WRECK OF THE STEAMER GOTHENBURG.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 256, 17 March 1875, Page 2

WRECK OF THE STEAMER GOTHENBURG.

We have only room for the following short and unsatisfactory telegrams received by the Albion at the Bluff on the 11th inst., relative to the total loss of the steamer Gothenburg on the Australian coast on the 24th of February :— Melbourne, March 6. After three days of painful suspense, news was received in Melbourne at an early hour this morning as to the ultimate fate of the Gothenburg ; of the passengers and crew only 22 reached Port Denison. The remainder of those on board, numbering some 95 in all have perished. The tale is a sad one, and will bring grief to many a home. The captain and officers are all drowned. The Townsville agent sends the following :—I have just come in to Port Denison in the steamer Bunyip, 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 a full head of steam. The captain lightened the ship forward by filling casks. She swung off and came broadside on the reef. Two boats were lowered with four men in each, but the sea was too heavy to keep them alongside and they went astern, where she broke adrift, and reached Holborn Island. The four men who had been driven away in the port quarter boat which was smashed. lived on sea birds, eggs and shellfish. All then went off towards Bowen, except three—J. J. Fitzgerald, David Wylie, and Wm. 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. Fourteen men were clinging to the masts till Friday, when they succeeded in righting one of the capsized boats, and the men are now rescued by the Bunyip. There is no uews yet of the rest. The Adelaide mail bag is lost, but the Sydney mail is saved. Mr. and Mrs. Hart, late of New Zealand, are amongst the drowned in the Gothenburg.