LOSS OF A MELBOURNE PASSENGER SHIP.

Evening Post, Volume XV, Issue 285, 5 December 1877, Page 2

LOSS OF A MELBOURNE PASSENGER SHIP.

(Home News.) A letter has just been received in Liverpool from Mrs. Hills, who was a cabin passenger, with her husbanu and seven children, on board the Jessore, passeger ship, for Melbourne, which was run into and sunk by the steamer Consett on the morning of the 10th October, when 150 miles from Cape Clear. The Jessore sailed from Liverpool on the 7th October. Mr. Hills is well known in Liverpool, where he was long connected with the Sunday School Union. The following are extracts from the letter which Mre. Hills addressed her sister : — " European Hotel, Queenstown, loth October. We are better than we dared to hope, but feel so shaken that we can hardly write. Our first feeling is thankfulness to God for spared lives. At the terrible moment we were all kept calm. The dear children behaved themselves well, each doing as bidden, and so they were passed from hand to hand until safe in the lifeboat No words can give any idea of the real situation. We were all asleep in bed, and were awakened by a sudden crash. I was just wondering what it could be, when my husband came to my berth and said, 'Jenny, dearest, a collision. Up quick ; the ship is sinking.' His calmness helped me so much I said, M3od help us; bring us all together.' I then heard our noble mate's voice, * Cheer up, all will be saved if you will ail be quiet.' . . . It was pitch dark. We were told to wait in the cabin until the boat was lowered. Then I beard the mate call my name ; and, in a tone I never shall forget, he called out, 'The ship is sinking; save the women and children.' Joseph came with us to the edge of our ship to help us. The gentleman in our cabin and the sailors all helped with the children. The mate took me down the ladder, and then with calmness called the children by name, and passed each down. Never shall I forget the kind, gentle way he took us in the midst of so much that was terrible. One of the crow was going to shoot him because he would not allow him to precede us. My dearest and Arthur were left for the next boat. Oh, that was a moment! We knew not if we should meet again on earth, but 1 felt a bright hope spring up in my heart that they would be saved, and I felt thankful and proud of them as they stood there, doing all they could to save the others and soothe them, although oH that were dearest to them were off the ship. One or two of the steerage women made a great noise, and that made it hard to save them. After getting in the lifeboat the mate took charge of her and took us safely to the steamer. He then returned for the rest. We anxiously awaited the return of the boat, and my precious ones were in it, and we were all again together, and stood on the deck to wait for our noble captain and mate. They stayed on the ship until a few minutes before the" boilers of the donkey engine that worked the pumps exploded, and only just in time to save their lives. We saw them (it was now daylight) ; they were in the last boat, and we knew *he end of that grand ship- was near. When the captain and officers were a short

distance from her she sunk. We stood on the steamer's deck and saw her go down with nil our precious treasures on board. la a few moments all was under water."