A WFUL Af SM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6811, 15 September 1883, Page 2 (Supplement)

A WFUL Af SM.

Tub crewoftheship Westminster,ofDnhiia, which was lost (iuriag a gale in the Atlantic, have been landed at Liverpool from the steam r Australian. The story which thi poor fellows tell show that they have nDdetgone tome terrible Bufferings. The Westminster, which was under the command of Captain Morris, anil had 3 crew of 23 hands, left Q.iebec, bound for Liverpool, with 1 timber cirgo on board. On Monday weel, about f"Ur o'clock in the afternoon, when tie vessel was 70'f> miles from Cape Clear, a gale sprung up, which soon raised a ferrifio so, which swept the decks fore and. aft. The cargo shifted, the deck the boat?, and the dtck-housis. were washed away, the sa la. were blown to piccc-8 ; ami the raider being damaged, the vessel became unmanageable, and rolled helplessly in the trough of ibesea. When the st .rm was at its he'gbt five men Were at the steering gear. They Hv; re struct by a heavy sea and sortie of the deck timber. The second mate and others of thecreu were severly injured. Some of the mm tsofc refuge in the rigging, and others 011 the poop, and iri this position they remaned until Thursday, each man getting only a-femt * day and a small quantity of limeviiet. Several of the men became very exhasjed, and hstd not assistance beea at hand some o! them would have expired. On Thursday afternoon the Australian came in sight, and aeaing the signals of distress flying on the Westminster. bore down upon her. and the Crew, in ajven* exhausted condition, vrere tabeu on board the steamer, The Waiminster was a Quebec built ship of 1425 tons.