Southampton, February 3, [1855].

By the Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamship Madrid we have accounts from Gibraltar of the 25th ultimo, confirming the news of the disaster to Her Majesty's steamship Hecla, Commander Hawker, on the 23rd ultimo. It appears that the Hecla was returning to Gibraltar from a cruise to the eastward, and at about half past four in the morning ran onshore on the eastern beach, the weather being very bad at the time. The captain immediately cut away the masts in order, if possible, to save the ship ; but, notwithstanding every effort, she remained stranded and in a very precarious position when the packet left.

The officers and crew, all of whom were saved, were busily employed in getting out the stores, &c., the weather being remarkably fine for this operation.

Shortly after the accident to the Hecla, the Sardinian brig Catterina, out 16 days, from Genoa, ran ashore off the Devil's Tower. She was laden with a general cargo, and had on board 174 passengers for Montevideo. The crew, with assistance immediately rendered from the shore, were employed to get out the cargo, which unfortunately shifted when the vessel struck, and crushed to death a number of the passengers. The passengers and crew saved from the unfortunate vessel were sheltered during the night in private sheds nest the eastern beach. It is believed about 13 persons perished on board, nearly that number of bodies having been recovered.

SG & SGTL Vol 12 ; Page 90 ; 14 May 1855

The Hecla was got on shore by assistance from the Caesar and Gorgon on Sunday, the 18th February, a 2.30 a.m., supposed to be but little damaged.

[Hecla sold in 1863, so it would appear that she was got off and repaired.]

SG & SGTL Vol 12 ; Page 103 ; 21 May 1855

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