"Having lately been paid off from Her Majesty's sloop Helena, which vessel I commanded for upwards of three years on the West India Station. I bear willing testimony to the good quality of Edwards' Preserved Potato: it always proved good and nutritious, easily cooked, and independent of its being so useful as an antiscorbutic, it is admirably adapted for detached or boat service, and is very accommodating for stowage in small vessels, and above all, was decidedly a never-failing favourite with the ship's company, and was in marked contrast to the preserved meats. The Preserved Potato is eminently desirable for occasional issue with salt meat, and I found it most valuable as a dietary for the sick, and the crew upon fresh beef. MICHAEL DE COURCY, Commander, R.N., Mr. Simpson, also, late Surgeon of the Plover, gives the same favorable opinion of it. He says:H.M.S. Plover, Behring Straits. It gives me great pleasure to bear further testimony in favour of Edwards Preserved Potato, in regard to its wholesome and nutritious qualities, and its beneficial effects as an article of diet in the prevention and cure of Scurvy. The Plover was supplied with a very large quantity in metal cases, which, after passing twice through the Tropics in the outward passage, and being on board more than three years; on being opened were found to have kept the Potato in a perfect state of preservation, and as good as when recently prepared. JOHN SIMPSON, Surgeon, &c. LOSS OF H.M. TROOP SHIP "BIRKENHEAD," OFF POINT DANGER, ABOUT SIXTY MILES FROM SIMONS BAY.-From the United Service Gazette. HER Majesty's steam ship Birkenhead, Mr. R. Salmond, Master, arrived in Simous Bay from England, on the 23rd February, 1852, with several detachments for the forces now serving on the frontier, in all 630 souls. After coaling, she proceeded to sea on the evening of the 25th of February, the weather being fine and moderate. At 2 A.M., on the 26th, whilst going full speed, this ill-fated vessel struck on the rocks off "Point Danger," about sixty miles from Simons Bay, and in less than twenty minutes not a particle of her was to be seen. In vain did Mr. Salmond give the order to "reverse the engines;" the words were hardly uttered, when the ship, with one tremendous crash, parted in two, abreast of the paddle-boxes, the foremost part being instantly immersed in 7 fathoms water, consigning hundreds of unfortunate beings to a watery grave, who doubtless were drowned in their hammocks. Up to this moment, not a voice was heard save that of the Commander, but now the shrieks were truly heartrending. All the women and children being aft, were immediately placed in the first cutter, under charge of Mr. Richards, Master's Assistant, R.N., and removed from the wreck; while the second cutter and gig were stationed so as to render assistance when necessary. Alas! the two paddle box boats were swamped (when the vessel broke asunder), or they might have saved at least 200 more. The weight of engines and machinery, &c., causing the remaining portion of the unfortunate Birkenhead to sink stern uppermost, close to the rock, in 13 fathoms, a general scramble ensued for the boats, spars, yards, and every available piece of wood. During this awful scene, the binnacle struck Mr. Salmond's head; he instantly disappeared, but was afterwards seen on a small raft, his head resting upon his hands. The boats being filled, with about sixty of the survivors, steered for Simons Bay, and most providentially at 11 A.M., met the schooner Lioness, the captain of which, Thomas E. Ramsden, and his wife, did all in their power to alleviate their sufferings; took them on board, and returned to the wreck, where they found Mr. Hire, clerk, R.N., and forty-four soldiers and marines, clinging to the main-top-sail-yard, having been in that wretched condition upwards of thirteen hours-hungry, parched, and well-nigh completely exhausted. These all received every kindness and attention on board the Lioness, which welcome little vessel was hailed by Her Majesty's steam sloop Rhadamanthus, near to Cape Point, and towed into Simons Bay, on the night of the 27th February, with 116 men, women, and children, rescued from the boats and top-sail-yards. Commodore Wyvill, commanding in-chief, lost not a moment in rendering every possible assistance-having during the afternoon of the 27th been apprised of this dreadful catastrophe by the Assistant-surgeon Culhane, R.N., who reached the shore in the gig with eight of the crew, and rode ninety miles across the flats. Rhadamanthus, with as many boats as were available, proceeded (after bringing the Lioness to her moorings) to "Point Danger," but finding no necessity to remain there, approached Walkers Bay, whence she returned on the morning of the 1st March, with sixty-one more survivors, who, by means of rafts, life preservers, and other contrivances, managed to reach the shore. From the information given by the man at the wheel, it appears that the course of the unfortunate Birkenhead, just before she struck, was S.S.E.E., and the man in the chains stated that he then got soundings in 13 fathoms, but before another cast of the lead could be taken she was on the rocks, with 7 fathoms abreast the paddle-box, and 11 fathoms under the stern. Mr. Salmond judged the distance off shore, to be at least ten miles, whereas, it proved, alas! to be only two miles and a half. That there must have been a very strong current setting in is quite evident, because this was experienced to a considerable degree by the Rhadamanthus when she visited the spot the following day. But whatever the causes may have been that led to this most painful tragedy, their effects have, indeed, cast a deep gloom around us. Nothing, however, has been left undone that could tend to relieve the distresses of those who were saved from the wreck. A subscription was immediately sent forth, which was promptly and generously responded to by everybody in Simons Town. It is believed that 436 have been lost, the number saved being 194, amongst whom are the following officers, saved, in the three boats, viz:-Dr. Culhane, assistant-surgeon, R.N.; Mr. Richards master's-assistant, R.N.; Mr. Renwick, first class assistant engineer, R.N.; Mr. Hire, clerk, R.N. The unfortunate Birkenhead was built at Liverpool by Mr. Laird, and we perfectly recollect the admiration expressed at her good qualities when she made her first experimental run on the Mersey, at the opening of the Birkenhead Docks in 1846, Captain Stevens, of the Steam Department at Portsmouth, having reported most favourably of her, she was immediately brought into use, and after making some short trips to Cork, Lisbon, &c., in June last year, she conveyed the 1st Division of the 2nd Royals, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Burny, from Queenstown to the Cape, and returned to England in the October following; and after being examined and refitted at Portsmouth at the beginning of the present year, she proceeded to Queenstown, and from thence to the Cape, with the following Drafts for the different regiments on the frontier: "2nd (Queens') Foot-Ensign Boyland, and 51 privates. "6th Regiment-Ensign Mitford, and 61 privates. "12th Lancers-Cornets Bond and Rolt, and 6 privates. 66 45th, attached to the 12th Foot-4 privates. "60th Rifles, 2nd Battalion-41 privates, attached to 91st regiment. "73rd Regiment-Lieutants Robinson and Boot, and Ensign Lucas, and 71 privates. 74th Regiment-Major Seaton and Ensign Russell, and 66 privates. "91st Foot-Captain Wright, and 61 privates. 'Staff-2 Surgeons and 1 Assistant-Surgeon. "Total-12 officers, 472 rank and file, 2 surgeons, 1 assistant-surgeon, 25 women, and 31 children; 3 women died in childbirth, and 1 of consumption on the passage, and 3 births had taken place." The following letter to the Secretary of the Admiralty details this unhappy Occurrence. "Custor, Simons Bay, March 3. "1. SIR-It is with much pain I have to report, for the information of my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, the disastrous wreck of Her Majesty's steam troop ship Birkenhead, on the morning of the 26th of February, at two o'clock, on the reef of rocks off Point Danger, about fifty miles from this anchorage, by which catastrophe I lament to state, that the lives of 438 officers, (naval and military,) seamen, soldiers, and boys, have been lost, out of 630 who were on board the ship at the time. The circumstances, as far as I can collect, are as follows: "2. The Birkenhead reached Simons Bay, from Cork, on the 23rd ult., in forty-seven days. She was immediately prepared for sea, received coals to 350 tons, some provisions, and the officers' horses, disembarked the women and children (except those taking a passage to Algoa Bay), and was reported ready on the 25th. That afternoon Mr. Salmond received the Government dispatches for his Excellency Sir Harry Smith, my orders to proceed to Algoa Bay and Buffalo Mouth, to land the drafts of the different Regiments, and steamed on his passage at six o'clock in the evening, which was fine and calm, with smooth water "3. At half-past two o'clock on the afternoon of the 27th of February, Mr. Culhane, Assistant-surgeon of the Birkenhead, arrived at Simons Town by land, to report to me the loss of his ship near to Point Danger-that two boats, with, as he stated, the only survivors, were cruising about at a distance from the land. I immediately despatched Commander Bunce, of Her Majesty's ship Castor, with twenty-five men (to form boats' crews) in the Khadamanthus, the only steamer in port, to the scene of the wreck. That evening he fell in with the schooner Lioness, of Algoa Bay, Mr. Ramsden, Master. This vessel had on board the persons who were in the boats, and forty others, whom they had succeeded in taking off the main-top-sail-yard of the ship, which was the only visible part of the wreck above water, altogether 116 in number, as per lists. It being calm, and the schooner some distance from this anchorage, the Rhadamanthus towed her in, and afterwards proceeded to Point Danger, in search of any people who might yet be clinging to the spars and pieces of wreck floating about; also for any who might have landed. An examination of the coast having been made for upwards of twenty miles by land and sea, and no other persons being found, except those who had landed during the night and day of the wreck on Point Danger, the Rhadamanthus received them on board, and returned to this port on the morning of the 1st instant. The persons so saved were sixty-eight in number, of whem six were officers (four military and two naval). They reached the land by swimming, and on pieces of wreck, &c. These, with nine others, who escaped in the gig, and were rescued by the schooner, make the total saved 193. "4. It appears that Her Majesty's ship Birkenhead was duly pricked off on the chart at eight o'clock on the night of the 25th, within False Bay, by the Master, Mr. Brodie, and officer of the watch, Mr. Spear, Second Master; that the course was shaped S.S.E. E., and Cape Hanglip giving a berth of about four miles. The man at the wheel, John Haynes, A.B., from ten to twelve o'clock of the first watch, states that he steered that course, with directions not to go to the eastward of it. A leadsman was on the paddlebox, and look-out men were placed. The night was fine, starlight, and calm but a long swell setting in on shore. The land was seen all the night from three to four points on the port bow. At about ten minutes before two o'clock, in the middle watch, the leadsman, Abel Stone, ordinary seamen, got soundings in 12 or 13 fathomns, of which he gave notice to the officer of the watch, Mr. Davis, Second Master. The ship was going about eight knots. Before he could get another cast of the lead the ship struck, and he found seven fathoms alongside; there were 2 fathoms of water under the bows, and 11 by the stern. "It appears that Mr. Salmond, who was roused by the shock, went on deck, inquired the time, a few minutes past two o'clock, and the course steered; it was reported to be S.S.E.E., which he stated was quite correct. He immediately ordered the engines to be stopped, the small bower anchor to be let go, the quarter-boats to be lowered and lie off alongside the ship, the paddle-box boats to be got out, and a turn astern to be given by the engines. He ordered the military officers, who were all in attendance (Major Seaton, of the 74th Regiment, and Captain Wright, of the 91st), to send the troops to the chain pumps; the orders were implicitly obeyed, and perfect discipline maintained. So soon as Mr. Salmond heard there was water in the ship, he directed the women and children to be put into a cutter, in charge of Mr. Richards, Master's Assistant, which was done. In ten minutes after the first concussion, and while the engines were turning astern, the ship struck again under the engine-room, bulging the side in several feet, and tearing open the bottom; the water rushed in, drowned the fires, and stopped the engines; the engineer, Mr. Renwick, and stokers, making their escape to the upper deck. Instantly the ship broke in two abaft the main-mast and sank, leaving the main-top-mast and top-sail-yard only visible above water. Up to this awful moment the resolution and coolness of all hands were remarkable. Mr. Salmond gave his orders with much presence of mind to the last. The three boats, which had stayed by the ship, now left her to seek a land ing or to save themselves, and at daylight they were out of sight from the wreck. The two cutters were picked up by the schooner Lioness, and the gig landed, with eight men and Mr. Culhane, at Port D'Urban. "6. Having called upon the surviving officers for their statements of the circumstances attending the loss of this ill-fated ship, I have now the honor to lay them before their Lordships for their information, together with lists of the people saved; but I regret that I cannot furnish the names of the unfortunate individuals who have been drowned on this most malancholy occasion, as the muster-books and rolls have been lost. "7. There is no doubt but the course of the ship was shaped to hug the land too closely; and, it does not appear that either Mr. Salmond or the Master had attended on deck from ten o'clock in the first watch until the accident occurred, it would infer much inattention and extreme neglect of duty on their parts; and, when soundings were first struck, had the helm been put to port, this ill-fated ship might have escaped the danger. It is much to be lamented that not an officer has been saved who can give any satisfactory information upon these points. "8. It is also to be deeply deplored that a young officer, Mr. Richards, Master's Assistant, should have been the only executive in command of the boats; as, from the circumstance of their leaving the scene of the wreck before daylight, the landing-place discovered on Point Danger by those who reached the shore on rafts would have shown itself, and the hapless individuals who were clinging to pieces of the wreck and spars, might have been picked off and carried to the shore by the boats, and thus many more lives would have been saved. Also, when the schooner visited the wreck, had the cutters examined the coast in the locality, it is probable they might have found a few others. I can only attribute this fatal error to want of judgment, and to the excited state of the people in the boats under such appalling circumstances. 9. Captain Wright, of the 91st Regiment, who landed on a piece of the wreck, lost no time in procuring and sending assistance to his fellow-sufferers. He walked several miles along the coast, obtained the use of a whale-boat, and returned again, to give all relief in his power, taking charge of all who landed. The Civil Commissioner, Mr. Mackay, and a Captain Smales, residing near Stamford's Cove, were most hospitable and active in clothing and feeding the poor fellows as they reached that place. To Mr. Ramsden, the Master, I have expressed my thanks for his humane kindness and exertions in proceeding in his schooner to the wreck, and saving the people who were clinging to the top-sail-yard. Commander Bunce, with the boats, though too late to save life, by his activity prevented a long and painful journey to the sufferers, and succeeded in embarking and bringing them to this port in the Rhadamanthus. 10. From the deep water and dangerous position in which the wreck has sunk, I do not entertain any hopes of recovering anything of value; but I have sent Commander Bunce, by land, to the vicinity, to recover and dispose of the property as he may think best, an account of which I will send their Lordships by the next mail. 11. The soldiers will shortly join their respective Regiments, and I purpose sending the remaining officers and crew of the late Birkenhead to England by the first opportunity (Her Majesty's ship Amazon, which arrived here last night, and will sail about the 12th instant), to be dealt with as their Lordships may see fit. 12. 1 am glad to state that subscriptions were immediately raised to relieve the distress of the unfortunate widows and children of the soldiers, who are comfortably housed in the Barracks at this place. I have the honor, &c., C. WYVILL, Commodore. I have deemed it advisable to intrust this dispatch to Mr. Freshfield, the late Clerk of Her Majesty's steam ship Birkenhead, who, from his knowledge of the circumstances, though not present at the wreck, having been left behind at my residence sick, will be able to give their Lordships every information, and particularly as to the names of the drowned officers, &c. It will also enable the accounts of this unfortunate ship to be closed. C. WYVILL, Commodore. J. Parker, Esq., Secretary to the Admiralty, &c., London. NAUTICAL NOTICES. REVOLVING LIGHT ON THE SOUTH POINT OF BARBADOS. NOTICE is hereby given, that Her Majesty's Government has established a Revolving Light on the south point of the Island of Barbados; and that it was to be displayed on the first of this month. NO. 5.-VOL. XXI. 20 |