A TERRIBLE SHIPWRECK.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2596, 2 March 1889, Page 2 (Supplement)

A TERRIBLE SHIPWRECK.

A Heartrending story of shipwreck in tho Bay of Biscay is told (says tho Argus) in the English papers to hand by the last mail. The survivors of the screw steamer Storm Queen, belonging to Newcastle, were landed at Dover on 26th December from the Norwegian barque Gulnaro Tho Storm Queen was lost in the Bay of Biscay on 22nd December, with the captain and five of the crow. The narrative of the survivors, who number twentytwo, shows that tho vessel was on her way from Sebastopol to Rotterdam with a cargo of grain. The story told by the chief offieor, Francis Eliot, was as follows :—"On the evening of 21st December wo ran into a very terrific northwesterly gale. The sea was tremendously high, rolling liko so many mountains. I have passed through the Bay several times in a storm, but have never experienced anything liko it. The heavy waves swept the ship from stem to stern constantly; ono tremendous sea struck her with such violence that her cargo was shifted, and put the vessel on her beam ends. We found that water was running into the vessel through No. 2 hold and the bunkers. The ship gradually listed further over, and the inrush of water increased. The vessel filled rapidly. We launched one boat with nine hands in it. We had three boats on board, but the violent seas smashed ono to pieces like so much matchwood. We could not get the other launched for some time, and when we did get it out it had to bo shoved off without the crew. The only rosource lelt us was to jump into the sea and swim to tho empty boat, which many of us did. It was a most thrilling speetaclo to see the men jump off one after another into tho fearful seas, not knowing whether they wore going to a watery grave or whether providence would aid" them to reach tho boat. I was in the water for forty minutes before the boats were able to find me. Our captain, Mr Jaques, was a brave young officer. He said he would not leave her until he saw that everyone was safely off. There were five others on the Storm Queen who were afraid to leap from the ship into the sea. The captain was standing on the bridge when we last saw him. Our two boats remained by the steamer from half-post 10 p.m. on the 21st until betweeu 1 and 2 a.m. on the 22nd. I found that the boats would not much longer stand the tremendous seas. We shouted to the captain and the remainder of the crew to make another attempt, but they would not do so. There were thir- ■ teen men in the other boat, but only nine in ours, and there would have, been plenty of room for them. Some time after, and before daylight, we sighted a ship. It proved to be the Norwegian barque Gul--1 uare, which took us on board by means of ropes The barque stayed near the ) Storm Queen during the whole of the ■ j night, with the hope of rescuing the reI mainder of the "rew. We saw the captain ! and the men on the steamer the next mornj ing, but the barque could not get to her; ■ | the storm was too violent. About 10 a. in. • ] on tho 22nd we attempted to lower a boat I for the remainder of the crew. The '< wind was blowing with hurricane force, I and prevented all efforts. About an ■ hour after that the steamer foundered, ' and we sighted the crew ou a raft. The ' captain of the barque used every endea- ! vour to steer alongside the raft. It was ; heartrending to see the poor fellows so '■'' close, and yet we wore unable to reach ■ them. We saw the raft rise with a : tremendous swell, then it disappeared, '' and when we saw it next all the men had 1 disappeared. The barque sailed about for 1 a considerable time, but was compelled to i give up further search."