The P. & 0. steamer Mirsapore, which arrived yesterday, brings news of the wreck of the Sultan and the rescue by the Valetta. The following is an account of the incident obtained verbally by Captain ndon, of the Mirzapore, from Mr. Ziegan, of the Ca., at Colombo. The Mirzapore being in quarantine there was no direct communication with the Valetta.
After passing Socotra the Valetla experienced strong S.\V. monsoon and high sea, When about 500 miles from the Island the s.s. Sultan, of Bombay, was sighted showing the signal 'Tam sinking.' The Valette was then stopped and two Loots left the Sultan with crew and pilgrims, but the boats were smashed alongside the Valetta and several of the occupants drowned. As the Sultan had no more boats available Captain Gadd called for volunteers and a lifeboat was manned with Europeans, who succeeded in transferring the remainder of the passengers and crew of the Sultan safety on board the Valetta. As, however, the sea was running very high, the boat'had to be abandoned. This caused a delay of about five hours to the Puletta. The Sultan was bound from Jeddah to Calcutta with a cargo of rice and a few Hajees, about 130. She had encountered Vad weather, which had smashed her boats and broken through her hatches. She was also making water fast and it is presumed she foundered shortly after the departure of the Valetta. The ship, which Captain Wickenden believes was originally x Dutch mail steamer, was damaged by a collision in Aden Harbour, and afterwards sold to Bombay native owners.—China Mail,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.