FATAL COLLISION IN THE RED SEA.

Otago Witness, Issue 787, 28 December 1866, Page 10

FATAL COLLISION IN THE RED SEA.

One of the Bhima's passengers sends to 4he " Times" on account, of the foundering of that ship in the Red Sea :— The Bhima was sunk at eleven o'clock on the night of the llth of September, when on her way from Bombay to Suez, by collision with the steamer JN ada, proceeding (rom Suez to Bombay. She sank ia less than three minutes atter she was struck, Out of^ the 101 persons on board only 22 have been saved. Of these eight are Europeans, and the remainder catives. The Europeans are Shipmasters Mann and Cheverton and Mr Maza. r etb, who were passengers ; the third -officer of the Bbima, Mr C. J. Cuthbert, the ateward, and three of the quarter-masters, two of whom are Portuguese, nnd the third an Englishman, named Sandy. Ie appears that the collision took place" at a distance of about 180 miles from Suez, which port it was •expected would be reached on the following day, and in anticipation of this the baggage had -been collected, and arrangements £oade for landing. Although there was a

fresh breeze blowing, the Bight was fine and starlight. Both vessels were pursuing their ordinary courses, at full speed, having their signal-lights up, which were distinctly made out an hour before they came near to each other ; and, farther, the captains were on the look-out on their respective bridges. Yet, from some unaccountable cause, the two steamers came into collision with such fit a! consequences. It is, howev r. alleged on the part of the Nada, that she kept a port belm, and that the Bhima mutt have suddenly turned her side towards- the Nada's bow. The Bhima »a 9 acrac* on her starboard si J e a few feet abaft the mainmast. The shock was terrific. Those who had retired to rest — and nearly all had done so about an hour before — were instantly aroused, and, springing to their f^et, rushed forward to ccc what had happened How great their dismay to find the vessel already sinking ! The damage sho had sustained, from the Nada's bow crushing her starboard side and penetrating nearly to the mainmast, whs of such a nature a 9 to cause her to founder immediately. There was no time either to lower any of the boats, which, instead of being outboard, were inboard and on the stock?, or even to cut away the lite-buoys, which were lashed to the sides of the steamer. The scene was ose of a moat appalling character. For a few seconds there was a f -antic rushing from one part of the vessel to another, but it was too evident there was no hope of esc»pe. Shrieks and pitiful cries for heip filed the air. But none were more touching than those of Mrs Millar, who hal been sleeping on the poop, while her child was in the cabin below. She instantly ran down to rescue her little one, bnt before she could return the water had risen several feet on the deck, and from some unfortunate circumstances the eahon door had been closed. Her cries from within were heard by Capt. Mann, who hastened to ourst it open. But finding this impossible, he ran to the poop and tried to force open the skylight. While he was thus endeavoring to release Mrs Millar and her child he himself was washed overboard. As the Bhima was linking a terrible explosion took place, which ia supposed to have been occasioned by the water running into the fires and coming in contact wioh the boilers. The captain of the Bhima and those with him on the bridge, excepting Mr Cuthbert, must have been either killed in the explosion or so severely injured as to be unable to save themselves. The stern of the vessel was the first to go under water; the forecastle, therefore, remained longest in sight; and among those who had taken refuge on the forecastle were Mtssrs Keene and Falke, who joined hands in the hope of assisting each other. Near them were the steward and Mr Nazareth. They tried to cut off a life buoy, but so quickly did the water come rolling over them thac there was not sufficient tkne even to do this. They, along with all on board, were carried down many feet below the surface of the water by the suction caused by the sinking of so vast a fabric. When Captain Hanscome, in command of the l^ada, saw the terrible nature of the collision, he at once sent out three boats in order to save as many lives as possible. The first who was picked up was Captain Cheverton, who was swimming towards the Nad*, and he in turn exerted himself along with those in the boat with him to render every assistance ; eighteen out of the twentj'two who were saved were picked up by this boat. Among them wera Captain Mann, the steward, and Mr Nazaretn, who although in a very exhausted state, had continued to hold on to floating pieces of wood. Four others kept themselves above water by clinging to a bale of cotton, and they were rescued. One was saved by a ft ather pidow, and one by a life buoy that be had succeeded in obtaining. The Nada's boats continued the search for five hours, but out of 101 persons on board 79 were missing, and of them no trace could be discovered. The following arß the names of the 16 Europeans who perished under these heartrending circumstances: — Mrs Millar and child ; Captain Sproule, in command of the Bhima ; Mr Scallon, second officer; Mr Pearson, first engineer; Mr Doyle, second engineer; Mr Gallon (?), third engineer; Mr Macknight, fourth engineer; the gunner, the 6aiimaker, and two European quarter-masters, whose names are not known.