A REVENUE CUTTER RUN DOWN.— LOSS OP SEVENTEEN LIVES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XV, Issue 5335, 21 December 1878, Page 7

A REVENUE CUTTER RUN DOWN.— LOSS OP SEVENTEEN LIVES.

The National Line steamer Helvetia, which called at Queenstownon November 1, reported that, when off the Tuskar Light, at twentyfive minutes past threee on Thursday morning, she collided with the revenue cutter Fanny. The latter vessel sank, aud 17 men, including the captain, were drowned. The remainder of the crew, seven men, were saved. At the time of tho collision there was a strong wind from tho N.N.E., with a heavy sea, but the weather was clear. About half-past three a.m., to the westward of the Tußkar, and when the Fanny was on the port tack, carrying a reefed mainsail, the Helvetia struck her at the port main runner, abaft the main beam, and cnt her to the water's edge. Scarcely two minutes elapsed beiore the cutter went down. Several of the men rushed iuto the rigging, including those whose watch was below, and who carnc on deck in their night-dresses, and as the Fuuny went down by the bow they jumped on tu the bow of the Helvetia. In this way seven of the poor fellows were saved, and it is a noteworthy fast that of this number five belonged to the watch below, only two of the deck watch having been Baved. Five others had also endeavoured to scramble over the bows of the Helvetia, three having been seen holding on by a rope, but they fell into the water before assistance could reach them, and they were seen no more. No time was lost by those in charge of the steamer in rendering assistance. Buoys and ropes were thrown overboard, and two boats were lowered with all possible speed. Notwithstanding all these efforts, not one was picked out of the water. STATEMENTS OF SURVIVORS.

Frederick Downing, chief quartermaster of the Fanny, said: " I relieved the two officeis in charge at 8 p.m., and remained in charge of the deck. The weather was fine, with moderate breeze, and we were going under double-reefed mainsail. At S p.m. we hove-to in Tratnore Bay to disembark life-saving stores which we had taken on board at Queeustown. We also landed stores at Bonmahon aud at Duumore coastguard stations, and at 11.55 rau for the Coneybeg lightship. At 12 (midnight) I was relieved, and immediately turned in. About 3 a.m. I was aroused by the watch on deck shouting and the fire-bell ringing. I jumped out and shouted, * Clear the lower deck.' All hands below rushed to the upper deck, and wo found a large steamer runuing into us. The hands were shouting for ropes. One rope was over the steamer's bow, and I saw three of our men clinging to it. They fell off, aud drowned. The Fanny wa3 on the port tack at the time, and the steamer struck us at the port main runner, abaft the main beam. She cut us down to the water's edge, and the cutter went down in less than two ' minutes. Several of the men rushed up the rigging, and the Fanny going down at the bow we were lifted, and then wo jumped on to the bows of the steamer. Seven of us managed to scramble over, but two failed, besides the three who had fallen from the rope, I caught the rail, aud on reaching the d«-ck of the steamer I looked for ropes. Finding none, I ran to the bridge, and requested the captain to lower a boat to save the lives. I found then that they were at the time engaged in lowering a boat. Two boats were lowered from the steamer, but nobody was picked up. 1 understood that life-buoys had beeu previously thrown out. The steamer remained at the place until daylight, bub not a vestige of the wreck or of the life-buoys could be seen. We had two boats on board the Fanny, but both were smashed in the collision, one boat beicg cut in two, and I suspect that the main beam breaking smashed the other." When atked how he accounted for the fact that only two of the deck watch were saved, while five of the watch below were among the survivors, he stated that he believed this was due to the former having been excited by the occurrence and to their being occupied with duties. The lif«-buoya thrown out were provided with a patent which emits a phosphorescent light in the water. Many of | the deceased were married, and the chief i officer leaves a wife and family, who reside j at Kiugßtown. The Helvetia sustained no I damage as far as could be ascertained. I

William Bail«y, able seaman, belonging to the Fanny, states : While reefing the Bails, I heard Mr. Kitchen, the officer of the watch, sing out, " Where are you going 1' and on looking up I saw a steamer close on us, bearing down straight; in faot, we all immediately left our work and ran aft. I saw Loynachan then ringing the fireboll, and the men below came tumbling up in their ahirts and drawers. A tjeauuau named Abbott was at the wheel at the time, and the officer of the wateh gave him orders to port the helm " hard down," and immediately the collision occurred. When I found our vessel sinking I made at once for the rigging. I saw one man, I think it was Peek, jump from our rigging towards the steamer, but he missed, poor fellow, and was drowned. I waited for a little while longer, and the steamar coming a little nearer, and rolling toward us, I jumped and managed to get a hold of her rail and clambered on board. Presently some men belonging to the steamer came forward, and they tried with Loynachan to haul in men who were hanging to the rope, bnt failed. The laßt time I saw Mr. Kitchen, the officer of the watch, was when the collision occurred. He was then standing by the galley gunwale, against which he was leaning. I never saw the commander during' the whole sceue, and believe he must have been drowned in his cabin.

The watch at the time of the collision consisted of eight men, all of whom were drowned with the exception of two, Daniel Loynachan and William Bailey. The statement of the former goes to shew that the watch, shortly before the occurrence, were shortening sail, and that the steamer's lights were observed about six miles distant. Whilst they were engaged in the operation the collision occurred, and tho Fanny was cut in two and driven under the bows of the steamer.