SINKING OF A WAR VESSEL AND GREAT LOSS OF LIFE.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 2, Issue 99, 23 August 1879, Page 2

SINKING OF A WAR VESSEL AND GREAT LOSS OF LIFE.

Tho mail steamer Bolivar, which has urt'ived lit Liverpool, brings the following details respecting the collision between that vessel and the llaytian warship St. Michael:—The Bolivar originally sailed from Liverpool for the West Indies, and, ou the 12th of April, she left St. Thomas for Port-au-Prince. The night 'of the 13th WBB clear and line. At three the following morning a vessel was described on the horizon, which was duly reported by the look-out. then bring two men on this duty at the time. The eonr.se of the approaching vessel seemed to have been altered shortly afterwards, and she was again reported by the look-out. The vessels eaine nearer and nearer, but thoughts of a collision

were never entertained by those onboard the Bolivar, and, following the Usual iiiitructiotiH when vessels are similarly placed, the heliu tm put hardaport. Notwitlistandiug this precaution, the cause steered by the other vessel made it of no avail, nnJ seeing that a Bollirion 111 inevitable, the engine* of the Bolivur were stopped. The other vessel, however, was going full S|ieed, and etna across the hows of the Bolivar, which struck her near the poit how, and the tone was so terrific that the stem of the English steamer almost cut through the other vessel which proved to ho the llavtian war-vessel St. Michael. The vessels were not long iu close Quarters, as the speed at which the St. Michael was going when the the collision occurred enabled her to separate herself from the Bolivar, and proceed a distance of something like 100 yards before she went down. Several boats lowered from the ill-fated war vessel, and into these many of the crew placed themselves, but being unable to clear from the immediate vicinity of tho vessel before she sank, the boats were capsized by the suction, and the occupants left struggling for their lives in the water. The screams and shouts which rent the air were pitiful, and the water for some distance was covered with drowning men and the wreckage of the vessel. The orders for the lowering of the Bolivar's boats were immediately given and obeyed, and although only some 10 minutes elapsed from the time of the collision until the St. Michael foundered, the boats of the Bolivar were near her before she went down, and were busily engaged picking up her crew—a task rendered more arduous by the of distinguishing human beings from floating spars when a short distance off. One of the unfortunate vessel's boats righted, and in this some dozen of the crew saved their lives. The remainder, to the number of about sixty, were rescued by the boats belonging to the English steamer. The chief officer jumped on board the Bolivar, as the vessels were locked together. The captain and most of the officers were also saved, as well as several of the priests belonging to the war vessel; but all the engineers perished. There were many women on board, and fur the most part they were drowned. Various affecting scenes and narrow escapes were witnessed ; amongst the

most touching of tlio former being the drowning of one of the crew, ami tlw saving of his wife and two children. The poor follow was seen struggling with tlio greatest desperation to keep his children above the water, his wilo behi"; at the time supported by a Moating spat, llis efforts were successful for some time, but becoming exhausted, he disappeared and was drowned ; not however, before bis living load was transferred to the care of another man, who managed to sustain them until the arrival of one of the boats, and the mother ami children, together with their rescuer, were placed safely on board the Bolivar. It was ascertained that the St. Michael was a wooden vessel and wits then going from Port-au-Prince to (Jape llayti. She had on board 180. When first reported it was stated that CO persons bad perished by the disaster. The boats of the Bolivar cruised about the sjeno for about five hours after the collision, anil rinding no further help could be given, the steamer sailed on her course, and shortly afterwards arrived at Port-au-Prince, where the survivors were landed. An inquiry of three days' duration was held at Port-au-Prince, when several of the crew attended, and dining the nights while the steamer lay in port all the approaches bo the vessel were guarded to prevent any attempt being made to interfere with her. After the inipiiry the Bolivar continued on her voyage, and eventually arrived at New Orleans, when it was ascertained that shortly after the departure of tho vessel from L'ort-au-Priuce a Haytian war-vessel was despatched, for the purpose of overtaking the Bolivar and bringing her back into port ; but being a smart sailor, the .steamer could not be overhauled. from what could be gathered from the survivors when on board the Bolivar, it appeared that many of the marines and sailors on tho St. .Michael wore well supplied with liquor and at the time of the disaster they, for the most part, were below ; otherwise, the list of saved would have been much increased. To those on board the Bolivar, the other vessel did not appear to answer her helm. It was also reported that the St. Michael, was suspeetad of conveying arms to some rebellious subjects, and that the St. Michael, suspecting that the Bolivar was the vessel, was endeavouring to intercept her, and hence the zigiSag course he steered.—Standard, June 5.