THE NORTHUMBERLAND DISASTER.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1565, 23 May 1887, Page 2

THE NORTHUMBERLAND DISASTER.

The following graphio description of the overturning of the steamer Boojum, while endeavouring to secure the Northumber* land's crew, is from a Napier paper : — " A boat was lowered on the lee side, and manned by twelve of the crew, the small steamers all standing by to pick them up, the Boojum lying closest, and almost abreast of her. As soon as the boat left the ship's side, the Bcojum, evidently with the object of picking her up, commenced to turn round, but just as she presented her broadside, an immense sea broke clean over her. and then to the horror of the agonised spectators, from amidßt the tumult of seething and broken water, emerged the Boojum, bottom up, the propeller revolving furiously for a minute. Never were souls hurried into eternity with less warning, the whole scene occupying much less time than it takes to describe, and to those who saw the occurrence it will be an iueffacaable memory, us with blanched faces and smothered exclamations of dismay, they could do nothing but scan eagerly the boiling foam, hoping against hope that some of the unfortunate orew might be alive, the vessel having turned over so quickly, and apparently right on top of those on board, as almost to shut out the possibility of anyone having been saved. Suddenly a cry was set up, " There's Setter," as a form was made out m the water, and almost at once another head was seen, the owner of which, after a struggle, managed to get hold of an empty case which was floating near him, and supported himself on it until rescued by the Northumberland's boat, whioh immediately came to his assistance. The man proved to be Louis Martin, the engineer, who had from his occupation been looked upon as doomed."