STRANDING OF THE GARONNE.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Issue 52, 28 September 1878, Page 2

STRANDING OF THE GARONNE.

(From the Sydney Mail.) Tiie following account of,the accident which neeurrcd to the Garone (s.) is from the pen of the Rev. P. P. Agnew:— '• On board Garonne (s.) at sea 1 hasten to give you an account of a very providential escape of the ship and peoplo, of whom there are some 050 on board, a circum lance to which the Chimborazo affair could bear no comparision. On Thursday, Gth June, we were looking forward to a few hours' change when we reached Aden, where we expected to be on Saturday, and remain for a few hours to coal. All those expectations were disappointed about a quarter-past 10 p.m. The captain was on duty; it was a clear moonlight-night; tho land had been in sight since 5 o'clock, when the vessel was nm out of her course into a sandy bav, in a heavy surf, within 200 ynrds'of the shore on the African coast. Great consternation amongst tho passengers, but no noise, no confusion. The accident seems beyond all explanation. This largo ship of, 4000 tons, with calm sea. fair wind, moonlight night, and land under our port side for many hours, was run out of her course, at 13 knots under sail and steam, into an open, bay, until she lay perfectly upright, with'lo fee! of water under her bows, and '24 feet under her stern, and not more than 10 yards from tho deep sea. A more suitable place or more desolate shore could not have been chosen te strand a vessel, and give the people a chance of starving or being murdered on shore. The shock was not great, and the people behaved with admirable order and quietness. An anchor was with great labour got out astern that night to prevent her going further ashore. Friday, dune: Captain M'Gowon, a passager, was called into council by the captain, and he advised, — Ist. That a rope sling should be rigged from a mast to the shore to land the passengers in any emergency. 2nd. That a boat and crew should be sent at ouco to Aden, to report and gain assistance. He ottered his own services and they wore accepted. A boat with every necessary for ten days, Captain M'Gowan, the second officer, and six seamen, started at about 11 a.m., amid the cheers and prayers of the peoplo. Discharged about '2OOO tons of wheat, tin and copper—all went into the sea. All hands strained at the anchor, but without effect; great want of skill and energy manifested. Captain broken down. A boat and eight passengers were allowed to go ashore. The natives received them kindly, but did not point out water except by digging, and there seemed no means of procuring food, but they offered to take a letter to Aden if well paid. They said the journey was five days overland, and all nescessaries could bo obtained at their village. The natives are very black, speak Aiabie, and they havo cattle, horses, and camels. The women were in calico, of various shades, from head to foot. They seemed a fine race, hut I should not like to be cast into their hands. The boat in returning through the surf was turned over and over, and two young men, Mr. Sowerby and Mr. Boyco, were drowned. Boyco's body was recovered and buried in the surf in the evening. It was a sad sight, and scores of natives stood in regular order, with their camels on tho shore, with Hags Hying. Saturday, June 8. Nothing done to-day, except lowering pome yards. People quiet, but appear wanting in confidence in the energy and skill of those in command. I believe that the young officers could do much if not [fettered byother authority and tho captain's .despondency. 1 strongly advised that tho captain should show himself, and speak to and oncour ige the people. Two natives swam to the ship—perfect Arabs, but Very black, (lot very little reliable information. Late on Satuday night I spoke to most of tho pious passengers, requesting them to spend the night in prayer, and on the morrow to ' pray the ship into deep water.' Lookout on tho bridge all night; rockets sent up every half-hour. Sunday, June 9: Captain induced to address the pooplc. A more depressing address T never heard, not a word to cheer or to urge to exertion. If the assembled peoplo hud given way under the impression his speech was calculated to create, the ship woidd havo been abandoned, and the people have fallen into the bands of the natives, who were collecting on shore in great numbers, with camels and horses within 2(K) yards of tho ship. The captain said : 1, 'There is no bo|K) of saving the ship.' 2. ' I hope your lives may be saved (but this is doubtful), but give up all hope of saving your baggage; I will construct a raft to get you ashore,' It. ' The only help is 650 mill's away, and the boat may be twenty days in getting there.' t ' Vou must l>e put on short rations, and water.' and more to the same effect. This miserable lamentation created pity and sympathy for the captain, but the young first officer got a second anchor over the stern into deep water, so that we had a strong rope the whole length of the ship on both sides. It wns high Water, a strong wind from the Indian Ocean, though it was so strong against us us to

rip the awning int i ribbons, yet it rocked the huge ship in bur saudv* bed and the sand iv>>t its grip of her. Now was the time. We were aroused from prayer by "all hands uu deck." Eveiy man, woman, and child responded, A rush and a chew lik<_> a tempest from one ond of the ship to the other, lioih ropes were crowded, womon here and there the whole length. Engines full speed astern. Heave oh. Again! Wild cheers; again I She moves ? Stick to her, boys. Five hundred men held on for one hour, gaining inch by inch, life or death. Again, again, again! She gives. Nearer, nearer to the green water. The winds raved, the steam roared, men cheered. The ship begins to toss her head and dance upon the waves; anchors cut adrift, and we are free ■ Oh, the shouts, the joy, the thanksgiving, the shaking of hands. I never had so many people shako hands with me in one day before. All say, 'A miracle!' a miracle!' Every one believes tint ' He' came to us in the fourth watch of the night, walking on the soa.' We had a thanksgiving in the evening, and strange men eame. No card-playing since. We are all better men. The dispositions of the natives may be judged from the fact that we had a rope from the ship to the shore for boat service, and when they taw us moving away scores of them got hold of the rope, some in the water and some on shore, and pulled against us. The butcher, seeing the reluctance of the niggers to part with us, cut the rope, and they fell in a heap on the surf. They have got tho rope, and I hope they will find it useful. There is about an inch a-pieco if they divide fair. We are now within eight hours' steam of Aden."