WRECK OF THE LADY ELGIN.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 327, 7 December 1860, Page 2

WRECK OF THE LADY ELGIN.

The Chicago Democrat of September 10 contains the following statement of one of the survivors,!named Edward Westlake:— !

"I was porter on the steamer Lady Elgitij We left Chicago on Friday evening for Milwaukee nhprtly after midnight. The wind was blowing hard from the north-east, and a heavy sea running. There was a large party on board—five or six persons to etwh' state-room—and many were sleeping on the floor;. 1 went to bed about a quarter past two o'clock. My bed was on the main-deck, near the after gangway on the larboard side. I had not got asleep when I heard a ! fearful crash. 1 jumped out of my room with .my.l pants in hand, and pulled them on as I went on deck. I went forward on the larboard side, and Baw a vessel at the after gangway. Some of our crew halloed to her to send her crew on board, as we supposed she was sinking, but made no answer to our hail, and we saw no person. As she fell aft some of her rigging] broke the lamp-room windows. She was soon out of sight. I then went forward, where I met the captain. He told me to get a light. I got one, and we looked over the side to see what damage was done.: It appeared to be not serious. The captain thought that by listing her to starboard she would not leak, as the damage appeared to be above the water-line. I then went and looked down the fire hole, and heard that Kichard Alexander, a fireman, had discovered a leak. By command of the captain I went aft for some mattresses, with which to stop the water flowing in. With the assistance of a couple of passengers'l threw down eight or ten mattresses into the hold. 1 then went back through the cabin. The ladies and gentlemen were gathered in the cabin, but appeared neither alarmed nor excited. I then went to the, pilot-house, where I remained a minute. The wheel was put hard-a-starboard. The boat headed for Bhore. I ran down again to the fire-hole, and saw water within a loot of the furnaces. I went aft immediately, and met Mr. Caryl, and toM him about the dangerous leak. He and I went forward immediately to the fire-hole, and saw the water rushing into the furnaces. In going aft I met the captain; he appeared cool and collected. He ordered the after yawl to be lowered. I took the bow tackle, and somebody, I know not who, was at the stern. As the boat lowered, I saw several persons jump into her from the promenade deck. I do not know who they were. As the boat struck the water the tackle was unhooked, and I swung off by the ropes into the boat. Mr. Caryl then jumped in, and one or two deck hands. The captain ordered us to go round to the larboard side, where sho had been struck, for the purpose of stopping the leak with mattresses, which, he said, they would throw over to ua. We had but one oar in the boat, and though we aßked repeatedly for another, there was nobody to hand it to us; the captain had left that place, and the people seemed to be very much excited and confused, and screamed, ' Come in with tiie boat! Come in with the boat!' We could not get alongside. The steward Mr. Rice, jumped off the main deck into the water to help us with the boat. He swam to us, and we took him in. We then halloed for a line to be thrown'tb us, but did not get it. We sculled round as well as we could with one oar for the purpose of getting alongside, in the meantime continually asking Tor another oar, or for a line. But no attention was paid to us. Finally some one threw us an oar, but it was carried off by the sea. By extraordinary exertions we neared the Elgin somewhat when a man jumped off the promenade deck, and we took him into the boat The wind then blew us away still further, and we were prevented from making another approach. After lying offa little while, the distance between the Elgin and ourselves constantly growing greater, we put the boat before the wind, and with thirty persons, myself included, started for the shore. We saw the lights of the Elgin after we Had been from five to ten minutes away. Sha was rolling heavily. After the expiration of that time she appeared to sink between two heavy swells. When we arose on the top of the wave we saw her no more. We got ashore near Wyneika about six o'clock a.m, worn out and exhausted by the night's danger and fatigue. We supposed the accident happened about ten miles from the land. We had great difficulty in landing under the bluff. Our boat was capsized, but all the party were saved. After an hour or two, another boat came ashore, containing eight persons. In landing she was upset in the surf, and four of her passengers were drowned. I mingled freely with the passengers after we left Chicago, and am of opinion that there were at least 330 soula, including the crew, od board. After we set out the greatest good-feeling was manifested by the party, and dancing and other forms of merriment kept up till a late hour. When the accident happened, most of the party had gone to bed, though there may have been a few still up in the saloon and other parts of the boat. As far as I was able to observe up to the time of leaving the vessel, but little fear was felt among either passengers or crew. There were not many cries, or much wailing among the ladies of the party. Our going away was much against our will. With but one oar, in such a boat as ours, and in such a sea, we could do nothing but put our boat before the wind. I know nothing of any raft being made, though one might have been constructed after I left the steamer.

We are glad to hear that Captain Kreeft, owner and captain of the unfortunate little Emu, has soon found an engagement which may assist him in repairing the very heavy loss which he sustained by the wreck of the steamer. He has accepted the command of the Rosetta, merchantman, lying .at Bay of Islands, which is vacant by the death of her late captain, The Rosetta proceeds to Monte Video, and thence to Liverpool; and has, we are informed, a very valuable China cargo on bo&vd.-r-Southern Gross, November 16 .....:...;■.:•