File:The Mail-Steamer Colombo wrecked on the North End of Minicoy Island, One of the Laccadives, in the Indian Ocean ILN-1863-0110-0001.jpg

English: The Mail-Steamer Colombo wrecked on the North End of Minicoy Island, One of the Laccadives, in the Indian Ocean. Illustration for The Illustrated London News, 10 January 1863.

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THE WRECK OF TIHE COLOMBO. In a previous Number we announced the loss of the mail-steamer Colombo. This vessel, one of the fine fleet of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, was 2107 gross tonnage, and of 450-horse power, classed A 1 in Lloyd's register, and built in 1853. She was bringing the Australian, China, and Calcutta mails, when, on Nov. 19, she went ashore on one of the southernmost of the Laccadives, known as Minicoy Island, 447 miles from Point de Galle. By the Peninsular and Oriental Company's steam-ship Massilia we have re-. ceived full particulars of the loss of the Colombo. Owing to the thickness of the weather, no observations could be taken after leaving Galle, and on the morning of Nov. 19, at four o'clock, the weather continuing very thick, nothing being visible at a ship's length and the rain coming down in torrents, speed was reduced to "full slow." Two hours afterwards breakers ahead were reported a quarter of a mile off; and before the engines, which were immediately reversed, could have any effect on the vessel, she forged ahead, and the swell and a strong wind drove her bodily on the coral beach. She touched so lightly that no one on board felt the shock. There was a strong current to the northward at the time of about three miles an hour. After striking, she fell over to windward, exposing her deck to the sea, which poured down the hatchways and skylights in torrents. As nothing could be done to save the ship, the boats on the land side were cleared, and by eight a.m., all the passengers and crew were safely landed. A drenching rain continued, which was the more felt as most of the ladies and children were lightly clad. Awnings and spars were brought on shore, and by two p.m. the passengers were comfortably housed until better accommodation could be obtained at the village, a short distanc eoff, where they repaired the next day and took up their abode until the arrival of assistance. A native boat, with an officer, was sent to the nearest land, 210 miles distant, to telegraph the news of the disaster to Bombay, Galle, and Calcutta. An abundance of provisions was obtained from the wreck. On Nov. 30 the Ottawa arrived from Bombay and took the passengers to Suez. Eighteen hours after striking the ship parted in two pieces, midships. The disaster appears to have been occasioned by insufficient allowance having been made for the strength of the current, which, notwithstanding a mile and a half an hour had been allowed for it, drove the vessel some 32 miles out of her course. The passengers speak in great praise of the presence of mind shown by Captain Farquhar under the trying circumstances, and his unwearied exertions for their comfort and convenience. A short time before the disaster Captain Farquhar had succeeded in saving a vessel from shipwreck. The following description of the Island of Minicoy is taken from Horsburgh's Directory:-" Minicoy or Malicoy Island (the centre) in lat. 8 deg. 17 min. N., long. 73 deg. 7 min. E., is about six miles and a half in length, and half a mile in breadth, extending in the form of a crescent from N.E. to S.W., with the concave side to the N.W., where a circular coral-reef projects about three miles, and is joined to the extremes of the island on the reef near the west point of the,island. There is an islet with trees on it, ani at the north end of the island there is a passage through the reef, with two fathoms-the deepest water-through which the boats and small vessels pass; but it is narrow and intricate. When the boats are within the reef, the water is deeper-two and a quarter and three fathoms, over a bottom of hard coral; but chains would be necessary to secure a vessel were there any swell. This island is very populous, and the natives are hospitable. It is well planted with cocoanut-trees, and may be seen from the deck of a large ship about three and a half or four leagues." It is, doubtless, on the coral-reef mentioned that the vessel struck.