PORT OF BLUFF HARBOR.

Southland Times, Issue 1731, 22 April 1873, Page 2

PORT OF BLUFF HARBOR.

ABRTVKD. Afril 18 — Xerwieit, 15 tons, M'Donald, from Stewart's Island, with oysters.

The following particulars of the death of Mr James Mcßobie, brother of Mr David Mcßobie of tfai» town, are from the Fife News of Ist February :— " Mr Mcßobie was a young sailor of great promise — the son of our widely-respected townsman, Mr Alexander Meßobie. He was in tha 25th year of his age, and had just obtained a first mate's certificate, so as to enable him, at the earnest wish of bis friend, Captain William Lyall, to hold the responsible post the duties of which he was so actively and bravely discharging when he met with his Untimely fate. It is no idle phrase to say of him that he was beloved by all that knew him, and his melancholy death has excited in all quarters the liveliest regret, mingled •with the most heartfelt sympathy for his bereaved parents and others of his afflicted relations. From a letter dated Liverpool, 29th January, we extract the following : — ' A terrible disaster has just befallen the Glasgow ship, Pride of Canada, commanded by Captain Lyall of Anstruther. She is a long, rather lean-looking craft of about 1000 tons, and with the wind on the beam will switch along merrily, but she isn't such a sea beauty » 1 would care to weather Cape Horn with, though I hear she has made some crack voyages under the command of Captain Lyall, who I can fancy is both a smart sailor and a skilful commander. The Pride of Canada has just been refitted with masts, and sailed from the Mersey on Monday with a cargo of salt for Calcutta. She encountered heavy weather in the Irish" Sea, but the ship was still working well under reefed canvas, so much so as from what I can hear that, thinking himself clear of the land, Captain Lyall had given orders to secure the anchor, when the sad calamity happened. Poor James- Mcßobie, the first officer of the ship — one of the finest young fellows I ever knew — had sprung forward to see the work done, and was cheering on the mea with word and deed, when a tremendous sea went crushing over the bows. ' Hold on, boys,' bravely rung above the hoarse roar of the storm, but no warning could save the hero who uttered it, for, hurled from his hold, he was washed overboard before a hand could be stretched but to help him. He rose, however, to the smrface, and with matchless intrepidity was seen Struggling amongst the foaming water* * n leeward ol the ship. A lifebuoy was of no »«mce, and so Captain Lyall ordered a boat to the rescue, but there was no need to call for volunteers. ' There wasn't a man of us but would nave risked life and death to save him,' one of the crew told a friend of mine, as he wiped away an honest tear ; and so — fall of the noblest enthusiasm which in such moments as these nerves brave men for any danger — the second mate and three others of the crew sprung into the boat and pushed from the ship's side j but their friendship and devotion were all in vain, for just as they were heading towards the drowning man, a dreadful wave swept over the little bark, which was swamped in an instant, and while those in the ship could only look on in nameless agony in their helplessness to save them, one after another of these brave seamen Bank with poor James Mcßobie into a watery grave. Need I add that it was with heavy hearts, that Captain Lyall and his company bore up lor Liverpool, which they reached on Tuesday afternoon.' "