APPALLING MARINE DISASTER.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1620, 27 July 1887, Page 3

APPALLING MARINE DISASTER.

Reports published m the " Times " of India of the 21st ult leave no doubt tbat the ojolope experienced m the Bay of Bengal at the end of May oeoasiened one of the most appalllog marine disasters ever recorded. All hope bad been abandoned, states tbat journal, "as to the safety of the steamer Sir John Lawrence, with its liviag freight of about 759 paisengerp, mostly women, and nearly all pilgrims going to worship at the famous (emple of Jagunn&tb »t fooree. A large number of the pilgrims were members of the best Bengali families m and aroun4 Calcutta, who this year planned a sort of united excursion to the ahrine. These have all gone down m the great Btorm, and then is scarcely a native family m Cf»lcut*a that doeß not bemoan the' loss of ' Nome near relative. It Is, as far m we know, tbe greatest calamity that has ever befallen the upper olaßsei of the Bengali community. In several easel wives and daughters daughters* in-law, sisters, and widows have all perished. One of oar best known zemindars, whops loyalty has gained for him the title of Maharaja from Government, has lodt 12 or 15 of his ne*r relations. Jn another case the entire fami'y has perished, nc&n and women, and the house Is m charge of tho durwans, who were left to keep it. Other cases, equally ■ad and deplorable, might be mentioned, •nd the grief that has fallen on these homes is Inexpressible. The only disaster on English waters m recent years which at all approaches m magnitude the loss of the Sir John Lawrence was the oollllon between the By well Caßtle and Princess Alice near Woolwich, when 600 people were drowned." Evidences of minor disasters after the recent cyolone were to be found In dead bodies strewn about the wrecks of the refuge houses on certain parts of the shores of the bay, m derelict light ships 60 miles out at sea, and m the existence of one high and dry 0D shore ? £00 yards from the water.