THE WRECK OF THE LOCH ARD.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 657, 11 June 1878, Page 2

THE WRECK OF THE LOCH ARD.

[ TEE, STEAMEK AT AUCKLAND, j Adelaide. June 4. The particulars of the wreck of the Loch Ard states that a shepherd named Ford discovered Pearson on the cliff's, and both went where Miss Carmichael lay exhausted, numbed, and comatose, amongst some bushes. She was first washed ashore, on a spar. When Pearson reached land he heard a lady screaming, and dashed in and saved her. Pearson was found, on Hearing the shore, about a mile off East Sherbook. The Captain threw out the anchor and the ship dragged, and went down in two minnt'-s. There were no indications of outlying l-ocks in the vicinity, but the coast is remarkably bold, with high cliffs. _ Had not Pearson, by his heroic conduct climbed the cliffs, no one would have been left to fell the talc of the disaster, as, at the time the vessel struck, the Captain and some sailors were in the longboat, disentangling the lifeboat. They went down, and were not seen any more. The L->ch Ard had 17 passengers and a crew numbering 30 hands. The declared value of the cargo is L 53.700. She was iusured f0rL1.3,000 in the Southern Insurance Company; of whichL9,ooowasreinsured.Llooo in the British and Foreign Insurance Company, and LI,OOO in the Cornwall. The cargo was insured for L 30.000 in various offices. The Carmichael family i were coming out to settle in Queensland. -: The survivors state that two days previous to the Ist June the sky was overeast, and tlie Captain was unable to take observations. At 4 o'clock in the morning they saw a dangerous reef scarcely half-a-miie from the chore. The ship was under close-reefed topsails, running before the wind. The captain gave orders to bring the ship to the wind, but she would not weather the land. He then let go both anchors, but she would not hold, and dragged. When 150 yards from the rocks, the captain slipped both anchors and tried to put on sail. He had only got the mainsail set when the vessel struck on the starboard quarter. It was just breaking day. Immediately the topmast fell over, killing two seamen. The captain ordered the crew to get boats out for the lady passengers, but this was not done, the waves washing over the decks. Pearson and five other seamen got intp the lifeboat, but

were washed over. Pearson swam to the boat, and kept on it while it drifted into a small bay where the ship had struck. After a little while he heard a cry, and saw a lady clinging to a spar fifty yards out. He swam out to her, and she appeared insensible. He disengaged her hands, and dragged her ashore. The cliff lie climbed is about 100 ft. high. From her statement it appeared she was nearly the last on board, being in conversation with the captain just before the ship went down. The captain said if she should survive he wished her to tell his wife he died like a seaman at his post. She was bound in a cork life-belt. Before Pearson come to her rescue, there were two others clinging to the same spar, but she saw them washed off. The bodies of Mrs. Carmichael and her eldest daughter were washed ashore, and were encased in cork. The folly dressed body of Reginald Jones was also washed ashore.