WRECK OF THE ISABELLA WATSON.— LOSS OF NINE LIVES.

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 628, 21 April 1852, Page 2

WRECK OF THE ISABELLA WATSON.— LOSS OF NINE LIVES.

[Fiom the Melbourne Argiß, Marcli 23.] Through Captain Brooks, of the Emma, intelligence was received of a large ship, with passengeis, name unknown, being ashore on a rock near Point Nepean on Sunday night. The Sea Belle arrived in the bay a few hours afterwards, and from ( aptain Toby, one of the 1 Pilots who came up with her, we are enabled lo furnish the following particulars :— The fcbip is the Isabella Watson, of Glasgow, from London, commanded by Captain Rogers, who was 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 ; but before proper muasuies could be taken, she struck on tin isolated rock outside Point Nepean. Striking heavily, her starboard broadside was stove in, her stern and sternpobt cat ried away, and her back broken : it was likewise considered advisable to cut away her masts. An attempt was made by Mr. Pilot Lawler lorpach the vessel, but from the tremendous sea that was running, it was found impracticable; previous to this be had earned a light in his boat for the guidance of the ship. Deeming it right, he returned to Shortlands Bluff to consult with the other pilots the best menus of rendering assistance to the unfortunate passengers, and also to despatch a messenger oveiland with particulais to Mr. JVJoodie, the Collector of Customs at Geelong. Immediately after this, Pilots Taylor and Caught proceeded with the whaleboat to the scene of disaster, and Messrs. Lawler, Toby, and Tobm, suceeded in obtaining a sealer's boat that was lying near, together with the hands belonging to her, and finally reached the wieck about thiee a.m., on Monday morning. The boats were found to be perfectly useless ; from the strong surf that was running, and the ruggedness 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 absutance in his power towards saving the cargo, &c. Immediately on the news of the catastrophe reaching Geelong, Captain Addis and Mr. Moody, of the Customs, with an alacrity that does them much ciedit, assumed the responsibility of chartering the Aphrasia, steamer, at the expense of the Government. They also sent clown supplies of bread, meat, and what vegetables could be easily obtained.

Further Particulars. [Fiom the Argus, March 24.J By the ariival of the Aphrasia, steamer, yesterday, with the survivors of the above ill-fated vessel, we are put in possession of the details of this melancholy occurrence. It would appear that at dusk on the afternoon of Sunday last, when making 1 tbe entrance of Port Phillip Heads, she was caught by a sudden squall, missed stays, wheeled round, and struck stern foremost on an isolated, rock, carrying away her helm, and driving in her stein: everything was tiied that could be suggested to get her off, but all proving unavailing, between 8 and 9 o'clock the Captain's gig was lowered, and eight per-ons descended into it, consisting of thiee sailors, one cabin passenger, Mr. Giay, two steerage passengers, Messrs. Kingsley, and Mr. Pattersons child, who providentially reached the shore in safety ; of this circumstance, however, those left behind were left in doubt until their own ariival 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, at the earnest entreaties of some of the passengers, the Captain was "inrttrceirtSTower tbe lile^boat, ancl~elFverr-peTsmis~g'6T" into her, consisting of Mr. and Mrs. and Miss Paterson, Mis. Artulas Dei rick, Miss Terry, Mrs. Hall, Mr. and Mrs. Langfoid, Miss Mary Allen, and Mr. and Mrs. Orphett: the Captain standing upon the boat to steady her, and using every exertion to place them in safety, during which period ho was three times washed overboard and recovered, the last time with great difficulty. Just as they had all taken places, shocking to relate, the miz^nmast came down, and striking the boat across the bows, overturned her, and immersed tbe whole in the water. Two of them, Mr. and Mrs. Paterson, however, were recovered, the remaining nine, we regret to say, peiished. The passengers were ihen collected together in the cuddy, where they remained in awful suspense until daylight of Monday morning, during which period tbe sea was dashing over her, nnd the vessel fast settling down. At that hour, Mr. Tobin, the pilot, having divested himself of his apparel, and fastened a warp round his body, and made 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 hy the united exertions of these gallant fellows, the lest of the passengers, as well as the captain and crew, were landed in safety. Immediately after all were landed, the sea becoming calm, the crew commenced saving the moveables belonging to the passengers. The Isabella Watson is a ship of 314 tons burthen, belonging to Messrs. Russell and Raeburn, of Glasgow, Scotland, and 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 passengers. They speak in the highest terms of commendation of him, and describe the passage up to this event, very agreeable, For tbe above particulars we are indebted to the couitesy of Mr. John Orr, the agent, and to Mr. W. J. Pearce, the surgeon of the vessel. Passengers per Isabella Watson. Saved (Cabin) — Mr. and Mrs. Paisley, Mr. Parker, Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, and two children, Mr. Clarke, Mr. Ritchie, Mr. Mouatt, Mr. Gray, and Mr. Verdon. IntermediateThomas Pateraon, Mrs.T. Paterson, John 11. Rudd, W. M. Simpson, T. H. Christian, Samuel Drew, James Allan, Eliza Derri<k, George Bell, Josh. Ilobbs, 11. Talbot, C. 13. Hall, George Oliver, Mrs. S. Oliver. \Vilham Kelly, Mrs. Kelly, Joseph Menand. William Tei ry, G. Kingsley, S. W. Kingsley, Eliza Newman, Win. Geraghty. Drowned—Miss Patterson, Mrs. Derrick, Mrs. Terry, Mrs. Hall, Mi. G. Langford, Mrs. M. Langford, Mr. Thomas Orphett, and Mrs. A. Orphett, all intermediate passengers.