TOTAL LOSS OF HER MAJESTY'S STEAMER BIRKENHEAD, AT THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 636, 19 May 1852, Page 2

TOTAL LOSS OF HER MAJESTY'S STEAMER BIRKENHEAD, AT THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

The Birkenhead left Simon's Bay at six o'clock on Wednesday evening, February 25tb, with the troops enumerated, and at two in the morning struck on a rock just off CapeHanglip. When the vessel struck, there were three fathoms water forward, eleven fathoms aft, and seven on each side of the paddle-boxes. She was going at 7\ knots. The bow of the vessel was stove in by the shock, and the water rushed in so furiously that the fires were ulmoßt nibtantly extinguished ; tb& chief engineer and several stokers were drowned in the engine room befoie the engines could be reversed, as ordered by Captain Salmond. In a few minutes the back of the vest-el broke, and she sunk, And was broken to pieces in five or ten minutes. Theie was no timo to lower either the pinnace or paddle-box boats, hut the gig and two cutters were got into the wator. The Ciptam immediately oidered the women and child] en to be put into them. This was done. There were four or five women, among whom were Mrs. Ni&betf, wife of quarter-master Nishett, now on the frontier, with her four or five children. One of the bo Us was then manned by Mr. Richards, the master assistant, and the other two boats were filled by ahout 12 soldiers, 30 sailors, and 2 marines. The three Loats then left the remains of the vessel, to which many weie still clinging— Captain Salmond being last seen in the riggmg of the mizenmast, but a great number had perished at once m their hammocks. As the vessel was sinking, the surgeon, Mr. Culhano, swam off from the \mck and overtook the boats; after swimming about a mile and a half. The boats proceeded in company, and attempted to land at Ilnnjjljp, but it was found impossible on account of the Burf, 'Jliey then pulled to the eastward, and shortly spied ti sail, aivl mntie for it ; but after pulling m company ten or twelve miles without being able to roako her hail, it was detfci mined to man one of the boais with volunteeis from the rest, and follow the vcsttl as far as posbible. This was done, and the boat in question pulled about fifty miles as agieed on ; Mr. Culuanc w.is in the boat. .Aftei pulling thus about ten hours, finding themselves ut tot ly un.ible to catch or hail the vppsol, they landed with great difficulty at Point D'Uiban, between Mudge Point and Diingei Point. Here they found a store kept by a Mr. Phillipson, at which three daughters of Mr. Metcalf wevi /Haying, all of whom were most kind and attentive te

the wiecKcil anil weaned boat's crew. Mr. Culhnno piocured a hoist*, mid rode to Cape Town as f>i&>t as possible, in older to send the eailiest assistance to {■(•arch tor the other two boals, nnd for the suivivors left on the wreck. lie set ofF at five last night, and after a ride of ninety miles, arrived this moiniug at nine o'cloclf. Mr. Culhaue stntes that tbo two other boat'?, one of which contaim d the women and children, had not been ) seen for about four houis befoie they landed, nor is it known where they me. It is to be fe.ired, besidos those left clinging to the wreck, whom it is hardly to be hoped can be saved, between 400 and 500 men have been di owned. The only officers who escaped fiO'n the wreck were Mr. Richards, the Master-assistant, Mr. Ren wick, Mr. Culhane, and Mr. Bowen, Staff Suigeon : the latter is in one of the absent boats. Mi. Freshfield, Clerk of the vessel, we have as>cei taincd, was left behind sick at Simon's Bay. The boat which was landed had seven men besides Mr. Culhane. The other two contained thirty-five souls in each, including the women and children. The Government steamer Rhadamunlhus has been despatched to the wreck to look after the missing boats. The Styx, which sailed on Thursday night, would pass the spot about da> light yesterday morning, but there c.in be little hope that she would discover either the wieck or the boats. The troops on board consisted of 499 officers and men ; the crew, 132 ; women and children, 12 ; total, 6jO persons. Names of the officers on board the Birkenhead when lost :— Cornets Bond and Rolt (12 Lancers), Ensign Boylan, (2nd Queens), Ensign Metford (bth Royals), Lieutenant Faiiclough (12th Foot), Lieutenant Gnardot (43id L. I.), Lieutenants Robinson and Booth, and Ensign Lucas (?3rd Ragiment), Major Seton and Ensign Russell (74th Highlanders), Captain Wright (91st Regiment), Dr. Bowen, and two other Staft Surgeons. Ihe followiug are the officers of the Birkenhead, taken from the Navy List for Januaiy : — Master Commander 11. Salmond ; Master, W. Brodie; Chief Engineer, William Why ham ; Assistant Suigeon, W. Culhane; '2nd Masters, J. D. Davis and Robert D. Speer j Cleik, John Fresh field.