WRECK OF THE HIBERNIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 904, 27 March 1869, Page 18

WRECK OF THE HIBERNIA.

(Glaatfow Herald. )

The following statement has teen made to us by Misß Adams< i n, stewardess of the ill-fa- ed steamer :— I -was with the Hibernia in her last outward voyage, during •which severe weather was encountered". I cannot speak paiticularly as to the weathor which prevailed in the outset of the homeward passage, as my duties prevented me getting on deck except for a breath of fn»sh. air occasionally ; but for s>ome days before the accident to the shaft the wea her was very rough. It became worse, until, at length, a fearlul gale rag>:d around us. The ni.ht, I think, before the small boats wpre lowered — a nis;ht of perfect tempest — one gentleman spoke to Captain Munro about taking to the boats; but the captain replied that to do so then ■would be instant death. He said we were safer in the Hibernia at that time than, with such a storm, we could be in any tiny craft. After ihe shaft broke — about two o'clock on the morning of Tuesday, the 24rh — it was found tnat the vessel was leaking, and the ship's engine, the donkey engine, and the bilge pumps were set agomg. But the water continued to gain upon us, and orders were given to throw the caryo overboard. Between eight and nine o'clock on the Tuesday morning — some six hours after the accident to the shaft — Mr Bethel, one of the passengers, went to his wife, and I heard him say, " Get up ; I fear the vessel is sinking fast." That morning neither the captain nor any of the officers appeared at table. Things were too serious. I myself went to a lady who was ill, and, wishing her to be in readiness for any emergency, but; not desiring to alarm her, said — " You would be better to get up and dress." In a little I went to her again and said, " You had better get up ; 1 thick v. c will all have to look to ourselves shortly." She took the alarm, and hurried on her clothes. An immense sea continued to run ; and it became evident that all effors to save the ship was unavailing. About four o'clock on the Wednesday morning, Captain Munro, who was throughout wonderfully collected, and in whom all had the utmost confidence, gave orders to lower the lifeboats. For some little time before, cabin passengers had gathered together in the saloon ; and 1 could see from the position of several, that they were engaged in prayer. To let down the boats with such a high sea running, was a work of difficul'y ; but it was accomplished. The passengers and crew were 'divided into sections, and to each section a boat was allotted. Tne boats were supplied with provisions, and with oil to keep down the waves to some extent. Mrs Cocks, an invalid, and some of the sailors, were lowered in the first, which •was afterwards commanded by the captain, aDd which, when being pulled to the ship, was struck y a wave and bumped against the vessel's side. Getting out of the tiibernia into the little craft was a proceeding attended with considerable danger. I got upon a rope ladder descending from the steamer j but every now and then the boat would be lurched away by a tremendous wave, and I had to keep hanging on for life to my insecure position. When the sailor cried to me "let go," 1 abandoned my clutch of the ropes, and was caught by them and laid in the • ottom of the boat. As o'hers were coming down as fast as possible, I crawled along on my hands and feet until I got a seat at the stern. I heard some one cry, " She will be over ;" but I was clinging on with all ir>y might. All the passengers having been got to the boats, the captain, who was the last to leave the steamer, came on board the one in which we were. It was found to be too heavy, and, in order to lighten it, two passengers ■were transferred to the first mate's boat, and ladies threw their shawls overboard, while one of two barrels of biscuits and a couple of bags of apples were cast into the sea £ did not, as my back was turned, B«e on-} of the boats capsize ; but I heard the captain say, "My God ! Raid's has upset.' 3 In a little he saw it in the act of righting, with some persons clinging to the keel ; and when he looked again he saw it had righted and that several people ■were on board. The crew of this boat had hoisted a sail immediately on leaving the ship, and I think this was the cause of its being capsized. For nearly 12 hours our frail craft was kept afloat by steering, baling, and throwing oil upon the sea. Soma of us expected every moment would be our last ; there was stern reBi^nation on the faces of several. One lady remarked to the captain, " Oh, captain, it seems so hard for us to die out on this wide ocean — nobody to know anything a >out us." L said to him, "Do you think, captain, if we survive to-night we will be able to put over to-morrow ?" and he replied, "If the sea goes down ■we will have a chance of living over tomorrow. If we can keep afloat we may fall in the track of the Que' ec lijae of steamers." I tried to persuade him to

take a bit of biscuit, but he said he had no appetite. I said, " What will we do if you go I" and he remarked, " Well, 1 will try after a little." lie was keeping steadfastly at the helm, steering. One gigantic wave nearly swamped us, and he observed that if there was another like it we would go, or words to that effect. At leng h one of the passengers said, " Captain, I think I see a sail." The captain looked up from his post and immediately exclaimed. " Row hard, my lads ; row hard." They did row hard ; and we all commenced to shout at the top of our voicas. One gentleman had a bit of candle in his pocket, which he took out, put in a large lamp — such a lamp as is hung at the sides of ships — and held aloft as we ever and anou rose on the waves. Our light was seen, and, maybe, our shouting in some degree heard ; and we were rescued from our perilous position by the Star of Hope. Capt. Talbot, the master of that vessel, waa exceedingly kind to us. We were all, of course, drenched ; and, with the good-humoured remark that "circumstances altercases" he brought forth a pile of seamen's clothing, in which the ladies attired themselves until their own habiliments were dried. On arriving off Aberdeen in the Star of Hope on Monday evening we were not well used by the masters of two tugs. W« fired oil" rockets for about an hour, and then the tugs came alongside ; but those in command refused to take us on board, though expressly informed that we had been saved from a wr^ck. After lying to for some time, and there being no prospect of help, Captain Talbot considered it advisable, as the sea was becoming very troubled, as the wind was rising greatly, and as the ship in these circumstances was in danger of being driven ashore, to set out for Leith. We reached that port on Tuesday forenoon, having, before we quitted Captain Talbot, presented him with an address, expressing our deep gratitude and indebtedness to him.