A most unintelligible marine disaster is 'reported this week. The
Atlantic steamer State of Florida' was on the night of April 18th, in lat. 49° N:, and long. 36" 30' W., about 1,200 miles from Ireland, with 167 passengers and crew on board. The night was clear, though moonless, and the sea as smooth as a pond ; but the barque ' Ponema,' of Liverpool, 784 tons, struck the' State of Florida,' and made a hole six feet square in her side. She sank within ten minutes. She had eight boats, but two were smashed, two are unaccounted for, one cap. sized, and only three, with forty-four persons on board, chiefly sailors, were. saved, being picked up by a Norwegian vessel. The Ponema ' also sank, with thirteen men. According to some of the passengers, there was a wild panic on board the '.State of Florida,' and according to others the officers were cool; but there is as yet no hint of the •cause of the disaster, though Allan, the third officer, says he will at the proper time have an opinion to give. The Ponema ' was carrying red lights, and must have been visible for miles, yet the steamer was, on a balm night and in mid-ocean, allowed to come into collision with her. The occurrence will, of course, be fully investigated, but most of the trustworthy witnesses have perished.
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