WRECK OF THE GOTHENBURG.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4361, 12 March 1875, Page 2

WRECK OF THE GOTHENBURG.

NINETY-NINE LIVES LOST. [Pee Press Agency.] Melboubne, March 6. After three days of painful suspense, news was received in Melbourne at an early honr this morning as to the ultimate fate of the Gothenburg's passengers. Only twenty-two of the crew reached Port Denison. The remainder of those on board, numbering some ninetyfive in all, have perished. It has transpired,, that on that fatal night of the 24th of February, when all hope of saving the vessel was abandoned, the boats were ordered to be got ready. Then there was a rush, and in the heavy sea they capsized. A few men got away in the life-boat, which was damaged, and they are still missing. Three men were picked off Hoburn Island, where they had been subsisting on sea birds and shell-fish. The drowned included Judge Werrin, his associate, and the Crown Solicitor, Hon. T. Beynolds, Dr. Milner, Mr. Wells, editor of the Southern Territory Times, and a number of women and children. Mr. and Mrs. Hart, late of New Zealand, are amongst the drowned in the Gothenburg. The tale is a sad one, and will bring grief to < many a home. The captain and officers are all drowned, with the engineers. The Normanby threw over a portion of her cargo. The schooner Kate Conley was stranded, and the crew rescued.

The Bluk?, Thursday. The following are the detailed particulars of the disaster to the Gothenburg : Brisbane, March 5. The survivors from the Gothenburg, wrecked on 24th Februaiy on the Barrier Reef, have landed at Port Denison. Their names are—J Griffiths, Richard Bilts, George Cover, R. B. Bazel, J. Mark, T. Fact, J. Remiolds, David McGlie, Win. -Burns, Joseph Hudson, and Henry Nelson. The above are part of the crew. The passengers saved are Wm. Thomas, Wm. Homers, Jas. J. Campbell, S. Andrews, J. Kremger, J. Cockburn, P. J. Hogaa, J. Cleland, W. Roberts, J. Fitzgerald, and D. Harris. The passengers drowned are: Judge Wearing, Mr. Pelham (his associate), Whitby (Crown Solicitor), Dr. Milner, wife, and family, W. Durand, Mackay, Cartwright and son, W. Lloyd, W. Ester, Mr. and Mrs. Hart, Mr. and Mrs. Nation and child, Mrs. Viggor, Mr. and Mrs. Hunt, Mr. and Mrs. Cox and family, Mr. Shoobridge, R. McKnight, S. Leisr, J. King, J. Pring, John J. Macarthy, J. Mitchell, Wells (editor of the Northern Territory Times), T. Sims, Cameron, Radford, W. Farhall, J. Kean, William Goulder and son, W. Lieden, Mackie, Stone, C. Peters, C. Cleve, J. Crain, H. Hassall, Graham, H. Sarce, Thomson, Blades, Glenister, C. Fry, J. Newcombe, McCallum, Fogarty, C. Musgrave, J. Graffiths, Mackay, Ross, and others whose names are not remembered..,

There is a boat, containing six or seven persons from the wreck, not picked up yet. The names of those on board are not known. A boat is out in search of them still.

The following has just been received from the Harbor-master at Port Denison ; All hands are known to be drowned, except twentytwo, brought in here, and about seven men, who drifted away in the life-boat. The Birnyip has searched the islands to the leeivard, seeking the missing boat, but unsuccessfully. She has now gone towards the wreck. The other boats went in search, and have returned unsuccessful.

The following has been received, via Eoekhampton, from Mackay:—The boats picked up fifteen more of the Gothenburg's people, and brought them in yesterday. The Bunyip has been sent from Townsville. There are several mcu said to be adrift somewhere in a damaged life-boat, and three on Holboru Island. These latter will be brought on to-day. It is feared that few, if any more, will be heard of. The Townsville agent sends the following: —" I have just come into port Denison in the steamor Bmiyip, chartered by the Government to search for the survivors from the wreck of the steamer Gothenburg. We picked up three men off Holborn Island. They report that the Gothenburg struck the reef when under all sail and full steam. The captain lightened tne ship forward by filling casks. She swung ofi and came broadside on to the reef. Two boats were lowered with four men in each, but the sea was too heavy to keep them alongside, and tiiey went astern, where they broke adrift and reached Holboi-n Island, where they were found. The four men who had been driven away in the port-quarter boat, which was smashed, lived on sea-bird's eggs and shellfish. All then went off towards Bowen, except three—J. J. Fitzgerald, David Wylie, and William Roberts. The vessel finally settled down in three fathoms of water. The two quarter-boats were capsized by a rush of passengers. The last time the life-boat was seen she was driven to the east of the reef* Her stern split, and some men in her were drowned. Fourteen men were clinging to the masts till Friday, when they succeeded in righting one of tho capsized boats. There is no news yet of the rest. All the officers, stewards, and engineers, are supposed to be lost. The Adelaide mail bag is lost, hut the Sydney mail is saved. Adelaide, Friday. Mr. Todd interrogated Burns, one o£ the men rescued from the Gothenburg, by telegraph this morning. He states that there was no confusion on board, and that everything was done in order. Up to eleven the captain entertained hopes of getting the steamer off, but after eleven preparations were made to Bupply the boats with provisions, tarpaulins, &c. No attempt was made to construct a raft. The chief mate of the Leichardt says that when they visited the wreck everything betokened that the passengers and crew had left in the boats.