THE LOSS OF THE STEAMER LA PLATA.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VIII, Issue 437, 24 February 1875, Page 3

THE LOSS OF THE STEAMER LA PLATA.

The following narrative of the loss of this vessel in the Bay {of Biscay is by Cuthbert Hogg, the third engineer: — " We left Gravesend on the 26th November, in La Plata, belonging to Mr. Henly, of London, as fine a vessel as you could wish to see. She was chartered by Mr. Siemens, the cable contractor, and had on board 300 miles of wire, to be laid down between Rio Grande and Chuke. We were seventy-five all told, and had for our commander Captain Dudden, a kind gentleman and a capital sailor. The weather was fine all the way down the Channel, and we were in hopes of having a pleasant voyage, but the next night it blew a gale, and on the following morning and afternoon it blew great guns. We were then making for the Bay of Biscay with all steam, and the nearer we got the harder the wind blew. The ship was knocked about like a cork, and towards midnight the sea began to break over her. I was down in the engine room in the morning when the water made its appearance. It rose so rapidly that in a little while I was up to my waist, and the fires extinguished. Then I went on deck, and the scene there was fearful. It was clear that the ship could not be saved, but Captain Dudden ordered all of us to keep to our duty, and to work the pumps to the laat. We did ; but it was oLjno *use? The water got so high that tHeTihip began to settle down, and then there was a rush to the boats. It was dreadful to see the crew then. We had five boats to begin with, but two had been carried away during the night, and one had been stove in. Eleven others and myself jumped into one boat. There was Mr. Dicks, the chief engineer, standing by, and I begged of him in the name of God, to come with us. He said, " Oh, never mind me old chap ; it will be all right by-and-bye." He would not come, though I begged and prayed of him to do so. At last I had to part with him, and I said, " If you are saved and 1 %m drowned, you'll carry a message to my wife, won't you ?" He smiled and said, "If I am drowned and you are saved, you'll do the same by me?" He was drowned, poor fellow, and so I have to take his message. One of the firemen who was on my watch had his son-in-law with him. When he saw that the ship was settling down, he said to his son-in-law, "George, my lad, here's si pretty thing. There'll be our two widows in one house at home before morning." Thi3 was terrible hard to bear ; so I said to the old man, "Don't give it up. Trust to God, and our lives may be yet saved." It was awfully impressive to see how the poor chaps that could not get into thd boats behaved ; but the captain was as brave and cool as if nothing, was the matter. He had said he would not

desert his ship, and he did not. He went down with her. Most of the officers did the same^ In our boat we got on very well. We pulled away from the ship until we were at safe distance, and then we rowed round and round here.' I saw her go down. She had been settling down some minutes, and then all at once (the went down right stern first. It was a fearful sight. She had burst her decks before foundering, and was in a terrible state. The captain was still at his post, looking quiet and calm, and I think he waved us a goodbye as the ship went down. There was a fearful screech from the men on board, such as I hope to God I may never hear again. We picked up two boys and a man, but could not save any more. The other boat capsized before she waa long in the water, and those who were in her were drowned. When we came to look at how we were fixed, we found that we had in our boat fifteen persons in all, and that we had nothing to eat except a Dutch cheese of about 61b., a few biscuits and a bottle containing a pint and a quarter of gin. One of the sailors was appointed commander, and to him we owe our lives. *He saved uS from death by skilful management. It was a fearful night. AH through the night we were dashed about, and were saved God knows how. We saw a large steamer before us, and shouted with all the strength we could, but she could not hear us, and bore away* Just before 8 o'clock we sighted a vessel right before us, and shouted like mad. We hoisted an oar with a handkerchief tied' to it, and at last the ship discovered us. It was well she did, for most of us were at the last pinch, and were lying helpless at the bottom of the boat. The vessel was the Gareloch full of immi grants, and commanded by Captain Greenwood, one of the most kindest andi Christian gentlemen I ever knew. The immigrants, though they were very poor j themselves, made a collection for us. In ! a few hours we met the Antenor, homeward bound, and we were put on aboard j and came in that way to London."