LOSS OP H.M.S. DOTEREL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXIII, Issue 9456, 22 July 1881, Page 3

LOSS OP H.M.S. DOTEREL.

Several extracts from letters written by persons serving on board this unfortunate vessel have been published, and, although they do not, of course, bear in any way upon the cause of the disaster, they are rot without interest. The Western Morning News hints that a sti-ict inquiry should be made as to the relations of portions of the crew to each other and to the officers. " Letters," it says, " are before us, written from Monte Video early last month, which led to the suspicion, we trust unfounded, that there wore on board men who might be called desperadoes, and who had been in an exasperated state. Before the Doterel left Chatham it was whispered that she was what was called an ' uncomfortable' ship. While at Plymouth these rumours wore repeated with emphasis, and from Monte Video we learn that ' men are running away from our ship three and four at a time.' " The writer says: — "It is a miserable ship, and I am afraid will not be better during the commission. I do not think any one is comfortable on board. The marines are chiefly from Chatham, and are a very rough set." The writer goes on to indicate the causes of the prevailingdissatisfaction, and some of its effects, which it would be unfair to publish in the absence of those alluded to. Another correspondent writes, under date Monte Video, April 9 : — " Four of our men broke out of the ship at nine o'clock last night. We had a pretty good passage from St. Vincent (31 days). We got very rough weather for three or four clays a week before we got theie, hut I think we have a very safe ship if she is properly looked after. Some of our ship's company have been very pick, and we are going to leave them here for a passage home to England." Another letter says : — " We had very good weather until within about four days of Monte Video, then we had to lay- to for two or three days, because it was so rough, and instead of going a-head we went to leeward, so made above six days in getting into port : but she is as nice a little sea-boat as ever swam, so we dou't mind how much it blows so long as we have plenty of searoom. It is better, times for us when we are in a gale, for the skipper is rather a sea-sick customer, so we don't see much of Mm, and the other officers have enough to do to look after the ship."