A WARSHIP WRECKED.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 47, 25 February 1901, Page 3

A WARSHIP WRECKED.

Particulars of the total loss of H.M.s. Sybille early in the morning of the 15th January have been received from Capetown by mail. It appears the Sybille was lying at anchor in Lamberts Bay—which, by the way, is an exceedingly dangerous anchorage— when the unexpected appearance of a furious gale compelled the vessel to put to sea. The cruiser safely reached the open sea, and about 2 o'clock in the morning, the. weather moderating somewhat, the vessel put about, and proceeded to steam back to the bay. The night was dark, and the weather thick, and the southerly set of the current had carried the Sybille some t.ln*ee miles to j the southward. Presumably this circumstance was unknown to those in command, for the doomed vessel came on and struck heavily on an ugly reef to the southward of the bay. Shortly after the vessel had struck, H.M.S. Tartar and the City of Cambridge, transport, arrived on the scene, on their way south. A furious sea was then washing over the stranded cruiser, and the crew had taken refuge in the rigging and on tho forebridge. In the meantime Captain Williams had come off to the wreck in a tug from Lambert's Bay, and with the greatest difficulty he eventually succeeded in getting- _an endless rope-line on board the Sybille, by means of which the whole of the crew were eventually taken off. Throughout the trying work of saving the lives of the ship's company discipline was admirably preserved on board, and the behaviour of" one and all • was in accordance with the highest traditions of the Eoyal Navy, notwithstanding the terrible position of the cruiser, swept as she was from stem to stern by the furious seas. The only life lost was that of W. H. Jones, a young ordinary seaman, 19 years of age, who was swept across the deck by a heavy sea, and crushed to death against a 4.7 inch gun. The Sybille was a 20-knot cruiser, carrying two Gin and six 4.7 guns, and was on her second commission.