WRECK OF THE JAMES SERVICE.

Temuka Leader, Volume I, Issue 70, 17 August 1878, Page 3

WRECK OF THE JAMES SERVICE.

The Merchant Shipping and Unnderwriters’ Association (Limited), as Lloyd’s agents, received the following telegram yesterday from Lloyd’s agent at Perth •. — “Ship, supposed to be James Service, totally wrecked south Garden Island. All hands supposed to be lost, cargo and passengers’ luggage washing ashore, boat with ship’s "name.” They also received the following telegram from their agents at Fremantle :—“ Sunken barque discovered Murray Reef, 40 miles south Fremantle Female and other apparel washing ashore. James Service boat picked up on spot. No other particulars vet known.”

From these telegrams it seems probable that the barque struck on the reef running out from Garden Island, about 40 miles to the southward of Fremantle. Nautical men would, no doubt, ask why a vessel coming - from the Indies should keep so close into the land, with the south-west monsoon blowing, more especially as when getting so far to the southward, if the wind kept in that quarter, it is understood that the proper thing to do is to make a long board to seaward, so as not to hug the land too closely. From a late telegram that has been received, however, from our Fremantle correspondent, it appears that very heavy gales have been raging on the western coast for some days past. That the barque lost was the James Service, of this port, there can be no doubt, for, independently of the linding of the boat, the cargo washed ashore corresponds in description with that with which the barque was freighted. The James Service was built of iron, at Glasgow, in 1869, and came out here in 1870. Her dimensions are as follows ;—Length, 158 feet G inches ; beam, 28 feet 1 inch ; depth of hold, 15 feet 3 inches ; register, 441 tons. She was owned by Mr James Service, Mr Archibald Currie, and others, and was built for . the Calcutta, China, and Mauritius trades. She was first commanded by Captain H. Mnrkercy, now of the ship Iloilo ; then by Captain Gaster who left on account of ill-health ; and was replaced by Captain Young, who, however, had to leave the ship at Penang very recently, and only arrived in Melbourne on Tuesday by the Torres Straits mail steamer Somerset. The James Service took in cargo at Calcutta, from which port she sailed on April 27- When the news of the wreck was first known in Melbourne yesterday, the excitement which was ' naturally manifested was heightened by the rumour that among the passengers wore Mr and Mrs Williamson (Miss Maggie Moore), Upon inquiry this proved not to be the case, the passenger hst being as follows Mr and Mrs Cow-di-roy (Miss Bessie Edwards), Mr and Miss Williams, Messrs P. B. Smith, W. F. Phillips, and Mr J. W. Kelly. Miss Bessie Edwards (Mrs Cowdoroy) was coming to Melbourne under engagement to the managers of the Theatre Royal as leading lady, and from the Press notices that have been given of her performances in London, in the provinces, and in India she would no doubt have proved a great acquisition to the Victorian stage. Mr Oowderoy is also spoken of as a good “ old man” actor. Mr Williams was for a long time principal violinist in Davie Carsons troupe, and was well known in India ; while bis daughter, Miss Williams, has gained laurels in the principal Indian cities as a soubrette actress.