FRIGHTFUL COLLISION AT SEA BETWEEN TWO STEAMERS.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1659, 12 June 1875, Page 2

FRIGHTFUL COLLISION AT SEA BETWEEN TWO STEAMERS.

SEVENTY PERSONS DROWNED.

TERBIBLE SCENES

From (North China Daily News^^^,,,^^ We have to record another of those toeorge disasters at sea, a collision betwetnenrr. steamers, involving much loss of li^j^|. 1 time on our own coast and betwer well-known in this port. The c

Ihe particulars of which we are about to narrate, happened on Sunday morning last, at about half-past ten o'clock, when the British steamer Ocean, of 970 tonß burden, and commanded by Captain Brown, collided ■with the C. M. S. P. Fusing, commanded by Captain Andrews, the damage being; so great that tte Jast named steamer sunk in a "very few minutes after the occurrence. The weather was caJm at the time, but a dense fog prevailed, and the sea was rising in a heavy tl ough unbroken swell. The Fusing was, we are informed, going almost' dead slow, when suddenly the sound of a steamwhistle was heard, and almost as suddenly was seen the form of a large vessel bearing on to her. The order was given to back astern at full speed, but before the effect of the engines could be well felt, the stranger vessel struck the Fusing just about the fore-rigging, and such was the force of the blow that the whole of her fore compartment w ss cut completely asunder. The scene that then ensued was dreadful. The Fusing had about 125 people, including passengers, on board, and almost before a boat could be launched, she went down head foremost. Many of the people were in the forecastle, some asleep, and as she dived into the sea, gome of the poor wretches were seen running alorjg her decks to avoid the waters that were rushing after them. Fortunately, at least in this instance, she had some deck cargo, consisting of spars of wood, and these floating as she sank were the means of salvation to a goodly number of the people on board. Capt. Andrews managed, to get one boat afloat, and into this were soon crammed about 26 of the passengers and crew ; and to the honor of those on board the Ocean be it said, that vessel stopped her engines, stood by, and lowering her boats saved about thirty more of the unfortunate?, who by this time were either floating in the water or on the spars washed from the deck of the Fusing. Still there were many whom it was impossible to save. Some were either killed in the forecastle by being crushed by the bows of the Ocean, or •were so dreadfully injured as to be incapable of doing anything to save themselves, and in this manner some 70 or more found a watery grave. The Ocean's boats were lowered and proved the means of saving many from the floating spars, and for some time pulled round the spot where the ill-fated steamer disappeared, in the vain hope of saving more. The Ocean herself received such severe injury that, had the weather been in any degree rough, it is more than probable she would not have lived to reach port. As it was, a large hole was knocked in her bows, and her fore compartment was filled with water, but luckily the bulkhead stood firm, and. so another catastrophe was prevented. By stowing this compartment with bags of rice, the water was in a measure got rid of, and seeing there was no more hope of saving life, the Ocean's head was turned towards the Ysngtsze. The sad affair happened about 120 miles North of Shaweishan Island. Among the passengers of the Fusing were several of the native officials known as riceMandarins, only one of whom, we believe, was saved by clinging to a spar. All Europeans on board, except the third officers, were saved either by the boats or by means of the spars. One reason why the boats of the Fusing could not be got afloat was that the Chinese on her decks crowded into them and so prevented the falls working. Some of the unfortunates taken on board the Ocean were either so injured by being crushed, or exhausted by their immersion in the water, that they died after they were received on board the Ocean. Luckily the Ocean reached Woosußg before the gale of Monday night came on, or it is believed by those on board that ehe must 1 aye sunk ; and therefore the tale of disaster could not have been told.