamer
Malabar ir Gale Harbor, CeyIon. on the a7th
OF May. The Malabar was an iron shin 600
tons burden, and five years old Among her
passengers were Lord Elgin and Baron Gros.
who narrowly escaped with their lives. Saws
the Times account:
About half-past two o'clock the Malabars
commander, Capt: GraiDger, goes TO his cabin
Tor enange OF clothes. He Is hardly there,
when, suddenly and without a moments no.
tfce, comes terrific squall from the north
east. 1t sweeps across the bay, and strikes the
Malabar on her port side, causing her to heel
coinpieteIy over. Inc mooring hawser snaps,
ana she swings round head to wind, com plete-
ly reversing her former position Then comes
shock which shakes the vessel from stem to
stern a second, which brings the saloon sky
ilgnt crashing into the cabin. Again, again,
again, and lamp after lamp is shivered 10
pieces. We are on the reef and the rocks are
smas hing In our plates one after another
capt. Granger js on the hridge--the engineer
81 MS pos but the steam is not up, and the
snip cfarhes ana crunches with every swell.
The pumps are sounded, and give three feet
and a half water in the after compartment
Five minutes later and five feet are announced.
our position is most critical not a boat along
side-not one of the ships boats ready for
launching. Before ms is the bay with its roar
ing swell; behind at four hundred yards dis
tance, the fort, with the sea dashing over the
rocks which jut into the water, and breaking
In tremendous spray right against the parapet
wall The wind still keeps from the north
if it does not shift but a few minutes and all
will be over. Hold on by the anchor-let it
drag but six feet and the engine compartment
will be smashed to pieces.
The quail, however, abates, and the vessel
swings clear of the reef. But new danger
appears. The compartments are filling tast
and she is yisibly settling by the stern. The
water rushes into the tunnel and indica ties
seven feet in the hold. Unless steam be got up
down she must go, stern first, in a very few
minutes. panic seiZes some-happily but
few-of the passengers. All hope is soon de-
stroyed by the fearful rapidity with which
the water rises. The chief engineer rushes on
deck "In the name of God, captain, DOM
proceed TO sea we are in sinking state
Beach her at once" But the rumor gains
ground, and some of the passengers poster
Lord Elgin with vain requests "WiIl no,
your Lordship order the boats TO be IOweredp =
Will you not protest against going to sea!"-
"Will you not speak TO the captainr'
Lord Elgin steadily refuses to interfere with
the captain in the discharge of his duty, bu
sends Col. Crealock with message-"LorC
Elgin presents his compliments, and wishes tC
know II you are going 10 sea" "Going 10 sea
we are going down" And so we are and tha
yisibly. Still not boat alongside, the cargo
boats having disappeared after the first bump
The quartermasters are ut the helm, W hict
they have never quilted during the wildes
confusion. "Heave at the anchor" 'Cheer
fully, men, cheerfulIy." They work with
will, and, God be thanked, at the first revolu
ton of the engines, the screw drives hel
ahead. The bilge injection is set TO work
but the water gains rapidly. 1t is up to hel
She is sinking fast. Will sbe live acros,
the bay, and reach the sandy beach E
Mr.. Loeb, Lord Elgin's private secretary
served in the navy in early life. He goes Il
ha Mt and QSkS loou 20,
the quarter boats for lowering so that if W,
sink In crossing there may be chance of saw
ing the women. Permission is readily grant
ed, and MIR. Loch, Col. Creslock, and a few
others soon have the boat ready for launching z
Now we are off. The stern sinks lower anC
lower. keep your eye on that mast quiet
ly remarked an old sailor to me Il don't ex
pect W. shall get across and if we sink it may
be above water.' At length we reach the sand
Let go the anchors. She swings, and the or
der is given to go astern but al the first reyo
luton the engines are brought up standing
The broken hawser is round the screw HaC
| 1t twisted the other way we could never hav,
gone head. We veer cable. and she is quietl,
heached on the sand, stern first. 1t is higi
| tide. A little longer and the water is in tn
engne-room. The ships boats are now low
cred 50 great Is the swell that TO lie alongsid
| is a work of danger. There are some TWEEN t,
vessels in port, but only two send boats Th
| first (English) is swamped in the heavy surf
The other (French) gets under the ladder ant
lis, Out Tue lueu dTedCLlVe ana ulckly bale he
| out. During the whole scene midst the wildes
| excitement, the ladies behave most nobly. N,
shrek is heard, and, though a few tears ar
shed, there is neither confusion or dismay-
| To get them into the boat is no easy matter
but happily II is concluded without accident
| one boat receiving them on the starboard
| another on the port quarter. Push or lant
| them quickly, and return 10 the ship. AM
| now boats arrive from the shore and the Gov
| ernor's barge is among them. But Lord Elgil
| will not quit the vessel until every passenge
| is saved One after another he sees them owe
| the side, and at length steps into the barg
| with Baron Gros, the attaches of the two En-
bassies and the writer of this letter. We lool
at the stern, which is all but level with tn
| water and cease to wonder a. the narrow es
cape of Mr.. q ifftord, one of the passengers. II
went to his cabin to recover something for hi
wife. A sea dashed through the port, filled
the cabin, closed the door, and but for the We
netian blinds, which gave egress for the wate
into the saloons, he would have been drowned
like rat in a hole. We pull f r the ietty
where the Ambassadors land, sorely shorn o
their glory, but having shown under the mos
trying circumstances a rare example of cour
age and steadfastness.