FEARFUL,GALE ON THE AUSTRALIAN COAST.,

Otago Witness, Issue 765, 27 July 1866, Page 14

FEARFUL, GALE ON THE AUSTRALIAN COAST.,

(From the Empire, July IS.) , The terrible gale which commenced on Wednesday, and which continued without intermission the whole of yesterday, prepared the public to some extent for tidings of > ghipwTCck and disaster. But notwithstanding thiß.no such dnadful loss of life and property as has occurred was r.nticipated, and the news of the wreck, a few hours after leaving the port, of the A.S.N. Company's Btfamer Cawarra. with all ' on board, spread consternation throughout the city yesterday afternoon. The Cawarra was a comparatively new boat— only about two years old — and was one of the fastest and largest steamers belonging to the port. She left the harbor for Rockhampron at about six o'clock on Wednesday evening, just previous to the commencement of the storm, having on board a large general cargo, with twentyfour passengers, and a crew of thirty-five all told. The names of the passengers were :— ln the cabin : Mrs Cramp and child, Miss Anderson, Mr A. Anderson, and Mr Machefer. (There is some doubt whether the latter was on board.) Steerage: S. Kirjg, J. Pa'ttereon, Mrs Patterson, John Marsden, Michael M'Lennan, G. Sedward, and thirteen Chinese diggers. The vessel was in command of Captain Chatfield, an old servant of the A.S.N. Corap-ny, but on his first voyage as captain of Ithe Cawarra. We hnve not been able to ascertain <be names of the whole of the crew. The chief officer was MrM'Dowell; second officer, Mr T. Burrows; chief engineer, Mr Thornton; eecond engineer, Mr Akinelough. There were ten seamen, six firemen, four coal trimmers, carpenter, boatswain, lamp trimmer, two, cooks, fore-cabin steward, and four saloon stewards— -making a total of crew and passengers of fifty-nine souls. The Cawarra must have encountered the gale soon after clearing the Heads, but what took place during the night and the early part of yesterday is of course jquite unknown, as in all human probability no soul remains alive to tell. It was known in Sydney that the Cawarra must have encountered the fuli fury of one of the most terrific gales ever experienced on this coastj; but as she was a fine, strong, and almost new boat, and in charge of an able commaLder, do particular fears for her safety were entertained until the receipt of a telegram shortly after three p.m. yesterday, from Newcastle, with the intelligence that she was on the Oyster Bank, at the entrance of the harbor, broken in two, and a complete wreck — many of the unlortunate people on board haviDg be?n washed off, and it wa3 feared that all would be lost. The life-boat was sent to 'render assistance, if possible ; but it seems that nothing could be done in the terrific sea which must have been breaking over her ; and at 4.20 p.m. a telegram announced that 6he had completely disappeared, and that not a vestige of her remains was to be seen from the shore. Her cargo was mostly uninsured, lier commander, Captain Chatfield, was a man universally respected. He has, we beiieve, left a widow and. severa children. Newcastle, Thursday Evening. In the wreck of the Cawarra steamer, all on board perished.

Between two and three in the afternoon, the Cawarra, bound for Queensland, attempted to put in here through stress of weather, and while rounding Nobby's, wa3 driven on the Oyster Bank, where she went down, and was knocked to pieces immediately.

One seaman was seen from the Lighthouse, and was rescued by Mr Hanneli and his sons in an exhausted state, and on being taken to the Lighthouse, revived to some extent, but is not yet sufficiently recovered to be able to give any proper account of the wreck.

The females were put into a boat, which capsised.

The life-boat went off, but the efforts of her crew were in vain, the vessel being then under water.

Some mail bags were w&shed ashore and recovered.

The high sea running struck the vessel, when she broached to, became unmanageable, and all control over her was lost.

Friday, 8.40 a.m.

There has been a dreadful night. Nothing like it for the past fourteen years. Fearful sea on, making fearful gaps in the breakwater. Lighthouse lately erected on breakwater washed away.

The barque William Watson, just arrived, got in a similar position to the Cawarra. The captain made all sail, and beached her on the North Beach. Hopes are entertained that all bands will be saved. [It was since reported that all but two had beeu saved.]

10.40 a.m. Susannah Cuthbert, steamer, from Grafton, just t assed in ; all 6afe. Noon.

The Cavarra's seaman was picked off the red buoy alive, but nobody else haa been found.

2 pm. A ketch, supposed to be the Caroline, has gone down with all hands.

The Lismore is ashore on the North Beach The crew are not saved yet.

A atearacr is now signalled, supposed to be the Coonanbara or Lady Darling. Fears for htr aalety exist.

The Sea Gull is supposed to have foundered during the night, with all hands.

3 p.m. No bodies have yet been recovered from the wreck of the Cawarra. A ketch is on shore; all hands lost. The Cheetah is also on snore; two men drowned.

4.10 p.m. All hands saved from the Lismore, ashore on North Beach. Tiie steamer supposed to be the Cconanbara,

has put to sea again. It is supposed for Port Stephens,

[The supposition that this steamer was the Coonanbara was incorrect. 'as that' vessel took refuge in Broken Bay at about half-past five on Thursday evening.]

6 p.m. .It is just reported that the Roderic Dhu is ashore fourteen miles from heie. in the dircc tion of Port Stephens. The captain has just ridden in. Crew all *aved. 8 p.m.

The CawaTra became a total wreck yesterday, about 4 p.m. Only one man saved. Tt is suppose J here that one hundred souls were on board. Cargo is washing about in all directions. Two bodies were picked up duriDg the night.

The William Watson is a total wreck ; tyro men lost.

A ketch jusfc gone down close to shore ; all hands lost. 1 urned over at twelve o'clock. Another schooner is lost : all saved but two. •

Midnight. The storm raged furiously all uight. Early in the morning, the barque William Watson, on entering the port, was driven on to a beach near the Oyster Bank, -where she now lies a complete wreck. Ail the hands were saved except the carpenter and cook.

About mid-day, a ketch, supposed to be the lona or Comet, made the pore, bnt on rounding Nbbby's, foundered with ail hands. Hundreds of people were looking on, but cou d render no assistance.

The schooner Lismore, sooa afterwards, oa rounding Nobby's, nearly met a similar fate, but was finally beached near the William Watson. All the hands were saved by Manby'a apparatus.

It is supposed that the Seagull has foundered at sea, as a stern board, with her name painted on it, was picked up. A quantity of cedar logs are floating about, supposed to be part of her cargo.

Two men belonging to the Kedar were drowned by the upsetting of a boat.

At two o'clock the Fire Kingr, steamer, was off the port, bnt stood out again, supposed for Port Stephens. The man saved from the Cawarra, Vailiant Hodges, says there were one hundred persons aboard.

Dreadful excitement exists at the loss of life.

The red beacon on the breakwater has been thrown down.

Almost all the vessels in the harbor have drifted from their anchorage, among which are the Ma r y and the Frank. The latter is so much damaged that she has been abandoned.