06/02/1858 - 15/05/1858

The Stately.- Captain Wycherly has again arrived in command of the above vessel, having made the passage from the Downs in 96 days, during which time the usual weather for the season of the year has prevailed. On the 10th May some boisterous weather was experienced accompanied by a heavy sea, which broke on board, and stove some of the bulwark planking. Melancholy Occurrence.- During the passage of the barque Stately, from London, an incident occurred which resulted in the death of one of the apprentices, names William Waters. From the particulars entered in the official log, it appears that on March 6 in lat.4°S., long.23°14'W., some severe thunder squalls were experienced, and the unfortunate lad was on the royalyard furling the sail, when he fell overboard. An alarm was at once given, and a lifebuoy thrown close to the lad. The quarterboat was immediately lowered, and the vessel brought to the wind; but after scanning in every direction, the officer in charge of the boat returned without having recovered the unfortunate boy, who thus met an untimely end. It is supposed that he must have been struck dead by the electric fluid, as he made no exertion to reach the lifebuoy, which was close to him when last seen. Register 17/5/1858