LOSS OF THE RUSSIAN FRIGATE DIANA.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XIV, Issue 50, 19 September 1855, Page 2

LOSS OF THE RUSSIAN FRIGATE DIANA.

The fine frigate Diana, once the grim object of our dread, has been destroyed by a more potent enemy than that before Sebastopol, viz., the fury of the elements combined. The following singular narrative is from the North China Herald, March 8 :—: —

" We have been favoured from a private source with the following extracts of a letter from an officer of the United States steamer Powhatan, announcing the exchange of the ratifications of the Japanese and United States Treaty at Japan, on the 21st ultimo, and the visitation of Japan with a most severe earthquake, on the 23rd December last — whereby the city of Ohosaca, the largest in Japan, and the town of Simoda, were destroyed, and Jeddo much injured. The loss of the Russian, frigate Diana, after the earthquake, is also narrated ; the officers and crew saved : — "Powhathan," March 2nd, 1855. Off the mouth of the Tang-tsze-kiang.

"We sailed from Simoda a week ago last Thursday, expecting a run of about five days to Shanghae, but we had scarcely got out of the harbour before we encountered a heavy gale of wind, which required a large expenditure of coal to enable us to breast it, without j making any head way, but on the contrary rather losing ground. This had scarcely subsided, when we had another gale more severe than the first, which lasted much longer ; and after that subsided, we had still another directly in our teeth, which seemed to combine in itself the severity of both the previous ones. I never before have experienced anything to compare with it at sea. Being short of coal, the ship could not be placed in the most favourable position for weathering the gales, as the Captain thought it necessary that he should force her against it all he could, so that he might make his fuel last to get the ship into port when the gale abated. By the greatest good luck we have managed to avoid the necessity of taking off our paddles, and beating up under sail. "The exchange of the ratification of the treaty

between the United States and Japan was made oik the 21st day of February, and we sailed on the 22nd, "The island of Niphon, in which Simoda is situated, wai visited on the 23rd December by a severe earthquake, which was most disastrous in its effects. Th» city of Ohosaca, one of the largest in the empire, wn completely laid waste. Jeddo itself suffered considerably, but has since suffered more seriously from the effects of an extensive conflagration. The town of Simoda, .on our airival, presented »- complete scene of desolation and ruin. After the shock of the earthquake, the sea commenced bubbling up aa it wen along the shore, and then receded with great rapidity, and as soon- returned with such increased volume v to flood the whole town to the depth of six or aevesi feet, sweeping away houses, bridges, and temples, and piling them up in a mass of ruin. Five times during the day did the sea advance and recede in this manner, spreading desolation far and wide. The largest juni» in the harbour were driven from one or two mile* above high water mark, where we saw them lying high and dry. About two hundred of the poor inhabitants lost their lives by the overflow, the remainder saving themselves by fleeing to the mountains with which the town is surrounded. "The Russian frigate Diana, having Vice-Admirat Poutiatine on board, was lying in theharbour at tit* time, engaged in finishing up the treaty they had mad* with the Japanese. Immediately after the shock wa* felt, the water in the harbour became convulsed to such a degree in eddies and whirlpools, that in th* space of thirty minutes she swung entirely round forty-three times, twisting her chains up into knots so rapid was the motion that the people on board could not keep their feet, and all were made giddy. When the sea receded it left the frigate in eight feet water on her side, when her usual draft was over twenty-one feet. On its return, they Btated, the water rose five fathoms above its ordinary level. On it* again receding, four feet only of water remained, so that they saw the stocks of .their anchors above th* water. The heaving of the bottom of the bay wa» then so violent, that the frigate, although as I said in only four feet water, was moved bodily past her anchor. The officers momently expected that the bay would become the outlet of the subterranean fires, and that Ihey should be engulphed in it. When the frigate again floated they saw her keel and rudder, which had been wrenched off, floating alongside, and the ship filling with water. By getting sails under her they managed to keep her afloat, and the next day, things having got quiet once more, they hauled her off into deeper water. Occasional shocks of earthquake still continued to be felt, but none were attended : with serious- consequences. After repairing damage* as well as they could, and having rigged a temporary rudder, and the weather becoming fine, they attempted to take the ship round to another bay, where she would be less exposed, and they could complete repairs (Simoda being badly adapted for such a purpose); but, when within seven miles of then* harbour, a gale sprang vp — the hundred Japanese boats that wer» towing them abandoned them (not, however, until they had got out all the officers and crew) — and shortly after the gallant Bhip sunk in deep water, tb» officers and men saving only the clothes they stood in. Notwithstanding all their misfortunes, and the danger through which they had passed, they only lost on* man, and he was accidentally killed by being jammed by one of the guns which had got adrift."