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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 6, Issue 1, 29 June 1865, Page 3

Collision at Sea.—Naeeow Escape of an Eucgeant Ship,— The Clara, from St. John’s, Newfoundland, bound to New Zealand, with emigrants, put into Table Bay last week, for water and supplies. This vessel had a narrow escape in the early part of her passage, from being run down by a steamer, which came into collision with her at sea. Captain Eooper gives the following acconnt ot the occurrence, as recorded in his log-book.—January 19th.—Fine bright starlight night. At about eight p.m., saw a light ahead; at a qnarter-past eight, p.m., made her out to be a steamer, steering right across us, distant about half a mile, saw her port and mas.'head light ; and in order that our lights might be distinctly visible, they were elevated. The steamer continued on her course, bearing down right upon us midships, and we sailed as close to the wind as we possible could, thinking thus to get clear of her. The bell was vigorously rung, and as the steamer approached nearer, all hands, passengers included, fearing the effect, cried out with all their might to keep off. When just off the starboard quarter, the helm was put up, as steamer intended to run into us ; soon after a collision took place, the jib bom of the steamer passing through the mainsail and gaff-top sail of the Clara, and carrying them away, together with the jolly-boat, cracking the davits like chips; likewise springing the mainmasts, near the joint of the gaff, and cutting a piece off the boom. The steamer then starboarded the helm and fell off. Her name was not known.—Port Elizabeth Telegraph.’ Loss of Life on eoaed the Leonidas. —This schooner left Hokitika on the Ist inst., and had moderate weather until the 6th, when a heavy gale sprung up from the south-west which 6ontinued without the least lull until the 11th. Tho 21th and 13th had calms but on the 14th it commenced again with a fearful sea running. On the 15th, the vessel was hove-to on the port tack, when she shipped a sea that shifted her ballast and threw her on her beam ends. She was put before the wind, and four of the passengers named Michael Rowe, James Smith, Charles C. Birch, and Ephrain Browne, went below for the purpose of getting tlie ship trimmed. They had not been at work long when a second sea broke on board over the slewing the schooner round, and throwing all of the ballast into the port wing, smothered the unfortunate men below, the binnacle skylight and bulwarks, going at the same time. Nine hands at onee set to work to release those who were below, but when found they were quite dead, ai d it took from seven 7 p.m. until midnight to get the ship righted. Heavy gales from W.S.W. to S.S.W. have been experienced until this port.—S.M.Heral* , May 22. Total Loss of the Ship John Yankee. —We (Sydney Morning Herald) have been favored by Messrs George A. Lloyd and Co. with the following letter from Captain King, of the ship Severn Ship Severn. Calcutta; going down the river, December 10, 1864 Messrs G. A. Lloyd and Co. Dear Sir —You will be very sorry to hear of the total loss of the ship John Yanuer, and the death of poor Captain Moore. The following are the particulars of the sad loss.—Since leaving you he has made two very good coolie trips—one* to the Mauritius, the last one to Natal, and arrived here early Jauuary, and loaded a full cargo for Colombo. On the Ist instant, towing down the river, the ship was being anchored rather close to a sand bank (spring tide running), the first chain parted, and before the ship could bo brought up with a second anchor, she was on shore. The crow and the pilot seemed not to be aware of the danger, and continued on board for some hours, when the flood tide comming in with a rush threw the ship on her beam-ends, and they had only time to save themselves by crawling up the ‘ topmast rigging.’ Their tug tried to rescue them, but was unable to stem the spring tide; at last, making a rush-at the wreck, succeeded in saving all but the sail-maker, who was jammed against the rigging, &c. Poor Moore had his right thigh so soverly crushed by the stem of the steamer and the mast as to require the same to be amputated on his arrival at Calcutta. Mrs Moore was four times under water, and nearly all her clothes off her, very much bruised and right leg badly cut. The tug steamer brought them up the town the same night, but.they (all hands) had lost their all So sudden was the disaster, they could not save a bag from the cabin table containing ship’s papers, money, &c. We were soon on board the steamer and found Moore with right thigh fearfully crushed A very frightful accident has occurred in Peterstreet, Westminster, the Roman Catholic Schools. On the evening in question there was an entertainment in the schools, at which several prizes were distributed, when suddenly the middle of tho floor gave way and a large number of people were precipitated into a cellar beneath. The scene was terrible. As soon as possible the injured were drawn from the ruins and conveyed to the hospital, and it is said more than a hundred, principally children, have broken limbs or other serious injuries. Two of the sufferers have unfortunately died, and others are not expected to survive; The catastrophe has been attributed to a beam having broken, though apparrently sufficient to sustain more than double the weight.—English Paper.