WRECK OF THE SHIP LIGHT OF THE AGE.

Southland Times, Issue 894, 5 February 1868, Page 2

WRECK OF THE SHIP LIGHT OF THE AGE.

One of those casualties which fortunately have not been of frequent occurrence lately near Port Phillip Heads— namely, the total loss of a large •hip, almost within sight of her destination, after a Toyage of some 16,000 miles— took place at an early hour yesterday morning, about a mile weat of Point Lonsdale. The ship was the Light of the Age, a fine clipper of some 1300 tons, and was under the command of Captain Porter. She Jeft Liverpool on the 13th of October, and, from her well-known sailing qualities, was expected to make a rapid passage out here. She had a very large cargo, consisting chiefly of salt, slates, iron, iron pipes, hardware, and malt liquors, and ha-3 also on board two cabin passengers — Miss Hampshire and Misa M'Candish— and forty-three in the steerage. She was in company with the Dover Castle on the 14th, and early on the morning of the 16th the look-out on board the pilot schooner Kip, which was at that time in mid-channel, descried a light to the westward, and made towards it, showing flash lights every five minutes. These lights were exhibited until about a quarter past two a.m., and the Kip burnt blue lightß at intervals. The wind had been south-easterly and moderate, but the weather became thick and rainy, and it was difficult to see more than a mile and a half or so a-head. On board the pilot schooner it was thought that the ship was on shore, and to guard against the Rip running into similar danger, it was decided to send a boat to the vessel, to ascertain her position. A boat, in charge of Mr Pilot Draper, was lowered, and in about an hour he returned, and stated the ship Light of the Age had gone on shore and was bilged, and that Captain Porter wished them to send to Queenscliff for assistance. After a brief consultation amongst the pilots, it was. deemed that the most judicious course, in case of bad weathor coming on, would be at once to convey the passengers from the wreck on board the Kip, and this was done chiefly by the boats of the latter, in charge of Pilots Rich and Draper. The work was one of no small difficulty, but was successfully accomplished, and the passengers — forty-five in number — were taken on board. After placing a pilot onboard the Dover Castle, Mr Pilot Caught, in charge of the Rip, iteered for Queenseliff, to get provisions for the passengers, and was then instructed by Mr J. Guthrie, inspector-general of customs, to take the passengers right on to Melbourne, where they arrived in the afternoon, the agents of the vessel, Messsrs Lorimer, Marwood and Rome, having made every arrangement for their reception* Before the passengers left the ship the masts had gone by the board, and it is stated that before eight a.m. the pumps showed fifteen feet of water in the hold. On receipt of the intelligence in town the steam tugs Resolute and Titian were despatched by their owners to the scene of the wreck, to render whatever assistance they could give. The steam-tug Warhawk, with Mr Lorimer and Lloyd's agent, and'one or t\ro other gentlemen, also left the bay for the Hea <s later in the day. The Titian was expected b .ok again last night, in order to take down a lighter, and a number of men, to be employed in saving as much of the cargo as could be got at. It is probable that the chip will become a complete wreck. [The Light of the Age is described in Lloyd's Register as a barque of 520 tons burthen, built in 1863. and hailing fr Q m BiiatoL]— -Argus, 25th Jan.