TOTAL LOSS OF THE TEUTON.

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1448, 13 October 1881, Page 4

TOTAL LOSS OF THE TEUTON.

Over 200 Lives Lost. Thb Oape Timds, irece'i\le'fi by the steamer Potosi, gives the statements of 'Some of the ' Survivors of the 1 ill-fated steamer Teuton, which left Table Bay on the 31st August* having on board 245 souls. The qiiarter-master (Mr'Kromm) gives the following narrative :— " The evening was beautifully fhie. ' The moon was overhead, the stars' were shining, and there was not the slightest sign of fog or vapor. Suddenly the ship struck without any warning whatever. Just after striking, the ship shivered like an aspen leaf, and heeled over to port. There was some hfctle confusion, tiie women shrieked, and tiiere was a general rush on deck. The pumps were immediately sounded, and it was found that the fore compartment was leaking. The order kept on decL.Mas admuable, and officers and men vied in their efforts ' at soothing the passengers. The boats were slung out board, and and they were all read)' prbnsioned with biscuit and water within half-an-hour of J the ship striking. The passengers were all ordered on the poop, and Were told to sit quietly until they Were oidered off to their respective boato. The doctor ">vas in charge of the passengers on the poop. All thirt time the ship was settling down by the head gradually. Volunteers were called for from amongst the passengers for the pumps, and they assisted freely. After striking, the ship's head was put louud to the westward, evidently with the hope of reaching Simon's Bay. There was a little southeast wind, with a little sea on. It was between, a quarter-past seven and halfpast seven when the ship struck, and up till half-past, ten, the vessel kept on her way, and everything was orderly oa board. At halt-past ten the ship's head was so down that her btern was out of the water, and the screw was of little use. The captain now gave orders for the starboard waist lifeboat to be lowered, and the women and children to be put in, which was done, the boat being lowered, and the women and children handed into it. The .ship was then hardly moving, for her piopcller was out of the w iter, and was no longer any use to her. The engine^ wure stopped, aud sieara was gradually blown off. The starboard quarter-boat, which had already been lowered, was orJerud alongside to receive passengers, and that was the first time I h'-ard Captain Manning's voice. Hessid, ' Why don't you hurry up and get the bo.it alongside ?' Ho had no sooner the words out of his mouth when the ship gave a dip, and in less than a minute she appeared to make a somersault, I, seeing this, made a jump ovorooard at her port qmrter. I could not smitn, but I was fearful of being carried down by the suction and I hoped to be picked up by the port quarter-boat, which had been lowered some while. I struggled about, and at last saw at a short distance one of boats showing a light. My cries for help brought them to mo in about five minutes, and I was taken into the carpenter's boat." With regard to the efforts made to save the passengers, Mr Kromm states: — "We heard few cries. The bulk of the passengers must have gone down in the vortex. Most of them were on the poop, and when the ship went over, head down, the passengers must have been precipated into the water, and they must have gone down in the suction. She went down like a streak of lightning. I would not have believed it possibly that a vessel could have gone down so suddenly. There was a loud crashing of timber, an escape of steam, a wild rush of water, and the Teuton was out of sight. We only saw some wreckage floating about. I fear — indeed, I am almost certain — that the boat with the women and children in it was fastened by a rope to the vessel, or did not clear of the voitux. The moonlight enabled us to see everything distinctly. We could not sue anything of the boat with tho women AYe heo-i dno cries and after pulling around the spot for half an hour the couite of tho two boats w<ib made for Simon's B,iy, bteering for the O.ipe of Good Hope. The boat's crew pulled nil muflit. The mm weie most, oiderly and ivoll-behiived, and *did everything they could. iS.nl was got on tho boat .at daybieuk. There was then a fresh breeze, and an ugly jobble of a sea, which compelled ub to ketp baling. Wo overran 10 or 12 miles in mistaking the entrance to Simon's Bay, and but for this we should have been curlier in Simon's Bay than we witc. Tho carpenter's boat, which was a better sailer than ours, and had made a direct run for the Bay, at rived there first In fact, she ran out of our sight altogether. There were crowds of people on tho wharf as wo oame up to it, and the gieatcst kindness was shown to us all. We had to be lifted out of the boats, for we were .so craihped with sitting and with cold that we could not move." The Teuton left England with 236 passengers. She landed 83 at CUpe Town. Four were embarked at Cape Town. Computing the officers and crew at 85, there were 243 souls on board when she struck. Twenty-seven are known lo be saved.

In one grove in California there are 13S0 tree?, none measuring less than six feofc in diameter. Ms Gladstone will next year celebrate his Pdiliainentaiy jubilee. Elected for No walk in December, 1832, he will have served his 50 years next December twelvemonths. It has been proposed to celebiote the occasion. Queen Victoria has sent a message to the Admiralty commanding (for her wish is " a command") that the relatives of tho^e who perished in the Doterel shall be written to with, assurances of her Majesty's sympathy. Letters will be sent to the next of kin in every case. How much these letters are valued only those who have known them received can understand. A trooper of the Royal Scots Greys committed suicide in Dublin on Wednesday by jumping into the Liffcry from Carlisle Bridge. He at once sank, and did not rise again. The body was recovered on Wednesday night. A Divorced Wife at a Funeral.— A funeral has just taken place at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the circumstances of which, created a great sensation. > The deceased' was MrR. J. Smith, a wealthy jeweller. On the day appointed for the funeral a oarrjage containing his divorced wife was driven up to the door, where the occupant alighted, and rang the bell. She was seen by one of the family, who slammed the dooi' in her face. In due course the corpse was conveyed to the church, and whilst the service was proceeding there the 'woman is said to have wept bitterly. After the usual address from the pastor ('he lid was removed from the glass of the casket, and the minister invited those present for the last time on the face of the dead. The woman at once raovod frantically towards th,e coffin, when a brother of the deceased persisted in keeping her away, and saying she had no'rjtfnt to see the corpse To this she replied, " Oh, my God, I mu«t see my husband. • Stand aside ; I will see him in spite of you." The deceased's tnothe'r then desired her ■ to leave, 'whilst 'her grandchild repeatedly 'ejaculated, " Y6u ' ruined him." Meantime' the greatest commotion prevailed in the church, and although the woman was not allowed an opportunity to see the corpse 1 , she lingered until all mourners had left the gftive, ajjiii' for sometime watched the gravedig'gOTS' filling in he earth on tthe ooffin^, ;/