'The papers brought by the mail of 23rd Oct, contain full particulars of the loss, at Ardrossan, of the S. S. N. Co.'s new steamer Chusan, which was' briefly re-Tin deendtul shipwreck formed the most jotted by telegraph some weeks ago.
ious of a number of disasters resulting irom a prevalence of such heavy gales around the Coasts of Great Britain and Treland as have not been experienced since 1866, when the London was lost. Eh following is from the report of the Glasgow Herald The Chusan, after leaving Waterford, experienced at the outset moderate weather. On Tuesday night (20th October), however, the wind rose, and gradually gained in intensity, while the sea ran high. After midnight a perfect hurricane prevailed, with deluging rain an blinding spray. The gale blew from the north-west, driving the vessel, which did not obey her helm, over the direction of Ayrshi and the obvious aim of those in charge of the ship was to keep her well in channel and clear of this dangerous coast line. During the night Captain Johnstone, Mr. Moir, the pilot, and Cuptain King remained on the bridge, while Mr, Miller, the second mate, and other three meo, were stationed at the wheel. From this it would appear that the safety of the vessel was provided for as far as possible. The wind, however, was too strong to allow them to gain safer harbours up channel, and about 6 o'clock they found themselves a towards Ardrossan under all the, Of thick darkness, blinding rain and. epra and a gale inshore. Fi that it wa sible to keep off they made for and succeeded in rounding the point. The situation of Crinan Kock is indicated by a beacon placed on the top, which seems to have been observed, and as the vessel was runt ominously near to it her engines were backed. Before she could be got clear, however, a great sea wheeled lier round, and she.struck the shore side of the rock and parted amidships. The stern end of the vessel, which contained the machinery, sank to the bulwarks in about half an hour, the paddles remaining above water; while the fore-art of the ship, which was watertight, fred into the harbour. She was cut through as if with a knife. The stern end was also provided with a water-tight compartment in rear, but the machinery was partially open, and the dead weight, with the inroad of the sea, resulted in its going down, Those who were in this part of the ship crowded astern, and as the sea washed over the bulwarks they were either drowned or washed overboard. If they had got on the paddle-'Doxes, the chances are that many of them, at Toast, might have been saved. As for the forepart of the ship, as we have said, it floated into. the harbour, and the greater number of those on board, upwards of 20 in all, were safely brought to land. The pilots and others who stood on the pier carried life-buoys, which were thrown to the assistance of several of the crew, who had got hold of pieces of wreck, and were drifting inshore. Dhe wreck was seen from land and steps were fat once taken to bring into requisition all available means for the rescue of the drowning people, whose screams could be heard above the roar of the storm. As it happened, these means were hardly adequate for the occasion. The life-boat was procured, and when she was launched, which was not accomplished until fully an hour after the vessel struck, the wind was s0 strong in shore that the crew could not get her out to sea, although half an hour was spent in this endeavour. It was still early morning, but large crowds had assembled on the quay, watching with painful anxiety the sad spectacle out at sea, Men were seen clinging to the wreck, crying piteously for help, and others vainly trying to swim ashore were carried out by the ebb tide and quickly lost to sight. While the lifeboat was thus contending with the difficulties of the hour, Captain Bannatyne, accompanied by five men, put off in the harbour He got as near the wreck as possible, and lines were thrown on board, by means of which nine of the unfortunate people were saved. captain, with his wife, got hold of one of the lines. He bravely kept his wife afloat until she was seized by those on board the tug, but the man himself slipped backward and was owned. The first and second engineers were of the number of those rescued at this time. Captain Bannatyne shouted to those till on the wreck to get on the paddle-boxes. The tide was now full, and he was hopeful that they might be able to hold on till be got back again. His return to shore, too, was signals for him to come and take tthe lifeboat in Although he had got out with comparative case, he experien siderable difficulty in' getting the tug into position to return, This was at length accomplished and he landed his passengers. The Iifeboat was then taken in tow, and on the wreck being reached lines were again thrown out. In this way Miss Elliot, her child-nephew, George Johnstone, John Murdoch Johnstone, the mate, and three or four of the men were taken off. The mate, Mr. Johnstone, lashed Miss Elliot and the child to the rope, and saw them on board the tug before looking to his own safety or that of his companions. "By the time these rescues had been effected, all hope of rendering further assistance was at an end. It /was now about 9 o'clock, and the storm had done its work. Excepting those who had reached land, all were now beyond human aid. As we have said, several men were rescued by the assistance of the pilots on the pier, and the steward of the steamer Amphion, then lying at the quay, picked up a man who that vessel. Four men also put off in a small boat, but their maged to rose praisessorthy bravery was unhappily not rewarded by success. " One of the crew was observed at the wheel and efforts were made to bring him off. The men succeeded in passing aline to him, bat were unable to pull him clear of the wreck, and it is supposed that he must have been fastened to the wheel. He was ultimately washed off the deck and drowned. The rescued persons were accoinmodate in hotels and private houses in the town, and every kindness was shown them. Mrs. Johnstone is near her confinement, and her condition is therefore critical. Mr. Jobnstone, the mate, lies in a very exhausted state.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.