WRECK OF THE AVALANCHE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5142, 15 September 1877, Page 2

WRECK OF THE AVALANCHE.

• NINETY-SIX LIVES LOST,

[The Government have received the following tele* gram from the Agent-General:—]

“ London, September 12. “ The Avalanche,bound for Wellington, came into collision with another vessel in the English Channel, and she sunk immediately. 99 souls were on board. All were lost except three of the crew. AVi 11 wire to-morrow the names of returning colonists who were lost.”

The Avalanche sailed from Wellington, on her homeward voyage, on the 13th March. On the day of the regatta, it will be remembered that two of her crew, J. Harrison (sailmaker), and H. Crouch (ordinary seamanl, were drowned by the upsetting of a boat in the harbor, about half a mile from Somes* Island. It is a sad confidence that the Ocean Mail, which sailed on the same day as theAvalanche, was lost at the Chatham Islands.

The intelligence conveyed by the AgentGeneral’s telegram yesterday cast a deep gloom over the city, and the loss of the Avalanche, with such a fearful sacrifice of life, was a mournful topic with everyone. Of course the intelligence so far is meagre, but it is of a startling and painful nature, as it is well known that many old colonists intended returning to New Zealand by the Avalanche. The telegram briefly states' that the ship whilst coming down the English Channel came into collision with another vessel, and sank immediately. There were ninetynine souls on board, aud out of that number ninety-six perished, only three of the crew being saved. Various rumors were afloat as to the names of those on board, but it would not be advisable to publish them until more definite information is received, which will in all probability arrive to-day, as the Agent-General promises to forward a list of New Zealand colonists who were on board the ill-fated vessel. Such a casualty has not occurred to any New Zealand bound vessel for many years,, with the exception of the loss by fire of the Cospatriok on a voyage to Auckland. The wreck of the Strathmore was a painful one, but the loss of life was not sogreat as in that of the Avalanche. She adds another to the long list of vessels sunk by collision in that great highway of commerce, the English Channel ; the case of the Northfleet, with terrible destruction of life, being particularly held in remembrance, she also being colonial-bound, with a large number of returning colonists on board. It will be in the recollection of many that three English ships —the Avalanche, the Ocean Mail, and the Himalaya—left Wellington within a few hours of each other. Of the three the two former are lost, while strong fears are entertained for the third ; the casualties occurring in differentparts of the world. To those who believe they had relatives or friends on board the Avalanche it would be well to say that their worst fears may not be fulfilled, for it is very common for people to change their minds at the last moment as to the vessel they will proceed in. The Avalanche was one of Messrs. Shaw, Savill, and Co.’s clippers, and was considered one of their finest vessels, and always secured a full complement of passengers, owing no doubt in a considerable measure to the popularity of Captain Williams, her commander, who was well known in Wellington, having visited this port several times. He was : in command of the Avalanche on her last and fatal voyage, and his loss will be deeply regretted by the large circle of friends he made at those places he has visited in New Zealand. He was, previous to taking command of the Avalanche, in the Merope, a regular trader between London aud Canterbury. Mr. Bowling was chief officer of the Avalanche when she left here on her homeward trip; but of course it is not known whether he was on board the vessel at the time of the late fearful occurrence. He also was well liked and deserving of respect. Captain Bowling, of the Adamant, is his brother. The Avalanche was a ship of 1161 tons register, classed 100 A 1 at Lloyds, and was built at Aberdeen in 1874; so it will be seen she was comparatively a new vessel.