TERRIBLE CATASTOPHE AT SEA.

Southland Times, Issue 1284, 26 July 1870, Page 2

TERRIBLE CATASTOPHE AT SEA.

mswtm&owM passenger^shep and . ■. .-„ -:. : The a&truetion ! efra*ship s by firt is^ataTl times a most appalling spectacle, but when it is known that a number of fellow-creatures have also perished, it becomes doubly so ; and in one of these terrible dramas lie Miirray~(jiasfc arrived in our .waters) played an important part, although she was powerless to rescue many from the devastating element?. Captain Begg gives a graphic description of tJieoccurrencft, from which it appears that on the night of the26ih May, in latitude 23deg. 4Qmin. a, longitude 37deg. 60min. W., one of the hands at the, .masthead reported a singular; 21nminationaffterni Kid on~ closer inspection the reflection became more apparent, and after a very -dgttrtfiater?artf^ fire. I In"or3er to clearly ascertain the truth, the Murray's course v WM^chaneedj and all sail made. The distance wa's ihto computed at thirty miles, .and after saflhig for an, hour .there was immediately seen to be a vessel on-' fire, and in the excessive 'darkness of the nightitwas indeed a most appalling eppetteie, »fra nearer approach disclosed the form of a large ship being devoured by the flames, which shot nigh. olofsj, lighting v up. for an. immense dis- j tance thflr'furrounding gloom. At 2 a.m. the distance was -considerably lessened, and the Munnnt- closeds-with -the jbuming; wreck, -, having pr^Q^]/ : .p^ar^her'l>oMa for lowering, with j -fcand» at tfi© davit- falifl," and every- possible arrangement was made_tp me^t^the emergencies oft^?.CM«.7T^^ !*?Eftor;' ( c^.,came from the waveradajsqieißß; "and jthe^boat was.lowered, mainiopfl^^OT^K^^^d a gallant crew pulled away inw'the flhide of nigKt towards the sound. There was found a water-logged boat, witii_ four men clingingio Jier7 F wmlat -*very wave rolled com- { pl6te^^=OTer-towH» - Sttßsoqoently it was known j that lowered from i the burning ! ship, andiji»rusii T .o£ passengers made to her ; consequently she* filled,_and. only four survivors were left to tell fteir miserable tale. The Murray rexfiaispT close to the burning spectacle until dayy|K^^rfen bllb stood iowards the vessel, which waßoneniai* of flame from stem to stern. Her iii^|»^fert g^,and!lhe deck fore and aft added fueffes mi'&e, and as day dawned ' it was seen with delight,' fixit three other vessels had been attracted to the scene, and as the ship drifted doicft pa her, people twere seen; clinging to a wreck' of -floating ' span which, hung to wittdawd^ ;A— jwfaooner^was - -near, which sent away a boat to assist^ and the Murray's boats were also" engaged in the work of rescue. Although a strong breeze was blowing, all but! twtriWre takm oflv At this juncture the wind : ainHe'a increased Baas to render it impossible to m&e further exertions, : and the two unfortunates were in such & position that the boats could not get | near them, and they seemed quite exhausted and inssnsible to the efforts being made to save them. The whole scene! was of a most exciting* and lamentabj» . .character, . ~ as from subsequent | inquiries it was found ihat the .ill-fated ship was the M&zmin Barabino, an Italian barque, bound from Genoa to the River Plate, with 150 passengers on board, besides the crew. On comparing notes afterwawis itwa# fodnd that over 120 were lost by fire and water. Of course, want of an intiniato jknolflßdge of ; their language rendered it difficult-, to obtain - minute from the survivors;, but it was understood that fire, from the cook's galley had by some means ignited the deekj(*nd &c combustion of the. cargo, which was mamly spirit*,; was a very rapid process. The for© '^nd;«f . the vessel * early blew up, sending the «nkmfoVeaiaat and gear over to windward, and ip this providential circumstance may be attribujed; the salvation of the &w saved, for the ropes, sa4s, spars, and gen served as a ktnd: bf raft on -which they;,wore^bnqy©d tall assistance arrived. The vessels in attendance were the French barque Adda^ouiae, from Bordeaux to the Biver Plate; the^jwncET)arque Oaldere, from Havre } and .a Dutch schooner, homeward bound. Captain Begg sent iis'lßoat fb^the Adele, which was sailing to C^^SSaiion of the unfortunates, and ha offered to fMrißbip those rescued supposing the master was inclined to take.them on. A supply of pro•vjsibns acd clothes ; followed,' and finally a subsc^p^otii amongst ti& /passengers supplemented th^ offer,- wiuclfwaff'Batii&ctorily arranged^ and efter a couple of days' detention the Murray filled^i^/ on her course. "When the ships parted compairjfjth* 31-fated craft had bum»d down to thewa^s edge» the sea making! a half breach over some parts of her, auda heavy. S.s^!. gale waj antiripfitttl it is reasonable to

suppose that had tho assistance not arrived when it did, there would have been no survivors from the doomed ship. Amongst the saved were :two ladies. To those who were injured .the doctor of the Murray attended, with a view' to alleviate their sufferings/ Ths whole affair was^ of a most harrowing description, but from the inability of the Burvivors to speak English, the above are the only facts to hand. — S. A. Register.