finding any there, the captain decided on Tuesday evening, May 16th, to take the steamer into Simon's Bay. As they left Table Bay they had very rough weather, but through the goodness of God were preserved from every danger. The gale which was commencing in the evening as they left, increased in violence through the night, and raged the next day with terrific fury. At 10 a.m. on Wednesday, there were twenty-eight sea-going vessels and about thirty smaller craft in Table Bay. By 8 p.m., eighteen of the sea-going vessels and all the smaller craft were stranded or destroyed. The following extracts from the "Port Louis Commercial Gazette" of June 10th, 1865, are given to shew how great was the danger, and how real and remarkable was the deliverance which our dear brothers experienced.
"Cape Town, Friday, May 19th, 1965.
"One of the most destructive gales that have ever visited Table Bay occurred on Wednesday, the 17th inst., two days after the departure of the mail steamer Roman for England.
"We are obligated to pass over the description of the wrecks as they occurred [during the day], and the efforts made to save lives and property, and come to the more important part of the narrative.
"At this time (sunset) the scene was terrible in the extreme. Immediately before he finally sand behind the Lion's Hill, the sun broke through the barrier of clouds that had intercepted his rays during the day, and shone brightly upon the Bay, illuminating for the moment every feature of the scene of havoc. At this time there were lying upon the beach, more or less dismantled, fifteen sea-going vessels, besides smaller craft; a tremendous sea was rolling in, threatening every moment to carry away the few vessels remaining at their anchors. The barque City of Peterborough, and the steamer Dane were dragging their anchors, and signaling in vain for more anchors and warps. The steamer Athens also was showing signals of distress, and letting off large quantities of steam, showing that she was prepared at any moment to put forth her full power. There was every prospect of the gale increasing, with a probability that ere the morning should break, there would not be a vessel remaining at anchor. Mr. Anderson offered £500 for an anchor to be run to the Dane, and Mr. Searle £1000 for one for the City of Peterborough; but without effect; no boat would incur the risk. Directly afterwards, the Athens signaled that her last anchor was gone; and on such a scene the sun went down.
"After the sun had set, the fury of the gale increased. The barometer continued to fall. The City of Peterborough had been dragging her anchors all day. Shortly after sunset she broke adrift, and finally struck upon a reef some distance from the shore. The cries of her crew for assistance should be plainly heard from the shore, but all attempts to communicate with them failed. The captain (Wright), his wife and child, and a crew of fifteen, all perished.
"But the most shocking catastrophe was the loss of the mail steamer Athens. About six o'clock in the evening her last anchor parted, and she attempted to steam out to sea. At first she appeared to make considerable headway; but before seven o'clock she drifted broadside on to the rocks near Green Point, and very speedily broke up. The calls for help of those on board of her could be distinctly heard upon the shore amid the roar of the breakers; but the crowd of persons whom these cries attracted were powerless to aid. All that those on shore could do was to light a fire, and thereby indicate to those on board that their peril was known. There was not a rope or lantern at the lighthouse; no rockets nor Manby apparatus within a mile or two of the spot. And yet for two hours a continued wail of anguish and appeals for help came from the steamer, which occasionally could be seen lying on the rocks; she was broken-backed, but still above water, with masts standing, till