WRECK OF A STEAMER.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1650, 22 October 1887, Page 1

WRECK OF A STEAMER.

Melbourne, Oct. 20.

The steamer Cheviot, belonging to Messrs Howard, Smith and Sons, which sailed from this port yesterday afternoon for Sydney and Brisbane, was wrecked outside the Heads, near Port Nepean, at 1 o’clock last evening. The Cheviot on leaving hero had eleven saloon passengers and twenty-two steerage passengere. Later news has been received from Sorrento that one of the crew of the Cheviot reached that place at 12.40 this morning, He states that the vessel struck on a rock about 9 o’clock last evening. He jumped into the water, and succeeded in getting ashore. On the news becoming known the lifeboats proceeded to the scene of the disaster, and set up a life-saving apparatus, by means of which a numbsr of persons were safely landed from the vessel. Queensoliff, 9 a.m.

A fishing boat has just arrived here from Portsea bringing news that 24 persons have been saved from the Cheviot, and that between 35 and 40 are supposed to have been drowned. Later.

Further particulars regarding the wreck of the Cheviot are to hand. It appears that the vessel lost her propeller when passing through the rip last night, and drifted on to the rocks, which she struck with great force. The crash broke her in two, All the passengers and crew on the forepart of the vessel were drowned, Only the saloon passengers, the captain, chief cook, third engineer, and two firemen were rescued,

The i.s. Cheviot was a large iron screw steamer of 1226 tons register, commanded by Frederick W, S> r;ckland. She was built at Newcastle, in England, by Messrs O. Mitchell and Co. in 1879 to take part in the Melbourne and Sydney trade for her owners, Messrs Wm. Howard Smith and Sons. Her length was 230 ft,, breadth 32ft., and depth 17^ft,