LATEST AMERICAN NEWS

Evening Star, Issue 3594, 29 August 1874, Page 2

LATEST AMERICAN NEWS

, (By Telegraph ) (From our ovm Correspondent.) Wellington, August 28. The s.s. Tartar had a narrow escape on ! her upward voyage. On July 23, in the middle of the nigh% she struck the IJalder reef with a considerable shock Had she struck on the lower reel, nothing could have I saved the ship j as it was, though her powerful engines were kept working all night, I they were unable to move her. At daylight a kedge was run ou , but was out by the sharp edge of the coral, and the position of the ship was now critical, a heavy swell behind bumping her fiercely, and the’ nearest land being Faning Island, 250 miles distant. Between eight and nine o’clock most serious alarm was felt, tor a series of heavy rollers swept ov<?r the ship, carrying away two boats and lipping the life-boats from stem to stern—the whole quarter was torn out of the stai board boat and swept away. The man in charge was also carried overboard, but was subsequently rescued. After throwing over 400 tons eoal, full steam was put on. Mr Lord, of Wellington, gives the result in a graphic description. He says “At 11 o'clock ou the morning of the 22ud all hands were sent forward. Then the good ship, under full steam, forged ahead, grinding the coral beneath her into masses of powder, and scattering fragments of the reef in all directions. The passengers watched her movements with intense interest, but subdued excitement. On—on ! crash—crash 1 Off at last. Then the welkin rang with cheers such as only brave hearts and good lungs can give. Almost immediately alter the pent-up feelings of all on board found vent in exprtsswn of deep thankfulness, and the i\ev. Air Rawson called on those who bad worked so well and acted so nobly to engage in thanksgiving.” Eext day Captain Ferries essayed the passage of the reef, but the ship nad proceeded only a short distance when she struck again. Her engines were re- I versed barely in lime, but by eleven o’clock she was clear of all perils. The conduct of the passengers and officers is Spoken of lu terms of the highest praise.

Writing days after the Tartar had left San P ran cisco, a correspondent says that owing to some financial complication between the railways they refused to accept “through” ti .kets issued in Australia and New Zealand, “ .;.? he Passengers were detained there mg the result of telegrams sent to 6 Babject odls m e o.J^ my i. oomplaintß tbe P M * ?«T,rnn? bad b °° ked through to hurope, and had to find their own wav across the continent On arriving ™ New York they will have further trouble with Pe °P ,e AU wb ° could get away have gone, but to some the positfen wa. most trying. In one case a geSemw Mom Wellington had to dispose of his ner. sonal jewellery to enable him te push on having male all his arrangements in New Zealand and remitted bis money by letter and he was therefore literally stuck. The agents have declined the responsibility of en» doming or paying through rates, and an action has been entered against the company by their agent, This indicates a muddle, and until the company have their own steamers and paid agents, the line will not succeed. On the Mikado’s arrival some bother will occur. Among the passengers by the Tartar, were Messrs Collins and Linden, who have come to establish Neuter’s agency in the Colony. The Chicago fire was confined to the resideuce part of the City. Among the buildings destroyed were the Avenue Hotel, the Continental, Unitarian Church, Jewish Synagogue, aud the Athens, a splendid theatre. The loss is fully three million dollars.