INTERCOLONIAL NEWS.

West Coast Times, Issue 261, 25 July 1866, Page 5 (Supplement)

INTERCOLONIAL NEWS.

FEARFUL GALES AND

DISASTERS TO SHIPPING.

BY ELECTRIC TELEGItAPII. ,

(From the Melbourne " Argus.")

Sydney,' July 12. A gale is raging along the Coast. The steamer Cawarra, endeavoring to enter Newcastle, struck an oyster bank at three o'cloc : this afternoon, parted in two, and went down almost instantly. The pa»sengeis weie seen clinging to the poop, The lifeboat put off, but f mm! not a vest'ge of the wreck. The Cawurra had a heavy cargo for the n>rihein ports, and five cabin ami sixteen steerage pnssengeis. The ship Lady B.jwen. for London. put bade, iind on entering the port went on the rocks oif Bradley's Head, aud still remains there.

The Tiger, schoner, has been wrecked at Woolleuigong.

This was the heaviest gale and raiu known for years. It sot in last night from ihe south-east to east, with a terrific sea breaking along the coast

A severe thundeislorm passed over the city la.-t eveninir about <ix o'clock. A terr.fic easterly g >le with heavy rain, folle>wee! and still continues.

The A.S,N. Company s ss. Cawarra sailed \esterchiy, for Jiockhampton and Brisbane. She was ddven ashore on the Q\Bter Buik, at Newcastle," and immediately afterwards broke right in two, the sea at the time l mining numn tains* high. A number of the pasSengera were washed e?ff the poop. A later telegram from Newcastle states that they were never seen again. It is feared that all on board were 1 st There were sixteen passengers in the Steerage, and seven in the siloon. The schooner Tiger met with similar wpather. and was to\illy wrecked oil" Woollongong Heads, trying to run for shelter. All hands were drowned.

The escorts to-day brought down 4150 ounces of gold for the week.

July 13.

The gale moderated during the night. The northern telegraph line went down last night, consequently nothing further is known respecting the Ca-warr.i's l"ss. which creates a profound sensation. The vicinity of the telegraph office was crowded all the morning. All attempts to get the Lady Bowen off Bra'lley's Kocks have proved ineffectual. Another attempt will be made at high water tonight. When the schooner Tiger was wrecked yesterday, two men and a boy. in attempting to reach the shore in a boat, were drowned. The remainder of the -crew were rescued. The excitement is still very great. Much anxiety is felt respecting the steamer Coonambarra, which left Newcastle yesterday morning for Sydney, and a 1 so for the steamer Corio and a fleet of colliers, which were at sea Viefore the gale commenced. The storm is moderating, but a terrific sea is Still breaking along the coast.

No business was done to-day.

The news of wrecks is creating a great sensation. More bad news is ex pected. There are great floods in Nepean and Hawkesbury. The Araluen diggings are almost s>ubmerged,and most oft c claims filled.

The produce sale was very dull. The rule nisi was granted to-day for a compulsory sequest~atton of the estate of the Hon. John Robertsoa.

The Lady Bowen is still ashore.

The sea last night was breaking clear over the gap into Watson's B.iy- Tlie gale, which blew all day yesterday, continued until daybreak, but is now moderating. • The sea breaking over Bond: Head was beard distinctly above the roaring of the wind. The waves dashed right over the top of Middle Head. Ac cording Io the Government a«-tronoinei's calculation, t\v: wind travelled at the rate of sixty-one miles per hour, audits force was equal to 19lb j>er square f.>ot. The sniiill steamer Phantom was afraid to cross over to Manly Beach.

Arrived — John Lawrence, fiom Lonckm.

July 14th

The Lady Bowrn is still «>n the rock"*, and is leaking badly. She ■?• discharging her carj:<> in'o l ; ghti is. A heavy sea is. still bivakiug ucrosi the. heads.

There are great floods in the Hunter River, and nil the low l.mds are s ib merged. The crup3 will be much injured. Three unkno vn men stuck up the Joint-Stock B.u.k it IVnterfielu during Wednesday night. They locked the n.aniger and a ■umintani in a reuru, and theii attempted to open the sife. Tin manager escaped through the w ill and gave sin alarm, but the robheis escaped The Rutihine sails to morrow morning. She tiki se>veieigns. The Queen of Nation* s iil* oa Tues day. She takes £12t)A00 in specie. The Hamlet, for California, has put back here.

The schooner Veno has arrived safe at Newcastle, but the Freak is wrecked there.

The gale has now abated,

The Omeo, from Chili, has hi ought 700 tons of wheat and 14U tons of Hour for Melbourne. She has called here for orders. She reports that the entire Spanish fleet had left the South American coast and arrived at Tahiti for repairs. The passengers per Alexandra, from Melbourne, prcseuted Captain Brown with a purse of sovereigns, and an addrefS of thanks for his able S2au.anship during the late gale. More disaster.! are reported along tlie

coast. The schooner Roderick Dhu, bound from Richmond River to Sydney, has been totally wrecked fourteen miles iiom Port Stephens.

The steamer which was seen yesterdny attempting to enter the port of Newcastle is supposed to have been the Fire King, a steamer of 200 ton's, from Macleay River. The steamer Cooiiamhara, about which much anxiety was expressed, has been reported safe in. Broken Bay, near Sydney. The ship Esk arrived last night from New Zealand, water-logged, and on entering the harbor went ashore, at the quarantine ground, near the North Head, and was totally wrecked. The crew were saved- The Esk was 1 In - sured in Metcalfe's In-urance Company for LIOOO, and in the Southern lufur.mce Company for another LIOOO.

Fredeiick Hedges, the solb survivor from the steamer Cawarni, has given ii detailed account of the voyage up to the tin eof the Wteck. The C.iwarra left Sydney heads for Brisbane at six p.m on Wednesday, the 11th Juy. with the wind freshening and h avy squalls at intervals, w!t'.i an increasing sea. At that time Hedges lieaid the captain *tate his intention of miming feir Port •Stephens or Newcas:li', the weather being thick. 'Ihe-y saw land at eleven o'clock on Thursday morning. ..nd reached the Nobby 's oft' Newcastle. ;>t two pm. The c iptain then made 1 for the port, and iv attempting to round the Nobby's a suc-cts«ion o' heavy seas struck the steamer with terrific lorce, dolujfing the deck, and swampinj; eventhing bele>w in a fright ful manner. The vefsel then became ilmo^t unmannge'able, and drifted over towards the rocks. * At this stage the captain, see ing the peril in which they were placed, ordered the foies.itl to beset, with the intention of making the harbor, but was compelled to have it taken in, as the sea was coming aboard in volumes. He then ordered the engii.es to be put ahead at full speed, with the intention of running out to sea. when, in quick successiem, four tremendous seas struck her, swamping everything. Captain Chath'eld, on fiirliuu that the fires were extinguished, md the steamer settling down by / the head, ordered the crew to clear away the boats, upon which the Chinese pnsscugers took possession <>f one boat : but upon being ordered out, willingly obeyed. The females and five seamen, including Hedges, were then placed in the i oat, which upon reaching the water w.is immediately swamped. Hedges succeeded in regaining the steamer, ami the cutter then attempted to put off, but was capsized. Hedges ;ind tliei others remaining on the steamer then took to the rigging, but the funnel almost immediately went over the side, carrying them into the sea. Hedges then stiuck out, And seized a plank. He says that he heard no screaming, and that there was little or ne> contusion on board, the passengers, captain, and crew being for the most part calm, collected, and, resigned. Before he left he heard the second engineer say, " It's a case with me>st of us, Fred," The captain was heard to say eboly, " Lads, the lifeboat is coming," and immediately afterwards the vessel disappeared.

The body of a female who was drowned in the s.s. Cawarra has been washed up. It has not yet beeu identified.

The E.T.L., from Tom?, brings 550 tons of wheat.

Tne s.s. Omeo reports that the Atrevida and Maiy Miller were loading when sh^ left Valp.iriso. The Omeo lo>t all her sails, and Las put in here for shelter.

July lCuh.

The steamor Bungaree is a totaj wreck. The steamer Wc4 Hartley has been totally wrecked at L ike Macquarie, but tlif crew were sived. The schooner Carnation has bee-n totally wrecked in Trial Biy ; crew and p:issi>ngi'is saved l\q steamer supposed to be the Corio prove** te> be the Wouiora ; she reached ihe port salt ly.

Tue hanks have raised f-xohange on lUnglrind to two per cent. ; si^ty days' sight biih three to four per cent.

At auction Whit j Valbv flour brought £17 ss, m-r.

Tie steamer Oorio is still missinir. Tin* captain of the Woa ; ora reports being in company with her till Tliursla,/ morning, when she disappeared dui-lnvj; a >qu-all.

Aniv. cl.— The James Patterson and Bilclulha. fvom Ruckhamptou. The Hiwkesbury river, at W'nd^or. t'le- I'eel aiul Cockletern rive-rs. at Tamwoitli, the Mulvei indie river, at Bjn'le ;n >er. and tho 11 miur river, vi Maitlanii, .■re all i'iillin^.

Tlie Panama mail steamer llnahin -tilled punctually fi*r Wfll.n^tem al nine i. in. on ye.-teii'ay morning.

Ihe ship L;iely Be>\wn, which ha*« b -on ashore on B.aflley's Heef since thi 12th inst , wis got oil' on baturdaj evi-ning, j:nd according- to all appear auce 1 , she has received no d image.

The li^ren^aria has arrived from California.

Newcastle via Sydney,

July 13.

A fearful gale raged last night. The life boat picked up a seaman named Hedges, who is the sole survivor from t:ie C'awarra. -He was founel near the red buoy. The barque William Watson was also wrecked close by.

The sou runs mountains high A ketch, name unknown, foundered inside Nubtiy's. All hands were drowned.

Evening. Two of the William Watson's and two of the Cheetah's men'wire drowned.

The schooners Cnr jline and Sea. Gull have foundered, all hind* drowned.

No bo lies ha^e Lejn iejo\ered from the Cawarra.

A steamer, name unknown attempts! to enter the port about four o'clock, but failed, and put to sea,apparently to seek j shelter at Port Stephens. No steamers were able to leave the | port during the last two days. It has been a fearful night. The- like has not beeu seen here for the lasti'wur teen years. There was a terrrible sea on. The barque William Watson has just gone ashore in a similar position to that where the Cawarra was lost. She has all sail set, and the captain is trying to beach her. One of tho new lighthouse breakwaters has been carried awaj 1 . The Susannah Cuthbert. from Grafton, has just got in all safe. A ketch, supposed to be the Caroline, has gone down. The Lismore is ashore, and it is supposed that the Sea (iull has foundered during the night, with all hands. ' A steamer is now approaching. It is supposed to be either the I .'onhambnrra or the Lady Darling. It is considered doubtful whether she will be able to get safe inside. 4 p.m. The crew of the Lismore were saved The steamer that was approaching al 2 p.m. has stood off again. , July 14.

As the steamer Bungaree was towing the barque Midas into the harbor the tow-iope broke, and both vessels drove on the lock* off Nohbv's

The weather is still very boisterous. The schooner Cheetah was totally wrecked yesterday. She is insured with the Australasian Insurance Company for LIOOO. Two men belongiug to the Kedar were drowned through the upsetting of a boat in which they were endeavoring to make the shore. Mo-.t of the vessels in harbor cragged their anchors. The Freak was so much damaged that she has been abandoned. There ai'e hundreds of people from the country in Newcastle, and the excitement is intense.

The Jane was taken out of dock today, and sold for L 750. She proceeds to Melbourne to-morrow.

July- 16. Johnson, the only survivor of the Dunbar, rescued Hedges, the only survivor of the Cawarra.

A number of bodies have been washed nshore. Among them are those of Mrs Cramp ( cabin passenger), ' Fountain ( chief engineer, ) Catherine Crosier (stewardess), Joe (a German seaman), the fore cabin steward, and two others unknown, supposed to be cabin passengers, much bruised and disfigured ; those of Captain Chutfivlc], M'Dowell (chief office.! 1 ), thp second engineer, one Chinaman, and nine others. Large quantities of spirits, flour, and other goods are strewn along the beach for miles near Newcastle.

The barque Princess, with her topmasts gone, had a narrow escape when entering, from, the tremendous fresh in the Hunter.

The wreck of the Lismore has teen sold for L 157.

The William Watson is going to pieces.

There is a flood in the Maitland. Boats have been despatched to rendei assistance.

The crew of the . Bungaree are all safe.

The captain of the West Hartley. No. 1 (which is a tot-d wreck at Lake Macquarie), had his leg broken, and two of the crew were seriously injured. The Miclis has been towed in by the Prince Alfred.

The steru of a. dingy- hns been washed in. It is paint d white at the bottom, dark red at the top, and pink inside.,

The foremast of a large schooner supDO^orl to be the Seagull, haseoniein.

'J'he Fnak, brin;, earned over the ballast wharf, and is seriously injured

Ths foremast of ihe Cawarra cau be seen attached to the wreck.-

The flood is subsiding.

The shipp'ng in the harbor have had their flags half-mast high since Thnrs'l iy.

L'irge quantities of cartro have been floated u;> the river. Sofa cushion and H; tings have been picked up on tin islands.

An immense quantity of drift wood came down with the fresh.

The woa'her on Saturday find yester rlav wns fine, with a lew light showers

The body of a littla boy. nbout s?vcn venrs old. has been washed ashore, and identified.