FRIGHTFUL DISASTER AT SEA.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3360, 1 December 1871, Page 2

FRIGHTFUL DISASTER AT SEA.

The New York papers delivered on Wednesday give the particulars of the collision of the steamship Java, in mid ocean, with the Norwegian barque Annette. The latter vessel instantly sank, and with her eleven persons perished. Daniel Groom, the lookout on the starboard side of the bridge, reported a light netiriy ahead. Mr Peter Wheelor, second officer, then in charge, ordered the helm hard a-port and stopped the engines, when immediately after the Java striik the barquo. The life-buoys were thrown overboard, tbo boats which were hanging in the davits lowered, and, in charge of Mr James Murdoch'^third office-i, and Mr Robert 0. Moore, fourth officer, respectively proceeded to search the floating fragments of the wreck. Mr Murdoch succeed in rescuing ouo man, with whom, owing to the exhausted condition in which ho was found, he was obliged to return to the ship, leaving Mr Moore to continue the search, who, after having convinced himself that no other survivors existed, returned, also. From the statement of the only survivor, W. Paterson, it was learnod that the vessel sunk was the Norwegian barquo Annette, of Moss, from Portsmouth, bound to Miramichi, in ballast. Peterson, being in bed at the time the collision occurred, could give little information, but stated that ho was boatswain, and tho crew consisted of twelvo persons. In answer to tho question why the light was not seen sooner, Daniel Groom, tho starboard look-out man of tho Java, says he first paw a twinkling white light, then a red one, and almost immediately afterwards the collisiou took place.