FOUNDERING OF AN OUTWARD-BOUND STEAMER.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 1016, 2 April 1883, Page 3

FOUNDERING OF AN OUT-WARD-BOUND STEAMER.

The Kenmure Castle,- bound from London to Hong Kong, foundered on Feb. 2 ;in the Bay of Biscay during a violent gale. All the passengers and eight of the crew were saved and conveyed to Boulogne by the Montalaire, a French steamer. It appears that several mishaps befel the vessel prior to her leaving the Channel. On February 1, at sunset, the saloon was crushed, and in the course of the night, carried bodily away, the water entering freely. The passengers were with difficulty conveyed to the engine-room, the ladies in their night attire. Finding that the steamer was filling and: the water in the stokehole, a boat was launched by .order of the;'cnptnin, who placed all the pas-sengers—-a lady from Bedford and her three daughters/ Mr and Mrs Harrock, of Swatow, China, Mr and .Mrs Alexander J. Henry, of Dundee, late of Ceylon, in her. Mr Holness, second officer, the third officer, and a crew of seven Chinamen, also got in. Scarcely had the boat left, when the vessel sank ; suddenly, with between 30 and 40 men on board. The high sea threatened at ' every moment to swamp the boat. Mr Holness, knowinghe was 160 miles from land, endeavoured to steer in the track of outward and homeward bound ships.,On the second day, the third officer, from want of food, became mad, and jumped overboard, but was saved after an hourhad elapsed by throwing an ban to him. ?0n Hib third day the ladies were sinking fast. The privation was intense,ino food of any description having been placed in- the bOat. The lady passengers Were tossing for three days in the open sea in their nightdresses; the only further clothing obtainable being the men’s coats and a shawl. The occupants of the boat were at last reduced to chewing Mr Harrock’s flannel vest as their only ration till they were picked up, -Several vessels were “'sighted,'’ and one ’especially, although;! quite near, .look: no notice. On the evening of the : third; day theMontalaire bore ’ down and took them all btt board. Y Every kindness was shown to them by the captain; and crew of this vessel. .