The Iolanthe-Cape Verde Collision.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 323, 11 July 1889, Page 3

The Iolanthe-Cape Verde Collision.

Melbocbnb, June 25. Mr Archibald Msnsles, ohief officer of the Cape Verde, says“ We left London oa March 14. having on board a general cargo, in which was included a consignment of 100 tons of gunpowder, for Melbourne. Captain John Mitchell was in command, and we had a crew of 33 all told. Everything went well on the voyage, and we arrived in Hobson's Bay on Saturday night. Having gunpowder on board we went to the powder anchorage, off the Williamstown lightship, which bore west-south-west from us, and was about a mile distant from ue whan we anchored. On Sunday night, I was on watch, aa<l about 25 minutes past CI saw a ship coming into tho harbor on our port bow. She was showing a green light, but immediately afterwards I saw that she was showing a red light, and I knew by this that she must just have altered her course. The night was dark, and th® weather was a bit squally from the south and west. We had a bright globe light burning in the fore rigging. Seeing the lights an preaching us, I called the captain, and said I was afraid they were going to run into us. The captain had only time to get out of his cabin when fire approaching ship struck US, and ran right into us, as far as the Bfter hatch, at an angle of 45 degress or thereabouts. She smashed in the whole of the port quarter of our ship, which sunk within three or four minutes in seven fathoms of water. Tha crew were called on deck, and the captain gave orders to sut away the boats when we were struck, We had four boats, but two were'smashed by the collision. We tried to cut the boats adrift, but while we were doing so the ship heeled over on the portside, and we could not get the boats away. Orders were then given for the crew to take to the rigging on the weather side, and they all did so. There was no disorder or panic, or anything of that kind, Tha whole of the men managed to get into tha rigging, and one of the apprentices got our light and waved it as a signal for assistance, We also shouted to the lolanthe—that was the ship that ran into us—and to the Falls of Foyers, which was lying 100 yards away, for help. After the ship filled she righted herself again, and settled on the bottom on an even Eeel, about half the foremist being above the water. The Falls of Foyers was the first to send a boat to take us off, and when she had rescued some of our men she came back fqr more. Another boat also came from the lolanthe, and took off several of our men, who were put . on the Customs launch, which had come up. The men were then got together and taken to Port Melbourne in the Customs launch, and they have now gone to the Sailors’ Home. There was so little time that they were able tfi save nothing of their effects. They had all they could do to look after their lives. It v;aa about an b'our'and a half, I think, befqrq the last of them wsro rescued,”