WRECK OF THE ISABELLA WATSON. LOSS OF NINE LIVES.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume 4, Issue 88, 6 May 1852, Page 2

WRECK OF THE ISABELLA WATSON. LOSS OF NINE LIVES.

(From the Melbourne Argus, March 23.) Through Captain Brooks, of the Emma, intelligence was received of a large ship, with passengers, name unknown, being ashore on n rock near Point Nepean on Sunday night. The Sea Hello, nrrived in the bay a few hours afterwards, and from Captain Toby, one of the Pilots who came up with her, wc are enabled to furnish the following particulars : The ship is the Isabella Watson, of Glasgow, from London, commanded by Captain Rogers, who wns in the same vessel at this port last year. It appears the violent squall that took place on Sunday evening caught her just as she was entering the Heads j hut beforo proper measures could he taken, she struck on an isolated rock outside Point Ncpcnn. Striking heavily, her starboard broadside was stove in, her stern and sternpost carried away, nnd her back broken: it was likewise considered advisable to cut away licr masts. An

attempt was made by Mr. Pilot Lnwler to reach the vossel, but from the tremendous sea that was running, it was found impracticable; previous to this lie hail carried a light in his boat for the yuidanoi of the ship. Denning it right, he returned to Miortlnnd's ISliiii" to consult with the other pilots the best means of rendering assistance lo the uufortuinto passengers, and also to despatch a messenger overland with particulars to Mr. Moodie, the Collector of Customs at Geelong. Immediately after this, Pilots Taylor and Caught proceeded with the "haleboal to the scene of disaster, and Messrs. Lawler, Toby, and Toliin, succeeded in obtaining n sealer's bout that was lying near, together with the hands belonging to her, mid finally reached ihe wreck about three a.m., on Monday morning. The boats were found to be perfectly useless; from the strong surf that was running, and the ruggedncss of the rock, no boat could live. Captain Mortimer, of the barque Favourite, had anchored his vessel at the Heads, and was rendering all the assistance in his power towards saving the cargo, &c. Immediately on the news of the catastrophe reaching GcJlong, Captain Addis and Air. Moody, of the Customs, with an alacrity that does them much credit, assumed the responsibility of chartering the Aphrnsia, steamer, at the expense of the Government.. They also sent down supplies of bread, meat, and what vegetables could be easily obtained. Fun tii Kit Pahiicuuiis, (I-'mwi the Argus, March lit.) By the arrival of the. Aphrnsia, steamer, yesterday, with ihe survivors of the above illfated vessel, we are put in possession of the details of thi' melancholy occurrence. It would appear that at dusk on the nfternoon of Sunday last, when making the entrance of Port Phillip Heads, she was caught by a sudden stiuiill, missed stays, wheeled round, and struck stern foremost on nu isolated rock, carrying away her helm, and driving in her stern : everything was tried that could he suggested lo get her oil', but all proving unavailing, between S and U o'clock the Captain's gig was lowered, and eight persons descended into it, consisting of three siilois, one cat-in passenger, Mr. Gray, two steerage passengers, Messrs'. Kingslcy, and Mr. Patterson's chi-d, who providentially reached the s'iore in safety ; of this circumstance, however, those 1 ell behind were in doubt until their own arrival on Monday. Darkness increasing, and with it the force of the gale and the raging of the sea, it was deemed imprudent to attempt any further landing. However, a_t the earnest entreaties ol some of the passengers, the Captnin was induced to lower the life-boat, and eleven persons got into her, consisting ol Mr. mid M's. and Miss l'atersoti, Airs. Arlulas Derrick, Miss Terry, Mrs. Hall, Mr. and Mrs. Lan-'furd, Miss Mary Allen, and Mr. and Mrs. Orphett : the Captain standing upon the boat 10 steady her, and using every exertion to place them in safety, during which period ho was three limes washed overboard and rccuvcied. the.last lime with great difficulty. Ju.si as they had all taken their places, shock in" to relate, the niuoninnst c.nnu down and striking the boat across the hows, overturned her, nod immersed the whole in the water. Two of them, Mr. and Mrs. Pntersou, however, were recovered, the remaining nine, we. regret to say, perished. The passengers were then collected together in the cuddy, where they remained in awful suspense until daylight of Monday morning, during which period the sea was dashing over her, and the vessel fast settling down. At that hour, Mr. Tubin, the pilot, having divested himself of hi 3 apparel, and fastened a warp round his body, and made it fast to the shore, committed himself to the waves, and by dint of extraordinary exertion, reached the ship in safety. He was soon followed by another, and by the united exectious of these gallant fellows, the rest of the passingers, as well as captain and were landed in sifety. Immediately after all were landed, the sea becoming calm, the crew commenced saving the moveables belonging to the passcngeis. The Isabella Watson is a ship 0f514 tons burthen, belonging to Messrs. Russell and Itaeburn, of Glasgow, Scotland, ! anil was commanded by Mr. John Fullarton, who, during the whole of this dreadful scene, maintained his presence of mind, and rendered all the consolation in his power to his terrified passcngtrs. They speak in the highest terms of commendation of him. and describe Ihe passage up to this event, very agreeable. For the above particulars we are indebted to Ihe courtesy of Mr. John Orr, the agent, and to Mr. \V. J. Pearce, the surgeon of the vessel.