WRECK OF THE QUEEN OF THE THAMES.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3231, 21 June 1871, Page 2

WRECK OF THE QUEEN OF THE THAMES.

By tbo arrival of the new Btenrner Maitland, from England via the Cape of Gt-ood Hope, we have news from the latter place of the -wreck, on the night of the 17th March, near Cape L'Agulhas, about 200 miles from Cnpe Town, of the fine steamer Queen of fche Thames, which left Melbourno for London on the 18th February, and had on board the Hon. Charles Cowper, Mrs Cowper, and many other Australian colonists. The vessel ran on shore

in fine weather and smooth water, so that fortunately no lives were lost at the time the vessel struck ; but afterwards, in attempting to land some of the luggage and valuables, Mr Cox, the purser, and three others of the crew lost their lives by the capsizing of the boats. The cause of the loss of this fine stoamer, on her return to England, after having made one of the quickest voyages out that was ever accomplished, is involved in much uncertainty. Captain Macdonald, her commander and part owner, attributes his misfortune to currents and disarrangement of the compasses, having led Mm to supposo that he was at a safe distance from shore at tho timo the ship struck. We gather the following particulars from Cape papers-tho "Standard" aud "Argus" :— Monday, March 22. The Queen of the Thames struck on Kilp strand on Saturday morning, at half-past 1. Her pasaengers and crew were all landed safely, with the exception of four who were drowned, amongst them being the purser. Tho vessel is a complete wreck, aud lies with her back broken. Mr Moore, one of the owners, and who was a passenger by the steamer, arrived in town yesterday morning. He states that the steamer went on shore at twenty-eight minutes past one o'clock on Saturday morning. The weather at tho time was moderately fine. Mr Moore gives tho following account of the disaster :— All went well with the vessel on tho passage, and on the 26th day out South Africa was first sighted. After that, however, she was kept off again. On the night of the 17th March tho vessel was considered to be some distance from land, and was going along at a spanking rate under steam and sail. At 1.20 a.m. on the 18th she was felt to strike heavily, and on account of the rate at which she was going, all attempts to back her off proved fruitless. The passengers and crew, most of whom were in their beds at tho time of the ship striking, wore soon up on deck, but as there was not much sea on at the time, and the weather fine, it was determined to remain on board the wreck until daylight. The boats, however, vere all got in readiness. As day began to dawn it was found that the ship had beached herself on a low sandy spit, about fifteen miles to tho eastward of Struy's Point. At daylight the boats were all got out, and after making several trips the whole of tho passengers and crew, in all about 300 souls, were safely landed on the beach. As the day wore on the sea began to rise, so that all communication with the wreck was stayed. During ihe morning sevoral of the inhabitants arrived on tho beach, and did all they could in rendering assistance. The vessel still holds together, although her back is broken, and her engines are rising up, the tide rising and falling inside her hold. There is not the least prospect of her being got off again, ns she is firmly embedded in the sand. Several attempts were made to get on board the wreck, but on account of tho heavy sea, which stove in several of the boats, they proved uusuccessful. When last on board, there was nine feet of water in the vessel's hold, and Bhe remained quite fast. Tho cargo consists of 2,500 bales wool, 12,000 bags copper ore, a large quantity of preserved meats, and £7,000 worth of gold dust. The passengers are all on their way to Bredasdorp. All the passengers arrived safely in Cape Town a few days afterwards, and were forwarded to England on tho 4th of April, by the steamship Briton. Their presence in Cape Town, under the unfortunate circumstances in which they were placed, appears to have excited much sympathy, and on their embarking in tho Briton, tho Cape " Argus" says :— " The number of passengers by the Briton was unprecedentedly largo, somewhere about one hundred and forty, more than half of them being Australians from the wreck of the Queen of tho Thames. Of course special cabins had to bo fitted up amidships and forward to give this additional amount of accommodation, but all seemed satisfied with the arrrangements made. The special excitement of the scene was, of course, due to the presence of so many of the Australians, all of whom were in the most excellent spirits, and speaking of the pleasure they had enjoyed at the Cape, and the warm hospitality they had met in the most appreciative fashion— indeod, more than one of them requested us expressely to state this publicly on their behalf." A Court was afterwards held by tho Acting Resident Magistrate of Cape Town into the circumstances connected wilh the wreck of tho steamer Queen of the Thames ; Sir Thos. Maclear, and Lieut. Archdeacon, of H.M.S. Sirius, as assessors. Mr Fairbridgo appeared on behalf of Captain M'Donakl, who objected to the competency of tho Court, and refused to answer any questions. Some of the passengors were examined, and the Court adjourned sine die. Most of tho passengers were taken by tho steamer Briton. Passages were provided for them by Mr Moore, one of the owners, who was a passenger. The cargo was being discharged on tho 13th of April in very fnir condition, and if the weather held up it was believed tho vessel would be got off. If so, her purchasers will have made a good thing of it. The passengers subscribed £60 for the officers and crew.