THE LOSS OF THE COLOMBIAN.

Wellington Independent, Volume XX, Issue 2204, 11 May 1865, Page 5

THE LOSS OF THE COLOMBIAN.

The English Consul at Brest has forwarded to ihe owners of the ill-fated steamer Colombian the official report presented by the prefect of the department. According to this report it appears that the Colombian, instead of coming to anchor, which she might have done, in Stiff Bay, towards which she was steering, made for the Pass of Meu-Com, a veiy narrow channel, and full of sunken rocks, and very dangerous to vessels, especially at low water. There beiDg a turret on the Meu-Com, it is supposed that the master of the steamer took it as indicating a channel, whereas it is intended to show a sunken reef. The consul says that the people of Usbant state that, had the ship only anchored in Stiff Bay, all on board would have been saved, and the ship likewise. The report speaks in very high terms of the captain and crew of the French pilot-boat Marie Justine, who, at the risk of their own lives, sailed up to the vessel when she was sinking, and saved some of the crew, who had taken refuge on a raft. The men saved, two firemen and a steward, state that they were on deck shortly before the ship sunk, and that there were very few persons about, nearly all being below, and that they must have gone down with the ship. A day or two before the vessel was lost a tremendoussea swept over the vessel, and carried away two of the men and all the boats. Had there been any boats on board, all would probably have been Bayed. The following narrative of a survivor has been furnished us:— " The Colombian left Liverpool on the evening of Wednesday, the 11th January, and proceeded down the Channel, meeting with very heavy weather. On Thursday she encountered the lull force of the hurricane which has proved so disastrous to steamers. The sea was very heavy, but the steamer kept steadily on her way, Duiiug the day the two lifeboats and captain's gig were washed away, and the cook fell overboard and was lost. The hurricane continued to increase iv its fury during Friday, the sea continually breaking over the vessel, and partly filling the engine-room with water. All hands were set to pump and bale the water out of it, but all to no purpose. By midnight the fires were extinguished, and the jollyboat with the quartermaster was washed away. The captain now determined to put back to port; and at daylight the ship was put about and sail set, in order, if possible, to make Plymouth. The storm continued with unabated fury during Saturday morning. The sails were blown away and replaced by otheis. On Monday, at two p.m., the schooner Rocket was spoken, and in answer to the signal of distress came within hailing distance, and endeavors were made to get a rope on board. The crew were anxious to leave the steamer, and go on board the schooner, but Capt Bennett refused to allow them, being confident of being able to get into his port safely, but arranged that the schooner should remain by them all night. While the moon was up they kept the schooner in sight, but it afterwards came on thickly, and they lost her. The wind veering round, the steamer fell off to the south-east ; and at midnight efforts were wade to wear her to the westward, to keep her off the French coast. The sea, however, was so very heavy that they could not get her round. Just before daylight on Tuesday morning, the lookout ou the foretopsailyard described the light on the Island of Ustaant. When daylight dawned the land was plainly seen ; and the ship's course shaped for the harbor. At five v.m., she struck on a sunken rock off the north-east point of ihe island, and remained bumping heavily for three-quarters of an hour, when she fell off, but immediately began to sink. The crew now saw that she must inevitably founder, and they set about to make rafts. In about an hour she went down, stern foremast, off a reef of rucks called Dv Helie. All the crew were drawn down with the ship. The survivors rose to the surface and succeeded in getting hold of the pigstye, which kept them afloat until the pilot boat, which bad witnessed the disaster, dime to their rescue and picked them up, carrying them to Conquet. The French admiral stationed at Brest has caused every search to be made for the bodies of those that perished with the vessel, but without success.