Year: 1860

On the 24th ult most frightful accident occurred in the Dry Dock, at San Lorenzo, involving the entire loss of the Peruvian frigate Callao (Aupurimac) and almost the entire destruction of the dock and fearful loss of life. The particulars of this sad af- fair are, as far as l can gather, as follows: It having been deemed advisable to dock the ship in order to examine her copper and other trifing things, the engineer of the dock was asked if she could be taken on with her battery, provisions and crew on board. His opinion was that the dock could not raise her with that weight; consequently her guns were

 landed, yards sent down and top-gallant masts struck, retaining her provisions magazines and crew on board, and in this state she en- tered the dock at half past ten A. NJ. There was very large concourse of persons went over to witness the operation. The govern ment steamer Ucayali conveyed the President, Minister of War and large number of in- vited guests. Upon the arrival of the Presi- dent, the vessel began to enter the dock and was soon placed in her proper position, the pumps were set to work, and everything up to the present moment went well. The keel of the frigate took the checks of the platform and she began to ascend out of the water. After some time the engineer noticed that the after sections of the dock were rising much quicker than the forward ones, the extra weight of her anchors and chains being the cause of this As soon as the sections were again level all the pnmps were again started, and presently four of the upright stanchions of the deck broke; this was, however, deemed of no importance, as everything else was going on well, and the trigate coming out of the water she was now out about six feet above her bearings; her keel in the checks (the Callao had a deep keel and a very flat foor) but owing to her great depth of keel the checks did not act as any support whatever on her bilge, therefore the ship was simply balanced upon her keel, and so long as she could be kept steady in that position she was safe but her crew was on board constantly moving from one side to the other; the ship being already top-heavy, this caused her to give one or two slight rolls, and then she pitched over on her starboard beams; at the second surge the three masts snapped about half way up from the deck her starboard ports being open, she rapidly filled with Wa ter and here began scene of horror impos- sible to describe. The water was filled with men and women, all screaming for help; boats were promptly sent to their assistance, or the loss of life would have been still more fearful Of the number that were below at the time very few escaped, and their cries for help were terrible; but that which was most heart rending was tke poor sick in the hospital, who, helpless with disease, could do naught but scream for that hell that none could render them. Up to the present time of writing it is not known how many have been lost, but 1t cannot fall short of one hun dred and fifty. The wounded that could be removed who did not require amputation were brought over to Callao, the rest remain ing on the Island. The number of broken heads arms and legs is great Capt Keer, of the English ship Golconda, lowered his boats and did good service in saving some thirty or forty lives The Callao was fine forty y-four gun frigate, and was built in Black wall, by Messrs. Green & William, and she was a splendid specimen of naval architecture. She was about six years old. The vessel is a total loss, being entirely under water; the dock may also be considered as done for, it having failed as a commercial speculation, and the present disaster may be considered as the last of the Callao dry dock.