THE SINKING OF THE AVA. LANCHE.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 8, 14 November 1877, Page 3

THE SINKING OF THE AVA. LANCHE.

'•"■' The Avalanche and Forest were both : fallrigged«hips, one being built of iron; J arid 1100. tons burden ; and the other of. wood,, and 1500 tons burden. From what has. been gathered from one of the: survivors, ,, of whom there >W;ere only twelve, it appeared that the weather. was unusually dark,, and there was a- drizzling rain, with heavy wind^ and the sea running mountains-high. Both ships were heading dow,n Channel, ;but:on - opposite; tacksi, the. Avalanche being on the port tack, and the Forest! on Ahe starboard; Whefi about a dozen' miles off Portland, almost withoujb, jany r warning, at ,a little after 9 p.jn., the Forest: collided^ -with the Avalanche, striking herbetween the main and mizzen maists. was so great that m less than five minutes

the passengers ship gave three plunges and sank, carrying the whole crew, save three, the mate and two able seamen. The night was so dark that it was almost impossible to discern the mass of human beings struggling m the water below ; but the survivors say that they shall never forget the scene. ,The cries of men, women, and children for aid were heart-rending. Some had managed to scramble on deck as soon as the Avalanche was struck, but others went down with her, and the sea was literally alive witn human beings, whose cries for help were heard, without the crew of the Forest being able to render aid ; for they had as much as they could do to look after their own safety, their? vessel having suffered so severely from the effects of the collision as to be m a | leaky condition and the water gaininglast. At last m order to save their i own lives the crew the Forest abandoned her. Three boats were launched I m wh ! ich the whole of the Forest' stsrew sand also three belonging to the Avalanche took their places. The weather through^ the night '■ was* f earful-4the wind and sea being so rough that the occupants' th'oiight the\ boats would,' be swamped every : minute. ., TETrifprtunately iithese fears were realised, "only one ; bbat's crew was. rescued.. r , Five bodies and a bpat v were washed; upon the beach. The dead were' identified. Only twelve men remain out of the- *assengers and crew, of the two ships j which numbered .over 180 persons. From the /narrative ofj-the; suvivors, it appears that the v A^valancjbift was . Sihead, being on the port; tack, and ought, according to the rule of:thej;rpad, ,tp have given way directly she sigh.ted the Forest. She 'held on her ; cburse£withput tacking. Either from tlie.darkn^M:|o||the nightY or the neglect of the officer bf|t^:^atch the n|ar approach of the Foresjt^snbt perceived,, , and. it ; then -becatne^rthe, , duty bf the Fbresl to keep ciear;, 'it^d^ the master, Captain iibclcnart, asserts-;' that, f seeing the VriskV of collision, he^ ordiered the helm.to be luffed; The order was i carried out, : but'too'lateVfpr before ,'hi§; ship could brought ]kddd on to 'windj; -she ' ran ! witK '• terrific^violence riglit against the side of the Avalanche amidships.^ todi as she rebounded struck her "': twice - ag|i^ * ;in the i = i sterni an d; almost instantaneously, the '-"Avalanche filled"and ?sank:^ *l&fes£ of J the"; crew managed to 'scramble^ pot. board the ; Forest, , land; . tliree > were 7 s^se t quently -saved ; but so.quicklyi dfidthe' Ava- . lanche founder, that' .there waskfrilb itime to launch the boats. All the passengers,, and icrewj including the- : pUot, ,^e ? n^ down before they had time "to make an: effort to, saye.. 7 tliemsel.ves., The Forest capsized^about' an hburl after being abandbnedV and !: ne'xt : d^y she was seen floating bottom upwards, a few nriles- off Portland^'' ■ ';"■•' :' r: '-': '■ s *'--i^'. ■'■*'■ ■"■■-■