A DESTRUCTIVE GALE ON SOUTH AFRICAN COAST.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 289, 5 December 1881, Page 4

A DESTRUCTIVE GALE ON SOUTH AFRICAN COAST.

I am sorry to hear, says the Globe's correspondent, of a teriibie gale which occured at East London on the 25th ult. Three ships (the Brighton, the Die Heimath, from Cardiff and the Clympiug). being unable to get clear away, were driven on shore by the fury of the gale about three or four miles to the eastward of Eas. London, and no less than 34 lives were losi, in the presence of a number of spectators looking on, in broad daylight. The particular, as the/ have reached me, are of the most meagre description; but it appears that, though tbere is a rocket and life-saving apparatus kept at East London, there is no one who can efficiently use it. All seemed to be in confusion. In one instance three rockets were fired and missed. More had to be sent for from a distance af three miles, and before they arrived the aliipClymping went to pieces. The crew took to spars and pic ,cs of wreck, and with the exception of one man who was gallantly rescued by aMr Macklin, they WC rc all drowned or dashed to pieces on the rooks. The Die Heimath with a crew of ten on board, was driven with such fury on the rocks that she was smashed to pieces almost at once, and all her crew parished. The most agonising account of all is that concerning the Brighton, which seems to.haVe been skilfully handled, and beached in a place which afforded a . good chance fbr a rescue of the crew, but when this -was attempted by means of rockets, of which only two were brought, the first fell short", the second with its lino fell across the ship, and the poo • fellows, five white men and five Kaffirs, in their delight commenced to haul the line, only to discover in a few moments that through the incompetency and gross neglect of someone on shore, the shore end of the line had not been made fast. An eye- witness states that in the madness of their despair the crew threw up tbeir bands and would take no more heed of signals or signs made to them by tbe spectators on shore, preferring to ri.sk their chance uf a watery grave than to live on in suspense and hopes, which seemed so delusive, of being saved by any efforts tliose on shore could make. Another rocket line wns ca>t over the ship, but the crew either took no notice or determined not to rely upon it. They got a boat rnidy aud all got into it, and commenced hauling at something, hut the boat soon dashed to pieces and all were drowned except two. It i s said t b a t the masters of the three vessels were ou shore, and .that although warn ith's wr-re given of the coiuiug^gah.-, .Uj cither did not, or

could not, go on board. There appears to be gcod ground for inquiry into the whole circumstance. This part of the coast is constantly visited by violent gales, especially from tbe south-west, and large quantities of wreck along tbe beach at Port Elizabeth, East London, and this place, bear testimony to tbe , damage done to shipping from the want of a proper harbour or safe anchorage.