COLLISION AND SHIPWRECK AT THE NORE.

Grey River Argus, Volume VII, Issue 465, 7 January 1869, Page 3

COLLISION AND SHIPWRECK AT THE NORE.

From the Horne t News.) At about a quarter to 7 on Fric 1 ay evening, October 23, the night remarkably tine and clear, with bright moonlight, a full-rigged ship, the Leichhardt, 780 tons, outward bound from Londou for Wellington, New Zealand, with passengers and a general cargo, was run down at the entrance of the Thames, about two miles below the Nore, by the North Star screw steamer, also outward bound, tinder somewhat extraordinary circumstances. The Leichhardt was owned by Mr Prowse, of London, and chartered by Messrs Shaw, Savill, and Co., brokers, of Leadenhall street. She was classed Al for nine years. Her creAV numbered 21 hands, under the command of Captain, Phillips, and she had on board 25 saloon, and second cabin passengers. She left the docks on Wednesday, October 21, and brought up below the Nore at 9 o'clock on Friday morning, in order to make everything secure and the ship in trim for starting ou the voyage the next morning, as well as to allow the passengers time to complete their arrangements in their berth?.' At sunset the masthead light was hoisted, as also a light placed over her ckains forward to show in accordance with r the rules that the ship was anchored. Shortly after 6 o'clock a large steamer, was seen coming out of the river. She was then several miles distant, and did not attract any particular attention till nearly threequarters of an hour afterwards, though some of the passengers had been watching her all along and remarked ,to each other that she appeared to be making direct for the ship. The chief mate of the Leichhardt was with some of the crew on the forecastle, and perceiving that the steamer must run the ship down if she continued her course, they hailed her several times, the remainder of the crew and passengers joining in the shout, but no notice was taken of their cries. The steamer came on full speed, and with tremendous force struck the ship on the port side, the whole of which was forced in with forecastle and deck, as far as her windlass, and cut down below her jWater-line. The Leichhardt, it should be observed, was lying with her head towards the north shore. By the force of the concussion she heeled over ; the steamer forced her completely round, when she got clear, and went some distance before she brought up. Capt. Phillips was in the cabin, when hearing his people hailing, he instantly ran upon deck and saw the steamer, which proved to be the North Star, 720 tons register, Capt. John Wallace, master, bound for Norway, in close proximity, and in a few seconds the collision occurred. On going forward to ascertain the extent of damage, he discovered that the ship was inevitably lost ; she was fast filling, and in a few minutes must founder, On rallying his crew to get the lifeboat out he found that Ms chief mate and most of the men. had got on Aboard the North Star, leaving him in a fearful position. He called all the passengers, and implored them to work at the pumps with all their strength, which they did cheerfully, and fortunately all the pumps were ready rigged, so that there was no loss of time, Finding the North Star showed no symptoms of rendering help, he ordered the signal guns to be fired, as also rockets and blue lights, and in the meanwhile, with the assistance of the few hands, he managed to launch the lifeboat safely. Collecting all the women and children together he at once got them into the boat and despatched it directly to the North Star. At this moment another steamer, outward bound, which proved to be the Spanish steamer Beatrice, passed between the ship and the North Star. The pilot, hearing the shrieks and screams from the Leichhardt — " We are sinking, for God's sake save us," instantly put his helm down and brought the steamer close up, and also put out two of his boats, which with two boats from the North Star, pulled with all speed to the rescue of the remainder of the passengers and crew. The ship was going down fast, and those on board had barely time to get into the boats before she foundered. The boats succeeded in getting safely to the North Star. The passengers were in a miserable plight, some in their night clothes, others but lightly clothed. No one saved anything beyond the dress he wore. The North Star did not Bustain the least injury by the collision. After a short delay she put back to Gravesend, where she landed the shipwrecked peopl*

on Saturday forenoon. In order to prevent the boatmen who frequent the coast near the Nore taking forcible possession of the wreck of the Leiclthardt, the Admiralty- was applied to on Saturday morning' to despatch, an armed vessel to the spot from Sheerness. The application was acceded to, and the dockyard authorities were telegraphed to forthwith. About two o'clock in the afternoon, a war steamer reached the scene of the wreck, and found a large flotilla of boats already at work on the sunken vessel. They were instantly ordered off, and the steamer kept charge of the wreck until the arrival of Captain Boultain, the surveyor of Lloyd's Salvage Association, who had been sent down by -the underwriters. During the greater portion of Saturday and Sunday it blew a strong gale from the south, with heavy rain. Notwithstanding, riggers were at once employed in dismantling the ship, and divers went down, who in the coiirse of the day sent up a large quantity of goods and packages from the main hold. The ship lies in aliout eight fathoms of water, on the edge of a bank E.S.E. of the Nore lightship. It may. be considered providential that she received the collision in the strongest part of the ship — the stem. Had the North Star struck her in any other position, amidships, especially, from the speed at which she was going — 10 knots an hour — she would have cut her almost in two, and none of those on board would probably have been saved. The North Star steamer, after landing the shipwrecked people at Gravesend on Saturday afternoon, had orders to immediately proceed on her voyage, but while getting under weigh she was stopped, and seized by a warrant from the Admiralty. The positien of most of the passengers excites much sympathy. Many of them are almost destitute, and as the North Star is not liable for damages beyond her own value, £3 103 per ton (her j register tonnage not being more than 700), the prospect of the passengers recovering anything approaching the value of property lost is very small. Mrs Tone is the chief sufferer. She is a widow, and had with her three children, two daughters and one son, all under 15 years of age. One of the girls had not even time to seize her clothes ; all she had on were her nightclothes, a piece of blanket, and a pair of ailor's boots which one of the crew had lent. Altogether Mrs Tone's loss is estimated at about £800. Nothing has been heard of a black leather bag, containing £120 in bank-notes. She distinctly recollects having it in her hand up to the time of the lifeboat coming alongside the North Star, and she was the last person to leave the boat; and, fearing that the sailors would not be able to lift her on board with the bag in her possession, she laid it in the bottom of the boat, and on reaching the deck of the North Star asked for the bag to be handed up ; but the only reply she got was, " Oh, never mind your bag, you have got your life !" Whether it remained in the boat or was thrown overboard, as some one on board the North Star states, it is impossible to conjecture. After the collision a stowaway, about 17 years of age, rushed upon deck, and was just in time to be taken off by one of the last boats ; his name, however, and where he came from, he would not divulge. He was landed with the other passengers at Grayesend, where he was lost sight of. The" Leichhardt had on deck a fine bull and cow, consigned to New Zealand. Efforts were made to cut them adrift by one of the crew, but they were so securely housed that it was found impossible, and they went down in the ship.