A MARINE DISASTER.

Evening Star, Issue 10896, 3 April 1899, Page 2

A MARINE DISASTER.

AN EXCURSION STEAMER WBBPKED. , EIGHT? PBRSONS MISSING. !■ Preif Assodatlon-By Telepnph^Gi^yrlght. 4 ;xSfebN, APWb 8. Ati appalling ncoatredduring a special excursion, to tho Obapael Islanos. The South-western maU steamer StelUi Captain Beeks, left Southampton bn Thursday with 210 passengers and orew. The weather was calm, into a mist, which thickened daring the afternoon. Captain Reeks, believing it to be merely fog banks, decided to maintain full speed. The fog, however, became far denser, and, the bearings of the steamer being lost, she crashed on to the Gasquets; a dangerous group of rooks, seven miles west of Alderney. :^ The jagged rocks ripped the side of the vessel open. The captain and orew exhibited did bravery. . AU the women and children were first saved by the boatb. Four other boats were then As.they ld|| the ship the inrushing s»s .oaused the iwileis to explodei and „th* sfebtaer foundered in deep .watefi, with fifty still on board, witnin fifteen minutes after striking. The last boat from the steamer unfortunately capsized. Fourteen persons clung to the keel until they succeeded in righting her* hut-six of" the number had in the meantime been drowned.

The remainder} : aftet- sixteen hours’ exposure, were rescued and conveyed to Cherbourg by a French tug. : All the other boats drifted about in the 'tog, the occupants spending a terrible night. English steamers effected their rescue next day.

Eighty persons are missing. Oo all hands astonishing and heroism were displayed.. / Amongst thostf missing is the Bev. Mr Glutterbuck, a returned Wesleyan missionary from India. ' The first mate, named Wade, having tied a life-belt round his wife, threw her into the sea, after taking an affectionate farewell, and declaring he must stick by the ship. Wade, was drowned, but his wife was saved. < The passengers gave up their life-belts in many instances to the women. When the Stella was foundering, Captain Beekes waved his band in farewell. The survivors in the boats were guided by John Daly. ANOTHER WBECK. LONDON, April 2. One female and two male survivors of the Stella reached Guernsey in ademented condition seeking their relatives. Another steamer belonging to the London and South-western Railway Company is on the rocks opposite Alderney.