WRECK OF THE BLERVIE CASTLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 435, 31 March 1860, Page 3

WRECK OF THE BLERVIE CASTLE.

The loss of the Royal Charter has been closely followed by another serious casualty in Australian shipping. On the 24th of December a telegram was published in London to the effect that a number of cases had been picked up near Calais bearing the name of " Blervie Castle." Further particulars afterwards came to hand which put an end to all doubt that the "Blervie Castle," M'Hardy, which had left the Downs on December 17, for Australia, had been lost. With regard to the cases referred to, it may be at once stated that the brokers, Messrs. Grierson and Tweedale of Princes-strcot, who had chartered the ship, having compared the marks and numbers with the vessel's manifest, found that they formed portion of the cargo of the " Blervie Castle," and the fact was apparent that she must have gone to pieces, as the lour barrels marked " Booth, London," which had been landed at Calais, were knowu to have been stowed at the bottom of the hold of the ill-fated ship.

The "Blervie Castle" was one of the fleet of Messrs. Duncan Dunbar, of Limehouse. She was a vaty fine ship, 610 tons register,

almost new, having only be^n built two yeara ago, and was classed at ■ Lloyd's A 1, 12 years. She had very superior passenger accommodation,.and was chartered by Messrs. Grierson and Tweedale,,and laid on for Adelaide. She loaded in the London .Docks, and abqut 40 passengers had taken berths in her to proceed to the cblony. Twenty-two joined her when she left the river, and the remainder intended to go on board at Plymouth, where the ship had to put in. She carried a crew of 34 hands, including the officers, and had a valuable cargo" of merchandise, with some live stock on deck. The Channel pilot took charge of her when she sailed from Gravesend, aud proceeded through the Downs with her, and left her off Dover &n the evening of the 18th of December, when all appeared well with her, and she had a fair wind for her course down Channel. It was expected that she would reach Plymouth about the 20th or 21st of December, but nothing more was heard of her. Towards the close of the 20th the wind shifted to the north-north-west and blew a terrific gale, with heavy snow, the pilots who were out describing it as an awful night. It is supposed that the ship must have got some distance down Channel when she encountered the gale, and whether Captain M'Hardy, who bears a high character for skilful seamanship, attempted to run back or hold on by beating about, and was driven back by the force of the tempest, is a matter of conjecture. It is quite evident that the ship got back to the eastward of Dungeness in the more nirrow portion of the Channel, where both the English and French coasts are most prominently lighted, and when seen give a ship her immediate position. It is therefore exceedingly probable that the dense snow which fell during the night entirely shut out these beacons from view, and that Captain M'Hardy was not aware of his situation. It is thought that she was lost either on the Varne or the Ridge, two shoals which stand in the centre of the Channel, almost in a line with Folkestone and Cape Grinez. The Varne extends some four or five miles in length, extremely narrow, aud has not more than a fathom and half upon it at low water, while all around it are soundings at 12 and 17 fathoms. The Ridge is near to the French Coast, a long and narrow shoal, and, like the Varne, has deep water round it. The general impression is that the ship struck upon one of these shoals, and, after heavy beating, went to pieces ; and sliding off sunk in deep water. It may be stated that she was fitted with ample boats to save all hands, but in such a sea as prevailed that night it is very doubtful whether they could have outlived it.

A melancholy accident has taken place in the river Mersey. On December 30 a large number of men who were employed on board of a ship anchored in the middle of the river were desirous of going on shore. With this view they entered a boat, but a strong breeze blowing at the time the boat unfortunately capsized, and upwards of 20 lives were sacrificed.