THE DISMASTED SHIP SOUTHERN BELLE.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1752, 17 March 1874, Page 4

THE DISMASTED SHIP SOUTHERN BELLE.

Rockhampton, March 3. The dismasted ship reported off the coast is the Southern Belle, an emigrant ship of 1128 tons, from London for Maryborough and Rockhampton. The second mate, four seamen, and two passengers, landed yesterday at Waterpark Creek, and after walking all night reached Barwell's head station. They arrived in town to-night in a sociable, with the exception of one seaman, who was too ill to be removed, The mate reports that the Southern Belle experienced splendid weather until Wednesday last, when off Moreton' Bay, she encountered a heavy gale and thick weather, which prevented her reporting at Moreton Island. At noon on Thursday she hove-to off Fraaer's Island, the gale still increasing. At midnight on Thursday the maintop-gallant mast was carried away, and two hours later the mainmast snapped off close to the deck, carrying with it the mizen-top-maßt. At 5 a.m. on Friday the foretop-gal-lant mast. The ship had seven boats, two of which were washed clean away, three were" snapped by the falline spars, and the remaining two, besides being damaged, were too small to be of any service in the state of the weather. Both pumps and the windlass were broken, but no leak was sprung. In the disabled condition of the ship it was found impossible to make Curtis Channel, and the ship drifted northward till she anchored in six fathoms of water, where she now rides. One chain and 60 fathoms of chain have been lost. The men say the ship is not in great danger unless the wind blows stiffly. There is only one available boat on board. Tie immigrants were all well when the men left. The Government tug Mary went out to the vessel, but nothing has since been heard of her. It has been blowing a stiff squall all day. The mate says the ship is only three miles from the headland north of Waterpark Creek. He experienced great difficulty in landing, through not knowing the coast of Queensland. The captain of the Southern Belle wants two steamers, if possible. The Mary is useless for towing at sea. The crew of the Southern Belle are much exhausted. The men give rather a confused statement of affairs as to dates.

'The Fijian Government cutter Vivid has been lost on a reef near Mokongai. The Chief Justice, Mr Jußtice Marika, Mr Burt (the ' Attorney-General), Mr Otway (deputy sheriff), and Mr John St» Julian (jude's* associate), were on board, and had a narrow oM&po of being drowned*