misfortune obliged the boats to turn back, and after m u c h privation and suffering both of them reached the Pilot Station, at the Port Phillip Heads, on the 29th, where they were kindly helped, and the seafarers arrived in Melbourne late on the night of the 30th.
A SHIP MAIMED BY A WHIRLWIND.
There arrived in Hobson's Bay on the 4th of October, 1849, the barque "Mahomed Shah," 615 tons, M'Meikan, commander, with a general cargo, and 246 emigrants. She sailed from London 17th June, and the captain reported the following disaster as having happened :—In the afternoon of 3rd September they were in lat. 40.28 S., and long. 63.45 E., with the thermometer at 56, and the barometer at 28.82. All hands were aloft after close-reefing the foresail, and some were on the way to assist on the foreyard, when a tremendous whirlwind struck the ship nearly dead aft, carrying away the three masts, and sweeping every m a n above into the sea. They were 25 in number, 17 of w h o m were saved, and 8 drowned, viz., the carpenter, five seamen, and two apprentices. O f the rescued, 11 were disabled—two very seriously. T h e foremast went about 15 feet above the deck, the mainmast by the eyes of the rigging, and the mizzentopmast by the cap. Nothing was saved but the mainyard. T h e hull was not seriously injured. Intense consternation possessed the emigrants, w h o rendered every help in their power in an orderly and willing manner. T h e ship wras hove to under the mizzen, the only sail left, and she strained and rolled fearfully. T h e whole afternoon was occupied with clearing away the wreck, and night came on with heavy squalls and rain. Next morning the weather showed a favourable change, and though they had lost their carpenter, they had other craftsmen of the same kind on board, and by the aid of willing hands, stout hearts, and smooth seas, they patched up jury masts, and thiough great pluck and good luck, reached their destination. Not a single emigrant was injured in any way. CAST ON A REEF.
The "Jenny Lind," 484 tons, Captain Taylor, left Hobson's Bay, for Singapore, on the 3rd September, 1850, under charter to proceed from India to Liverpool. T h e ship's company consisted of the commander, first-mate (Masters), second-mate (Harper), sixteen seamen, and three apprentices. She had as cabin passengers, Messrs. Beal, Noble, Ackerman, and Somerset, Mrs. Harper, Mrs. Somerset and three of her children ; and was freighted with a cargo of flour and beef. T h e weather was variable for about a fortnight, when the sun became so obscured that no observation could be taken for a couple of days. About 4 a.m. of the 21st, it was the mate's watch, and he fancied he noticed something black ahead. It was believed by some to be a heavy cloud, but the mate fearing otherwise had the helm put hard up, and summoned all hands to be in readiness for an emergency. T h e captain was on deck without loss of time; the vessel wore off, but she struck aft, and immediately after lay broadside on to a reef, with the sea broaching over her. T h e masts were cut away, yet the vessel continued to lurch heavily, and it was feared she must soon break up. A n unsuccessful attempt was made to launch the pinnace; but, after m u c h difficulty, the jolly-boat was got afloat, and two hands placed in her, who, after running great danger, got her close under a rock a short distance off, inside the reef, where she was secured. T o launch the safety-boat was next tried—a very troublesome job, owing to the position of the ship; it was done however, and with the jolly-boat acting as a sort of depot, the w o m e n and children were first removed there, and ultimately all hands accomplished a safe departure from the vessel. T h e people were next divided into two boatfuls, and thus reached a coral bank half-a-mile off, and when landed, found themselves on an islet of 100 yards long by 40 wide. T h e wreck was next boarded for provisions, but only a small quantity could be procured, with a four gallon keg of water, a gill of which only was served out to each individual for that day. A miserable night was passed, and next morning some sails, more provisions, and a quantity of lime-juice were obtained by a second visit to the ship, which manifested symptoms of breaking up. This occurred soon after, and by an almost superhuman exertion, and a risk amounting to the
