THE WRECK OF THE RANGOON.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 300, 20 December 1871, Page 4

THE WRECK OF THE RANGOON.

(Erom the Melbourne Telegraph, 29tk Nov ) From accounts furnished by some of the passengers who arrived last night by the Bchar, we are enabled to gather the following particulars. It was about ten minutes past six o'clock on the evening of the Ist November, wheD, all the passengers, mails, and cargo being on board the Rangoon, ihe vessel was on the point of starting on her Australian voyage, and was merely waiting to hoist up the small boat which had come alongside with the local mails, just outside the outer harbor, when tho Rangoon drifted with the strong current and struck upon the Kudda rock. At this time steam was up, and the ship was going on ahead. She bumped three times and grazed the rock, making the whole ship vibrate from stem to stem. The night was rather dark, and this added to the consternation which. ensued on board. The passengers ran to and fro witb inquiries aa to what had happened. Tbe ladies were frightened, and appeals were made to tha officers of the ship and tbe steward for information as to the extent of the danger, for all were but too well aware that some great calamity had happened. The boats were ordered to be got out immediately, and two of the passengers were stationed at the gangways with drawn cutlasses in their hands to prevent the boats being rushed to by the Malays. The fears of the passengers having by this time becbme somewhat calmed, they were reconciled in a measure to their awkward position, and the whole proceeding of disembarkment was concluded with quiet and decorum, and the Malay crew, although they did not render much valuable assistance, nevertheless they did not attempt to crowd into the boats. Such of the passengers as had their worldly goods with them in their cabins were enabled to save them, but there -was little time allowed for deiay, for the water was now rising rapidly into the hold of the vessel, and in the space of about a quarter of an hour after she struck the fires in tbe engine rooms were extinguished. Eight boats (including two life-boats) having been launched with most praisworthy expedition, the whole of the passengers, with what little they had saved, .^were transferred to them, and taken to the ship Sydenham, which, fortunately, was lying at the outer anchorage not far distant, and there they remained until taken off by two steam* tugs sent from the shore in answer to the signals sent up from the fast-sinking RangooD. For four long hours the signalling was kept up, and the blue lights and rockets warned those on shore of the disaster which bad occurred only about two miles distant, those by whom they were observed being under the impression that the signals were intended to announce the arrival of the overdue Travancore, with the China mails. In the meantime Captain Skottowe with most of his officers, stood by the sinking steamer, aud their conduct throughout ia spoken of highly by all the passengers. Mr. Burrowes, the fourth officer, is said to have exerted himself in the most praiseworthy manner to save some of the effects. He descended to the main-deck almost at the moment, but at that time tbe water was rising fast, and he found it quite useless to attempt the hopeless task of endeavoring to save any of the mail bags. The Rangoon was six hours before she finally settled down; then she observed to suddenly go down by the fore, with her stern high in the air, until at length she sank in fifteen fathoms of water, with only tbe tops of her masts visible. The vessel being constructed in water-tight compartments, she was kept afloat for a long time after the water reached the main deck. It is estimated that tbe loss of passengers' luggage and effects alone amounts to something like £3,000, as but few have been able to secure anything of value.