LOSS OF THE QUEEN OF THE EAST

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1180, 10 May 1872, Page 2

LOSS OF THE QUEEN OF THE EAST

(SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, APRIL 27.)

Captain Stoddard, late commander of the Above-named vessel, together with Mrs Stoddard, and his officers and crew, arrived this j morning by the Ballina, si, and from Captain Stoddard we learn the following particulars respecting the loss of his ship :— The American ship Queen of the East left San Francisco March 6 for Newcastle, for a cargo of coals for China. Had favorable winds and fine weather np to April 18, when at halfpast 4 am. the ship struck on a reef not laid down on the chart, the reef lying, as near as he could judge from the observations the day previous, in lat. 29*30 S., long. 150*40 £„ and being afraid that the yards would come down, got the boats out as soon m possible, and deeming it useless to remain by the ship any longer, left it at 10 a. in. for the coast of Australia. The winds and weather proving fa\ orable, mo lo the land near Richmond Bivnr on the 22nd. On the following morning were fallen in with by the schooner Commerce, Captain Drewell, of Sydney, who kindly took them on board and Unded them at the Clarence. At the time the ship struck the wind was light from the S E., but the vessel on striking ros« her forefoot 3ft out of the water, and continued to bump heavily. The crew left in two of the boats. The lone boat had on board Captain &nd Mrs Stoddard and fifteen men ; and the lifeboat had seven men in charge of the third officer ; both boats being provisioned and watered. With the exception of the ship's papers and chronometers, nothing was saved. When the ship was abandoned, she was still hard on the reef, and Captain Stoddard is under the impression, considering the fine weather prevailing, that prompt measures might injure the saving of valuable property.