TERRIBLE DISASTER AT SEA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6948, 23 February 1884, Page 2 (Supplement)

TERRIBLE DISASTER AT SEA.

The anrvivore of the crew of the 'large ship Regina, seven in number, .have arrived at Liverpool and given full particulars of; the terrible disaster to : .their vessel, ;; ; which resulted in the loss of eleven lives,' whilst the' survivors only escaped after; "■'» terrible.experience of hardebip and peril. It seems that the Regina,- with a cargo of petroleum, oil, was going from New York to London. She left the former port on the loth November, and on the 29".h of the same month encountered a terrifio gale. The seas dashed over the vessel continually, and finally she was thrown on her beam ends." The main and mizen masts were cut away, and the vesHel righted; bnt the water had washed away the coverings of the hatches, and the hold itself was almost full of water. This forced the deok np, and the vessel became a floating wreck. All the boats, with the exception of one small one, were washed away, as well as the galley and other houses. The Kegina was rapidly sinking, and the crew constructed a raft, which'they launched from the side, and eleven men got on it. The , remaining boat, with a supply of provisions ! and water, waa also put over the side, and , whilit five men were ia it capsized. The ' men, fortunately, got to the raft. The cargo of the vessel was iorced out of the hold, and one poor fellow named Conlon, belonging to Hull, while swimming to the raft, had I hie head smashed bttween two of the floating ' casks of oil, being instantly killed. The orew lost all the provisions that they had intended to take with them. Both tbe raft , and the wreck itself were drifting in one | direction, the wreck going the faster. When the latter had over taken the raft five men jumped from the raft to the vessel, and a sea coming separated the two. They could not get back again. The vessel had a crew of eighteen hands altogether, several of whom were in her chains anxiously looking for an opportunity to save themselves, but none appeared. The ohief officer, the cook, and , another man left tbe vessel on the top of the detached galley, and it seems that only one (the chief mate) was saved. Previous to drowning the cook had hecome delirious I through drinking salt water. Night now j came on, and the raft and the floating wreck got separated. When the morning dawned there was no sign of the Kegina, and it is as- | auined that she had foundered with all on board. There were six men on the raft, and | they heard repeated cries for help in the dark- i ness, but could not do anything to assist their comrades. The raft then drifted with the current, and for six daye the poor fellowe remained in this helpless state. They sub- j sited eotirly on floating seaweed and the crabs J which clang to it. On the fifth day a vessel came in sight and stood by them for a short time, but for some reason or other sailed off | again without giving any assistance. On the I following day the vessel Ellen Finlayson hove | in sight, and launched a boat, which rescued six men. They were then in a very exhausted , state, but the exceptional kindness they re- I ceived brought them all safely round. The ' men were on board the rescuing vessel ' twenty-one days when they were landed at i (Jueenetown. Captain Larkin, of the Kegini, ' was amongst the six saved. The second mate ' perished. The names of the only portion of , the others were known to the crew. Amongst the drowned were James Conlon, of Hull ; J. King, Limerick ; J. Grenn, New York ; and J. Nicholas, Wales. The second mate belonged to Liverpool. The Regina was a j vessel of about 1200 tons, and belonged to i Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.