LOSS OF THE JOSEPHINE WILLIS, IN THE CHANNEL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 368, 14 May 1856, Page 4

LOSS OF THE JOSEPHINE WILLIS, IN THE CHANNEL.

WITH EMIGRANTS FOR AUCKLAND. The Josephine Willis is a first class ship of about SCO tons burthen : she was charrered by Messrs. Willis and Co. for Auckland ; she cleared from St. Katharine Docks rm Friday, •with 10 first-class cabin passengers, about sixty steerage p;issenp;ers, and a crew, officers and men, of some 35 in number. t:lie was towed down the river from Gravesend out to sea, and the pilot left her off Deal at 6 o'clock on Sunday evening- The weather was fine and clear, with a moderate wind E.N.E. She had passed the South Foreland, when, about half-past 7 o'clock, Sandijate bearing S.S.W. nine miles distant, a cry was raised by the look-out forward of a "Light ahead!" Whether the steamer saw the Josephine Willis or misc.Vloulated the distance she was off, is yet to be ascertained. However, she came on and struck the ship amidships with such force as to cut her down to the water's edsre. A scene of a most painful description immediately ensued among the passengers on board the Josephine Willis, and a rush w;is made to fret on board the steamer, which was then ascertained to be the Alantrerton, Bouchier, from Limerick. Tt is seated that Captain Bouehier almost directly backed his vessei out from the wreck. Only a few managed to scramble on board the steamer, and others were picked up some time afterwards- The ship then heeled over with the end of her yards in the water. Captain Bouehier, of the steamer Manjrerton, reports that, at 7.45 p-m on the third instant, while the steamer was coming up Channel, steering K. by N. half N., wind S-E. by E., strong and rnzy, Folkestone distant about six miles, saw a ship on the port bow, which was reported by second mate and the look-out man stationed forward. Had another look-out man on the* bridge. The ship was steering down Channel; course about W.S W, When she was reported the helm of the steamer was put hard a-port. Observed the s -ip apparently starboard her helm and luff across our bows. Seeing the collision unavoidable, stor>nerl the engines and ordered them to be backe-l ; but, before the engineer had time to reverse, the collision took place, the ship striking us on the port. bow, the steamer strikin-T her ahaf'r the forerigginx on the starboard side- Backed the steamer away from her. Burned blue lights and rockets h's signals of distress, and sent boats to assist the «hip. | which proved to be the English ship '• •scwe;>bino WiShs," Captain Cauney. from London for New Zealand, with passengers and a seneral cargo -, iound her in a sinking state, lay by her two hours and a half, and saved such persons as we could. The last were taken off the topiTaiimit-y-nis, the ships topsailyiirds being under water. 10 or 11 of th« t-resv are siipoos-.n! to have go no on shore at Folkestone in th i ship's life-boat- Three passengers and four of the crew were also saved and land.-d at "Kilmer by the lugger X L Found the steamer's damage to b? the port bow stove in below the water's edge-. Endeavoured to stop the hole with sails and bedding, and proceeded towards the shore, as the fore compartment was full of water, fuming that the enjnnr pumps, assisted by the crew and p:i.s.-i.-:!!4ers, could k"ep hr free, steamed for the D.j'.vi.s, iviiL-re we arrived at I.JJ ) a.m. The following is the deposition of John Sheen able sc-ainan, in-longing to the Josephine Willis :—' Ihe .says he sailed from Graveseud on the 3rd Feb., at (', a.m., and proceeded on the voyage to Auckland tiiiti. about S 'l~i p.m , when the ship was off t'ljif-.i.-stdiu-, lie liaving the look-out, the ship going about six knots, on the port tack, with the wind .'ft •j S E., in.-s-i b:ec-7.e. He saw a .steamer coming up Channel, .-md H'l'drtci the s;.ir,e to the mate, who | miHK'iiia'eiy pur. She lu-iin fi-suirbri.-ird, and shouted >i to th<," steamer, of which no notice was taken, the steamer kct-ping her cosir^f. That in less than five i nsinuW-.s tiie steamer came in collision with the ship, , and struck her i,n th.- ioro p-trt of the main rigging, n:id in C/U.-enuciici: of the coliision the ship began i to Kink, and in about ten minutes the topgallant { yards v/ert; in ;hc- water. Immediately on the colr iJKJon takin;' place the h:;ras were lowered, with , a vic-v.' of s:i/mi-:> tilt- crew and passengers, 1-1' oi whom only wore put on ho.-si.-l the steamer. That the boats remained alongside the steamer for an

hour, whilst the steamer's boats went to the ship, and took oiF an able seaman, carpenter, and a few passengers- That the steamer then proceeded to the eastward. He was landed at Folkstono in the ship's life-boat-" Only twenty-si* of the passengers and crew appear to have escaped.