WRECK OF THE LYEE-MOON.

Kumara Times, Issue 3000, 15 June 1886, Page 2

WRECK OF THE LYEE-MOON.

From our Australian exchanges we gather some interesting particulars connected with the wreck of the steamer Ly-ee-moon on the 31st nit., while on her voyage from Melbourne to Sydney, by which sad catastrophe seven tj-one persons, comprising many passengers, including the whole of those in the steerage and a large number of the crew, were drowned. DESCRIPTION OF THE BODIES. As there were several. New Zealanders on hoard bound for Kimberley, we give the following description of the bodies recovered : 1. Antonio Pothymotus, chief cook.

2. Jacob Hudson, fireman. 3. Maude Campbell, saloon passenger. 4. Tattoo marked “J. Hunt” or “ Out.” Tattoo also ot rose on tho tipper left arm, and a rose and flower on tbe inside of the same armj ring, with stone unengraved, on the little finger of the right hand. • 5. Supposed to be a plasterer on his way to Sydney for a job. 6. Unrecognisable. 7. Elderly -- man, long grey beard j unrecognisable, 8. Peraa’e, wedding ring and keeper. 9. Tattoo mark on left upper arm, two V’s connected with C in centre, 10. Female, with red petticoat and underclothing, . Russian leather bools, black quilted skirt, wedding ring and keeper, supposed to be Mrs Coglan ; the left boot is patched at back and front, and there are marks on the body by which it might he recognised. 11. Male, clean shaved, dark hair, and one leg only.

12. Male, little finger right band gone, half circle of Indian ink on third finger of left hand, a dot of Indian ink on left hand between fore-finger and thumb, and like an H on outside of the left arm between elbow and wrist.

No ladies were saved. George Morrison, chief officer was drowned, and the rest of the crew, who numbered forty-one in all. The steerage passengers numbered nineteen, and were all drowned. It is believed they included several from New Zealand by the Te Anau, who were going to catch a steamer at Sydney for Kimberley. Amongst the saloon passengers drowned was Mr A. M'Gregor, son of Mr M'Gregor, formerly of the British Hotel, Dunedin. He bad left his employment in an insurance office, Melbourne, to join the Holloway Dramatic Company at Brisbane, and had all the properties, dresses, <fec., of the company in charge. Mr Holloway and the members of his company, including Mr Jewett, well known in New Zealand, are heavy losers. Mr 0. G. Bradley, of San Francisco, was amongst those drowned; also Mrs Gardner, wife of a Melbourne contractor, who was sitting as a J.P. on the South Melbourne Bench when he got the sad news. The cabia passengers included twelve ladies in all, two having families with them.

It is quite impossible to understand how the vessel came to be in the position she was, though Green Cape is considered a dangerous part of the coast, but the neighborhood is well lighted; and how, after sighting Gabo light and taking a course therefrom, the vessel could come so soon to grief in fine weather is what navigators acquainted with the coast altogether fail to understand.

A WONDERFUL ESCAPE, The following narrative of the escape of Mr Henry Lumsdeu, of the Bank of New South Wales, has been furnished: I made two attempts to land—the first was about two hours after the vessel ■struck ; I had no chance before. She was lying on her beam ends, the topmast resting on the rock close to the shore. After seeing four sailors reach the shot e by the topmast carrying away at the crossttees, I ran along the and made an attempt to get ashore by going along the fallen mast. I jnmped in the sea from the end of the broken mast and struggled in the water for two or three minutes, holding on to debris until I was washed near the ship, and managed to regain it by the loose ringing and floating debris. The next attempt I made was after the line was made fast to a large oar, which was hauled on board. I was the first to leave the vessel after the line was got ashore, endeavouring to reach the shore along the rope hand over hand. After getting more than half way, my weight made a belly in the rope, and I was too weak to get up the incline made fast to the high rock, so I dropped my hold and took my chance of the sea again. I thought I was lost. I was fully three minutes struggling i a the surf, holding on to either loose figging from the fallen masts or strong seaweed I cannot tell which. When nearly drowned I managed to gain one of tho rocks, and from that got ashore, and was pulled farther up the rocks by the assistant lighthouse keeper Whelaa, who was in great danger where he was! He lent me a hand up. I was very much knocked about and exhausted from exposure and the tension of muscle caused by clinging to the rigging during the six hours that the sea was washing over us.”