THE STEAMSHIP LORD OF THE ISLES IN A STORM.

West Coast Times, Issue 2479, 10 March 1877, Page 2

THE STEAMSHIP LORD OF THE ISLES IN A STORM.

This steamer which has hithertp confined her trading ventures between Londpn and China, via the Suez Canal, has essayed a voyage io the Australian trade via "the , Cape pf Gpod Hppe, and Bince leaving „ London a good deal pf incident, very nearly /assuming a tragic character, has been met with during the vpyage^ The Lprd of the Isies is a large barque-rigged steamer, Jprrningone of Messrs Shaw, Maxtpn and Co.'s line of packets, and is a very strong substantially built iron vessel. She was launched from the yards pf Messrs Napier and Sons; Glasgpw, in 1870, ani the following - are her dimensipns :— Length, 352 f t; beam, - 3.7 ft 6ia ; and depth of hold, 30ft giving her a, register of 2481 tons. Captain Cowie reports leaving Lpndon on November 27, and , f^rraputh November. 30. After leaving Plymouth, the steamer fell in with exceptionally wild weather,, and encountered a succession pf fearfully heavy gales from • S.W., wfth a tremendous Bea. This tern" pesMoua weather, the worst ever met with "-'by Captain Cowie during his career at sea, lasted all across the much dreaded Bay of Biscay, and on December 4, while battling .against the elements, the steamer was struck . by a sea of almcst overwhelming f prce and magnitude, which sw£pt away deckhnuse and bridge, with the steering gear and binnacles, and also a quarter boat, besides staving in two other boats. Captain Cowie, with his third officer, and the boatswain with nine of the crew, were sent flying befcre the -.avalanche of water, and were all mere or leßs severely injured. When tbe sea had passed pver, the wounded were all laid together on deck in a stunned condition, and the spot had all the appearance of a shambleß, the blood running freely in the scuppers. It-was this incident wbich gave rise to the fortunately inaccurate telegram that the captain and ten men had been lost. Mr Alsop,. the surgeon on board, displayed considerable skill and activity in his treatment of "those who were liurfc. Captain Cpwie made for Lisbpn, but owing tp the tremendous sea he could, not cross the bar, and np pilot could be obtained. A cpurse „ wae then shaped for Gibraltar, which was . reached on December 9 ; and after a „ . detention of tpn days, refitting and making good the damage sustained in the gales, the steamer resumed her vpyage on December 18, and put into Table Bay on January 15. After taking in supplies, &c, the steamer left Cape Town for Melbourne on January 18. The Lord of the Islcb will proceed to Sydney with passengers atad cargo for that port.— Argus, February 14.