LOSS OF THE ALICE MAUD.

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1218, 9 October 1874, Page 4

LOSS OF THE ALICE MAUD.

The Melbourne Argus of the lPtb Sept. gives particulars of this causalty. Tho brig- after landing a large general cargo from Melbourne at Oreymouth, filled up for the return trip with 1?0 tons of coal, about 500 hide l , some tallow, li> casks black sand, intended for analyaation, seyeral bales of cork,

and packages of sundries. She had also five passengers, and six of a crew, exclusive of the master and the first and second mates. A start was made from the Grey on the 24th ult., and almost immediately afterwards the brig found herself in the midst of heavy gales from the W. N. W. accompanied with a high sea. This stormy weather continued witli more or less severity until the 4th instant, by which time she had got us far as between Cape Barren and Babel Island. The exact position of the vessel at noon on that date was lat- 40deg\ Omin. S., and long. 1.00 deg. 27min. E. Towards midnight, the weather being dirty and boisterous, a good look-out ahead was kept, but about twenty minutes after midnight the brig struck on a shoal, and remained there hard and fast. She was then about six miles from land, but next morning shoals could be seen within three miles of her. The spot was not far from where the barque Golden Age and other vessels have been lost. The brig after striking began to show water in her hold, and in view of danger Captain Hurley got the long boat out, and put the passengers—Mrs Black and child, Miss Dycock, and Messrs Stevens, Marryatt, and Barnard into it—along with Mr Davis, the chief mate, and four hands, and after a good pull of five miles the3 r reached Barren Island and landed there. Captain Hurley, with the second mate, Mr Gibson, and two hands remained by the brig, and were joined afterwards by two boats and several fisherman from Barren Island, who came for the purpose of rendering assistance to get the vessel off. There is a rise and fall of some 7 ft. in the Strait, and at flood water the brig eased from her position and floated off. Some attempt was then made to keep the water under and get the brig into the passage, but she began to fill rapidly, and became unmanageable. The boats remained by her until she settled down to the covering board, and at eight o'clock on the following morning she capsized, and, after re maining for some time bottom up, finally disappeared about a mile from the place where she struck. The boats then returned to Barren Island, and the shipwrecked people remained there until the weather moderated. This was on the 9th inst., and on that day they left in boats for Goose island, which was reached at noon on the following day. About two hours after their arrival, the steamer Southern Cross, from Hobart Town, was signalled, and Captain Lyon stood in and took them all on board, with the exception of Mrs Black and child, who are bound to Hobart Town, and who will be taken on there by the next steamer leaving Goose Island. Captain Hurley saved his chronometers and some personal effects, and the passengers and crew also saved some things." The Mrs Black is the wife ot the late skipper of the s.s. Ino, and was a short time since resident in Westport.