WRECK OF THE STEAMER QUETTA.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 424, 4 March 1890, Page 2

WRECK OF THE STEAMER QUETTA.

SPLIT UPON A ROCK. LOSS OF 166 LIVES,. (FROM OVB OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Auckland, last night. News has been received from Brisbane that the British and Indian Company steamer Quetta, on her homeward voyage, struck on a took near Cooktown, with terrible force, splitting her completely through, The Quetta was a full ship with over a hundred passengers on board, including a large number , of well known citizens, who were going home on a visit. The crew consisted of about 30 European officers and 95 colored men. The chip was valued at £65,000, and was not insured. The total number of souls on board was 282, of whom 116 were saved, leaving 166, all of whom are supposed to be drowned, Some of those reported missing may roach the adjacent islands, but ths hope is vary remote, Those saved are Miss Nioklin and baby girl ; Messrs Corker, Clarke, Benton, Stodert, Davidson, Wrathell, Gregory, Cameron, Ashford, Murphy, Train, Dunn, Dibnoy, Captain and officers, 23 Lascars, 25 colored firemen, 11 ealoou boys, three Singalese deck passengers, and 28 Japanese passengers. Pilot Keating and all ths ladies iu the saloon were drqwned except one. The captain states that he was on the bridge with the pilot when the vessel struck. He at once rushed to the end of the saloon deck and instructed the chief officer to get the boats out. He then rushed forward and endeavored to get the women into the boats, but the vessel sank rapidly and he had only time to clutch the rigging and throw himself in the water tvhen the stern of the steamer rose completely out of the water. The vessel then heeled over and went down, the whole time not occupying more than three minutes from the time of striking. He undressed himso’f in the water and swam about for half an hourbelore being picked up by the life boat, which was already full of people, and the water, which woe rather broker., washing Rvcr the gunwale. AH hands ftuf four jumped out of the host, with the viuw of getting he;) baled cut, but tha gtafe of the wafer prevented this being done, and all got into the host again.