LOSS OF H.M.S. CAPTAIN.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 268, 15 November 1870, Page 2

LOSS OF H.M.S. CAPTAIN.

The following is au extract from a letter written by an officer of the Volage: There were only eighteen saved, seventeen seamen and the gunner. They reached the shore in one of tho boats which was washed overboard when the Captain sank. The Monarch and Volage were sent to cruise along the shore, and we found these men in a little village in Corcubion Bay, a few miles south of Cape Finisterre, and we being the fastest ship are sent home with them. The affair happened at a-quarter past twelve on the morning of the 7th. It was blowing half a gale, and was very squally. The ship had double-reefed topsails ou when the squall struck her and threw her on her beam ends, and before they could let go the topsail sheets a heavy sea struck her, and she turned bottom up, the water rushed down her funnel, causing her boilers to burst, and she filled and sank in three minutes. Captain Burgoyne was on deck, aud when she capsized he got ou the top of the steam pinnace, which was floating bottom up, when he jumped for the boat in which the others were saved, which was drifting past, missed his jump aud was drowned. There were originally nineteen in the boat, but the sea carried one overboard. It is curious that the only officer saved was the gunner, who ought to havo been in bed, but who turned out three minutes before, aud went iuto the turret to see the guns were properly secured. One of the survivors says : — "I heard the captain ask how many degrees she heeled. Heard answer '18 degrees.' Thought the ship heeling very much. Tried to right, hut would not. Went to weather netting, hauled myself along hurricane-deck to the main-deck by the main tack, the ship being on her beam ends. Stood there for a few seconds to , Bee if the ship would right; and then as j

she turned gradually" over walked over ship's bottom. My foot struck one of the valves in ship's bottom, and finally I stood on the bilge piece, the seas closing over me. I came up to the surface, and first thing I got hold of was a ropeyard. I looked and saw the ship settling down by the steru ; then saw launches, and struck out. Tregenna caught hold of me. I said, ' for God's sake, let go ; you wilL For remainder of News see Fourth page.

drown both of us ; hold on until I get in first.' When inside I felt tbe ship heel steadily over deeper and deeper, and a heavy sea strike her on the weather side ; the water flowed in as I got through the pointing bole, only to find myself overboard. The last I saw of the ship was tier prow ; the whole time was but five to ten minutes, if so much. When on the piuance a large ship passed, fifty yards (Inconstant) : wind howling prevented hearing.