Connecticut western news., 1872-07-19
Sad Disaster to an Exploring Party.

Sad tidings have been received of the result of on expedition organized in Sydney some months ago to explore New Guinea. After months of preparation the brig Maria was chartered to convey tho adventurers from Sydney. The Maria left Sydney on the 24th of January and arrived within two days sail of New Guinea on the 18th of February, when she was met by 8 heavy gale from the northwest, which blew for four days, and so injured and strained the ship that the captain (Stratman) determined to run for Brisbane (Queensland) to repair. On the 18th of February the wind veered round to the southward, and the ships course was directed toward Cleveland Bay. The Palm Islands were sighted on the night of Sunday, the 24Gh February, and the vessel was kept standing off and on during the night. About three o'clock on the morning of the 26th breakers were seen and shortly afterward the ship struck slightly. She was kept away before the wind, and fifteen min utes afterward she went on a reef and remained fast.
 The boats were got out, rafts were made, and the anchor was let go. The pumps were manned, and the vessel was kept dry. Shortly afterward the rudder was unshipped and the sternpost carried away. The leak then gained very fast the rising tide foated the vessel off, and she lay swinging to her anchor.
 About daylight Captain Strautman left the vessel in the second mates surf boat, with six men, stating that he was going to the shore for assistance. There was no rush made to get into the boat, which left the ship without interference. A raft was launched shortly before seven o'clock in the morning and moored astern of the vessel, and all hands were employed in constructing another one. There was at that time about six feet of
 water in the hold, and the pumps were abandoned. Some of the crew took provisions into the fose and main tops. The stern boat had, in the mean time, got adrift with three men in it, and the second whaleboat went to it's assistance. The second raft was launched and there were fifteen men upon it, each up to his hips in water. The water became level with the port covering board of the vessel. and in few minutes afterward she fell on her beam ends and sank, leaving six men clinging to her starboard quarter, and twelve more were on hel topmast crosstrees, the only exposed places. The stern boat was pulled up tc the masts, and took off all but seven, the whaleboat meanwhile taking some off the
 quarter. The two boats then pulled off
 for the North Palm Island, fifteen meI
 in the stern boat and thirteen in the whaleboat, but were unable to make it.
 the tide drifting the boat toward Hinch
 inbro ok, the whaleboat parting company
 and keeping to the south. The stern boa
 made Hinchinbrook on Monday night
 the 26th February, and the men slep
 under it. She was joined on the follow
 ing morning by the whaleboat crew Remained on Hinchinbrook four days then pulled round the south end of tn, island, through the channel, and reached Cardwen at noon on Sunday, the & Maxch.
 Two men, named Waller and Finnie
 who had left the vessel with the captain arrived at Cardwell, Queensland, ol Tuesday, from the North. They re
 ported that they had been attacked b,
 the blacks, and that Captain Stratmal
 and man named Wilson were murdered l. on the beach, and that three other mel who were in the boat had gone into tn bush, followed by the blacks, The tw, who had arrived at Cardwell had beel five days on the journey. They followe, . . the beach, swimming all the creeks, unti ? they arrived ut Cardwel!, one of them 2 Finnie. having a fearful wound in hi . . head, inflicted by a wooden sword. Tn Queensland government immediatel
 despatched vessels in search of the mis ; ; sing men. About dozen men were dis covered and saved but the great major ity. some thirty-fve persons, are sur !, posed to have been either drowne U U while attempting to land, or murdere J by the blacks after landing. ... v.