The Tigris steamer, the vessel employed with the Euphrates steamer
in the Euphrates expedition, foundered in a tremendous hurricane, while descending the river, on the 21st of May, off Nuha. The following particulars are given in a letter written by Captain Est- court, of the Forty-third Light Infantry, on board the Euphrates, eight days after the event.
"The expedition, with the two vessels, the Euphrates and Tigris, was de- scending the river most prosperously. Fuel had become, from Beles, most abundant, consisting of wood, a bituminous coal, and charcoal. The state of the river was so favourable, that the Tigris, being the smallest vessel, was in the habit of leading ; and, having a native pilot on board, there was no diffi- culty of finding the deep channel. The Arabs were friendly ; they engaged to provide depiits of fuel, and entreated our protection. "On Saturday the 21st instant, we had brought up at mid-day to a bank, for fuel ; and after the people had dined, we cast off, meaning to steam to Anab, then distant about eighty miles. Scarcely, however, had we com- menced our voyage, when a cloud of dust was seen to rise high into the air, on the right bank, threatening a squall of no ordinary violence. Preparation was immediately made to meet it, by furling the awnings, &c. Having passed over a reef of rocks, at this season far under the water, the signal was made from the Tigris, leading as usual, and having !Colonel Chesney on board, to choose a berth and make fast. Scarcely had we answered when the squall be- gan. The Tigris was rounding to make fast, the Euphrates following. As we neared the left bank, I saw that the Tigris had tailed to bring up—her head was falling outwards. The Euphrates was now obliged to back her pad- dles to give room,—an operation full of danger,—lest she should be unable to gather way upon herself again against the current and the violence of the gale. However, her power is great ; and again working the engines with all force, she came to the bank with some violence; but by the skilful manage- ment of Lieutenant Cleaveland, and the activity of Mr. Charlewood and a most willing crew, a hawser and small anchor were got on shore , then a chain cable and larger anchor ; then a second chain cable and another anchor. All the time the paddles were kept working with their utmost power. Still, how- ever, such was the violence of the hurricane, that the vessel drove; but fortu- nately it did not last above fifteen minutes; at the end of which time our dan- ger was over and the vessel was safe.
"But what had become of our consort? I had seen her cross our bows,
" Euphrates Steamer, off Town of Allah, in tho River Euphrates, May Si, 1536.
"Poor Robert is no more ! he went down by my side, on the that of this month, in a dreadful storm that drove my vessel to the bottom in a few minutes, as we were running along, proud in leading the way, over the unknown stream, and confident in our vessel and the band around us. All was blighted in a few minutes ; and even yet, I can only look back with stupor to the dreadful event. Little did we think death was hovering so near. I saw the storm coming, and prepared for it ; but preparations were not of any avail ; it dashed us before it, amidst a cloud of sand, dark as midnight ; and cleft to fragment* by the racking lightning and echoing with the thunder that crashed all around us : man's puny hand was powerless, the blast was irresistible, and the darkness passed away to leave a sinking wreck. We sunk together : thrice was I dragged down by some sinking sailor ; and when I rose unencumbered from the last deadly struggle, nearly exhausted, I looked around in vain for Robert. A few minutes dashed me, clinging to the passing fragments, to the bank, where I climbed—not to find him—oh ! we had parted for ever, he was never seen more. I cannot go on. Suffice it to say, though I have lost all, the storm could not leave any stain on our name. The committee of officers, appointed as usual in such circumstances, give me, with eagerness, in their report to his Majesty's Government, full credit for judg- ment to meet and intrepidity to face danger, and avert it as became an officer; and those who remain to mourn for their lost comrades are as eager to soothe my loss, by testifying their belief that they were led through the danger by an officer whom the appearance of death did not divert from his efforts to save them. Twenty of my fine crew went down with Robert ; few, comparatively, were saved—not a third of the whole crew, which was above thirty-five in all; and when I was dashed to the shore, I had hardly breath to return thanks for may safety to the Power by whose hand alone I could have been saved."
Among those whose lives were saved are Colonel Chesney, Dr. Staunton, Mrs. Staunton, and Mr. Thompson.
driving down the stream, and unable to bring her head to the gale. The thick dust which then succeeded excluded her from my sight ; from that moment I have never seen her. In the midst of the hurricane, Mr. Fitzjames reported to me that he bad seen her upset to leeward about three-quarters of a mile, and instantly after that she went down. " The hull of the vessel has never been found, notwithstanding all our efforts. She filled and turned bottom up. All sounding has been vain. Some bodies• have floated even so low down as this place, and have been buried. " We have since continued our voyage thus far with our former success. The officers of the Tigris saved will return to England ; but the expedition continues its course with the fairest prospects."
Twenty of the crew of the Tigris, out of thirty-five, perished, be,. sides Mr. Sanded, an interpreter, Lieutenant Robert Cockburn, of the Royal Artillery, and Lieutenant Robert Lynch, of the Twenty- sixth Regiment of Bengal,—the " Robert " alluded to in the following affecting letter written by Lieutenant Lynch, the Commander of the Tigris.
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