LOSS .OF THE LORD' GEORGE BENTINCK.

Otago Witness, Issue 296, 1 August 1857, Page 7

LOSS .OF THE LORD' GEORGE BENTINCK.

GREAT SUFFERINGS OP THE SURVIVORS. , l; By the arrival of Her Majesty's corvette Electra at Portsmouth* from the Falkland Islands, we learn of the lamentable loss of the British ship Lord George Bentinck,, Captain Irving, outward bound to San Francisco, from Shields, which foundered on the 22nd of last November, in lat. 44 S., long. 54 W., her master, two seamen, and the steward, perishing in the sinking ship. The survivors, sixtaen in number, who escaped in. the boat, endured the most frightful sufferings before they were rescued. Their account of the loss of the ship is as follows : — About two o'clock on the morning of the catastrophe it was blowing a heavy gale of wind, in the course of which the ship made heavy lists. Mr. Whiteman, the second mate, who had charge of the watch on deck having some misgivings, went below and aroused the captain, and gave him to understand that it was very black weather, and looked worst to windward. Mr. Whiteman took in sail, but suddenly finding the ship was sinking fast, endeavoured to cut away the masts, but in consequence of the carpenter's tools being under water, they could not accomplish this. Mr. Williams, the first mate, and Mr. Whiteman, with fourteen of the crew, took to the boat, and were ordered by Captain Irving to go round the stern ; but the plug being out of the boat and having no oars, they could not obey his orders, and the boat drifted away from the ship. It was about half-past two o'clock when this occurred, and in about two or four minutes afterwards they saw the ship founder, and those on board going down in her. By means of the midship thwart they managed to keep the boat before the wind, and continued that course until the 24th, when the weather moderated. By means of the bottom boards of the boat, they constructed small paddles, and made for the north-west, considering they were making the nearest land, which, as near as they could guess, bore distant four hundred miles, steering by stars by night, and the sun by day. On the third day fell in with a part of the poop of the ship, and found a piece of pork piping about five inches long which was shared in sixteen parts for their mutual support. They also found a piece of lead, about four inches square, and immediately turned their attention to contriving a fish-ing-line and hook, which they formed out of a few spun yarns and a small copper nail. It failed however ; several birds neared the bait, but they did not touch it. On the fifth day they were all too much exhausted to paddle. They endeavoured to make sail with their oilskin coats ; still keeping watch, and baling and steering continually. The first mate resigned himself to his companions, feeling himself dying, as he supposed, from the effects of drinking a quantity of salt water,' and fearing that he might fall overboard. On the sixth day it was proposed that lots should be drawn to sacrifice one of their number in order so save the rest, which was strongly objected to by Mr. Williams, who still entertained hopes for the morrow ; which hopes were realised by the appearance of a vessel on the morning of the seventh day, having descried their signals of distress, an old red flannel shirt attached to a paddle. The vessel proved to be the brig Cuba, of London, Captain Grey, who immediately rescued them from their perilous situation, and whose kindness and generosity they feel anxious to acknowledge, from the prompt attention received at his hand, in providing them with food and dressing their Avounds. Owing to the smallness of the vessel the supply of Avater and provisions was limited. Captain Grey bore up, and put them on shore at Stanley Harbour, Falkland Islands, where they were received by the English Governor, Avho attended to their wants, and eventually pnmded them with a passage to England on board her Majesty's ship Electra. The names of those perished in the sinking ship Avere Captain Irving, David Seivenwright, steward, John Myers and Abel Smith, seamen. — Era, 29th March.

Movements of Russia. — A letter from St. Petersburg, in the "Nord" of Brussels, says : — "The operation of raising the vessels sunk in the port of Sebastopol has commenced. There are upwards of eighty of them, and sixteen have already been recovered, namely, the Chersonese steamer (260 horse-power), four transports, one brig, two schooners, two tenders, and six smaller craft. The four transports are already afloat, and are engaged in conveying provisions and equipments. The Chersonese is under repair at Nicolaieff, and will be launched again in spring. Besides these vessels, the Government has six sailing transports and some steamers of from 60 to 100 norse-power. It has but lately bought five screw schooners, which are to cruise along the eastern coasts of the Black Sea."