LOSS OF THE BARQUE ELLEN.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 7474, 25 July 1891, Page 4

LOSS OF THE BARQUE ELLEN.

Full Particulars of the Maritime Disaster. Fearful Sufferings of the Crew. Only Ono Survivor. (By Electric Telegraph— Copyright). (Per United Press Association.) Sydney, July 24. Particulars of the loss ol the barque Ellen are now to hand. She loft Newcastle for Noumea, and not Auckland as at first reported, on July 3, with seven hundred tons of coal. On the 9th, when two hundred miles off the coast Australia, a fierce gale began to blow, with high seas. The vessel made bad weather, and commenced to leak, and it soon became evident SHE WAS SINKING. The crew worked tho pumps continuously for three days and then abandoned her, the water being up to the deck. A boat containing all hands left at noon on the 12th, and an hour later tho barque foundored. In their hurry the crew forgot to bring away a supply of fresh water, and only a very poor supply of food was found in the boat. Night quickly set in, and with it began AIT UtfBBOKBK CHiPIBB OP SUFPEBIKG. The boat was headed for the coast, but fell in with more heavy weather. The waves broke over the little craft and threatened to sink her, co that while one half of the men pulled the oars, the other half had to bail her out to keep the boat afloat. This went on for some days and nights, with the natural result that constant exposure to the fury of the elements, combined with want of water and nourishing food, soon hsd an effect on the men. The captain was in hopes of being picked up by a passing vessel, but, when after a couple of days NO SAIL HOVB IK SIGHT he lost heart, gradually sank, and died Tho steward also died, and two sailors, who were washed overboard by the sea, hod to be left to their fate. Another seaman, in d»-

lirium, jumped overboard, and'was drowned '. This left four men in the boat — the chief officer (MoQinty) and three seamen, named George, Campboll, and Peterson. The three s 'first -were' * ' | DBOWNBD IN ATXEMPTINO TO IiAHD on the south beach of the Seal Rocks. The < survivor says that they wore nine days ' without water and two days without food, , and the sufferings during the time they i were in the boat were terrible. Peterson i 3 ' unable to give the names of the crow j he is still very weak.