The New York herald., 1877-09-13
Collision Between Two Vessels in
the English Channel.
SAD LOSS OF LIFE.
Over One Hundred Persons
Drowned.
TIE VESSELS AND CARGOES
my CABLE TO THE HERALD.

LONDON, Sept. Is, 1877.
Information of terrible disaster in the English
Channel was received here yesterday. The British
ship Avalanche, Captain Williams, from London
September 4 for New Zealand colidcd with the
British ship Forest Captain Lockhart from London
for New York. of Portland and both vessels
foundered.
OYER one hundred persons were drowned. The
Forss: was in ballast and had crew numbering
twentyone. Captain Lockhart, the chief mate and
seven others were saved. the Avalanche had
crew OF thirty-two and sixty three passengers. The
third ofhcer and two seamen only were saved.
DETAILS OF THE DISASTER.
Tie Forest struck the Avala nche between the
main and mzzen masts, nearly cutting her in two.
The latter sank Immediately. The Forest though
utterly wrecked, Kept afioat an hour or two. Three
boats were launched from her, only one Of which
has yet been saved. 1t contained the twelve per.
sons already mentioned as saved. One boat was
washed ashore, and also several bodies. The Other
boat, 1t is feared, Is lost.
The Avalanche had sixty-three passengers
twenty-six saloon, seventeen second class and
twenty third class-mUstly coloniss. The accident
occurred ut halfpast nine last night, seven miles
of Portland.
WHAT THE AGENTS OF THE FOREST IN THIS
CITY sAY-DEsCRIPrIoN OF THE VESSELS.
A HERALD reporter called upon Messrs. Snow 4
Burgess the agents Of the Forest in this city, last
evening, and from them received the following state.
mcnt-
The Forest was coming out to US seeking business,
and we should have obtained charter fo- her upon
her arrival. Ephram LocHhart, her commander, is
one OF our personal friends. Here Is his photo.
graph exhibiting it). You he is sturdy look
oId nj eoIr
ton In his faco He is about fifty years Of
age. He is OF family, and resides
at Lockhartvillc, near Windsor. N. s. For many
years he commanded the ship British America,
owned by Mcssrs Il. Churchill Sons OF Hants-
port, N. S., who also owned the il-fated Forest
Captain Lockhart's brother, now has charge OF the
British America, which at last reports was ut Liver
pool Mcssrs. Churchill L. Sons asked Captain LOCK-
art TO tako charge Of the Forest when she was
launched In April, 1873, although he had told them
previously lie intended TO retire from active fo and
1.-Two with his family He consented. Tho Forest
has made one cotton voyage from Savannah TO
Europe, two oil trips from Philadelphia, ono Ia
Antwerp and the other to Bremen, and had recently
carried cargo OF g 200 OF guano from the Pacific
to London. She built Tor the Atlantic trade,
heavily spared and as noble craft you could find.
l should estimate her 10 be worth some $60.o00 Ia
$4,000 Nothing Is known by US of the insurance
u
Churchill Sons not insure their fleet OF twenty
eight ships heavily. In CONCLUSION, aIl that can be
said is that wc delighted Captain Lockharts lilo
has been saved.
AVALANCHE.
The Avalanche was runuug IN Shaw, Saville & Co. q
fleet of vessels to Now Zealand in the "passcngers
Line . and was on her way to Auckland. Sho was an
Aberdeen clipper OF ,150 tons. and was only three
years old
DESCRIPTION FOREST
The Forest lett London the 10Th for this port. Sho
was OF .423 tons burden, and was built In 1873 at
HantSDOrt. N. s.. II. q
Sons She 202 eet long, 40 feet broad and "a feet
depth of hold.