Accounts have been received from Greece announcing the most appalling deaths of Lieutenant Michael Breen and ten men of the Ganges, 84, at Salamis Bay. Lieutenant Breen (who was promoted from mate of the Dragon, steam-frigate, on the Queen's visit to Ireland) and sixteen men, were sent from the Ganges in the pinnace for water. It came on to blow hard, and the boat having shipped some seas, the sail was lowered to take in a reef, when if was supposed the pinnace was swamped.

The following is a narrative of the disastrous affair

The pinnace of the Ganges, in command of Lieutenant Breen, with Mr. Chatfield, midshipman, and sixteen men, had been sent ashore at the Piræus, and about four o'clock in the afternoon of January 31, she left the shore on her return to the ship, laden with water. Upon getting out of the harbour the breeze was found to be much stronger than they expected, and they shipped water at both bow and stern of the boat. Lieutenant Breen, under these circumstances, ordered the sail to be lowered. They attempted to reef the sail, intending to wear with the view of returning to the Piræus, but she rolled go much, and shipped such a quantity of water, whilst in the act of reefing, that eventually she filled and turned over about half past four o'clock, just half way between Her Majesty's ship Queen and the east point of the island of Lypso.

Lieutenant Breen, Mr. Chatfield, and two men, immediately struck out for the shore, and Mr. Chatfield has stated that he saw the remainder, except two, quit the boat at different periods to follow Lieutenant Breen and himself. Those who reached the small uninhabited island of Lypso were of course drenched to the skin, and passed the first night without shelter of any kind, the gale having increased, and the cold having become so intense as to freeze their clothes.

The next day the party assembled together was Lieutenant Breen, Mr. Chatfield, and ten of the men, but they were joined at day break by one of the men who was left clinging to the boat, and who had remained there for no less than twelve hours, supported by the vain hope that be would be picked up ; and, strange to say, notwithstanding his sufferings for this time in the water, and his subsequent privations ashore, he was in a better condition when found than any of his companions in misfortune. They could see the fleet from their position. and endeavoured to attract attention by hoisting signals of distress - namely, a pocket handkerchief and a shirt hoisted on an oar, but no relief came, the " look-out " on board the nearest ship not having descried the signals. They passed the day in alternate hope and despair, the cold increasing in intensity ; and during this time Lieutenant Breen, perceiving that one of the men appeared to suffer very much, nobly divested himself of his coat, and gave it to him to put on. It would appear that about seven o'clock Lieutenant Breen separated from the others, and was not seen after that time by any of the survivors, who took shelter in a cave, and were there at length discovered in an almost torpid condition.

Meanwhile on board the Ganges it was supposed that they had not ventured from the shore, the gale having increased to such a height that the ships had to strike their lower yards and topmasts ; but Captain Smith, finding from Lieutenant Dunbar, who returned late on the night of February 1, that the pinnace was not in the harbour, he sent that officer at daybreak of the 2nd February to ascertain what had become of her. Lieutenant Dunbar was passing the island of Lypso in his search, when he first discovered the boat on the rocks turned bottom up. A fearful apprehension of the fate of his shipmates then induced him to land, and the result was, as we have stated, the rescue of Mr. Chatfield and six seamen from the cave. Subsequently parties were despatched in all directions on the island, when they found the dead body of Lieutenant Breen on the upper part of the island, under a bush, and also the bodies of five other seamen who had likewise perished from hunger and cold.

The men are said to have behaved remarkably well under the trying circumstances, and would in all probability have contrived to reach one of the ships had not the gale continued for twenty-four hours. Mr. Chatfield and the survivors were doing well, and every one was astonished that they held out so long. Poor Lieutenant Breen and the gallant fellows who so miserably perished with him were buried on the ill-fated island.

The Commander-in-Chief was much affected with the horrible circumstances of the deaths of so many men, and has issued an imperative order against carrying too heavy a press of sail in ships' boats.

SG & SGTL Vol 7, p 171.

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