| Index |
Our private correspondent at Tangier, in a letter dated the 14th December, 1845. furnishes us with the following particulars of the loss of the French steam vessel of war Le Papin:- " I have this moment heard from the office of the British consul of the total wreck on the coast, between Azmoor and Mazagan, of another French man of war steamer, of 650 tons burden, and 140 horse power. The details are very shocking, and the number of lives lost are 77, including the captain and all the officers. with the exception of one midshipman. The newly appointed French consul to Mogador is numbered among the victims. Exactly one half of those on board the unfortunate vessel were drowned, the other half were saved under circumstances which reflect the highest credit on the British and French consul at Mazagan. Mr. Redman, for it was to his prompt arrival at the spot, and his energetic persuasion of the Moors to assist him, that the survivors owe their lives. Among those saved were two passengers, Messieurs Dubourdien and Delaporte, and a Moor. La Papin was one of the vessels destined to form the French squadron on the coast of Africa for the suppression of the slave trade, and was on her way to Senegal, intending to call at Mogador, on her passage thither, with the new consul. On the night of the 6th instant, about eleven o'clock, from a miscalculation of the commander, the people on board found themselves ashore in a very dangerous locality, between Azmoor and Mazagan, and before they could make arrangements for getting her off. the wind, which was blowing hard at the time, with a heavy sea ruining, increased with tremendous violence from the north-west, accompanied by heavy rains, and the vessel became completely at its mercy, and soon filled, and became a general wreck. On the morning of the 7th, a scene of the most appalling description was presented. The strand was strewed with the wreck. with here and there the bodies of the crew floating in and out between it. Twenty-nine out of the unfortunate ship's company had succeeded in getting ashore, but they were in the most pitiable condition. and in the last stage of exhaustion. Eleven were picked up quite dead. Those who were alive informed the consul on his arrival, that they thought all those who remained on board were drowned, but he, nevertheless. with the most humane and noble spirit, immediately collected some crews from among the Moors, who crowded the beach, manned the steamer's boats with them, and proceeded to the ship, through the heavy surf. Their exertions were rewarded in securing nine persons, with whom they returned to shore. They then made an attempt to reach the vessel a second time, but unfortunately failed, and nearly lost their lives, the wind continuing to blow with violence, and a heavy sea washing over her. It was, however, believed that there were many on board alive, but who were too much exhausted to make any effort to save their lives by swimming, and Mr. Redman, to induce the Moors to make other exertions. offered a large sum for every man whom they should succeed in saving. This had immediate effort on the Moors, for with the most undaunted bravery they plunged into the water, swam to the ship, and one by one, on their backs, succeeded in bringing on shore 44 seamen and marines, who were reduced to such a state that it was with great difficulty their lives were afterwards preserved. The major part of those who have perished remained on board the steamer in their cabins under water. The poor fellows who have escaped the fate of their unfortunate shipmates expressed their gratitude toward the Consul in the most touching manner. Along the whole line of coast from Azmoor to Mazagan the wreck of the ill-fated Papin was washed ashore, and it is feared nothing of comparatively the slightest value can be saved. ^ back to top ^ |