“ No event which for a long time has occurred, produced such a strong sensation of horror and sympathy, as the loss of the Comet Steam-boat, at the time it happened:—and there is no doubt but the narrative of that occurrence will continue to excite a deep interest for a long period to come, from the distress and anguish it occasioned, by the loss of relatives, and friends in many a remote comer of our island. ”

“ Her deck was crowded with people, who simultaneously pressed forward to the part of the vessel nearest the Ayr. At first no cries were heard, but in probably two minutes after he had got up, a shriek of despair was sent forth, and almost instantaneously the Comet disappeared.
On board the Ayr, from the time of the collision, the master, enginemen, and crew, were panic-struck. The engine had been instantly stopped, and the master and crew had collected on the forecastle, the former wringing his hands, and indicating that their immediate death was inevitable. ”

“ In this direction the Comet had been when she disappeared, and consequently, had this advice been taken, it would have, in a few seconds, brought the Ayr to the very spot where many of the sufferers must have been struggling for life. He likewise urged that they would put up lights as signals of distress, but all his remonstrances were unheaded. He then shouted as loud as he was able, in the hope that he might be heard on shore, and that boats would put off to their assistance; and in effect it was this alarm which brought off the boat that saved seven of the Comet’s people. ”

“ A gentleman who was on board the Ayr, remarked, that when the water came in contact with the furnace of the Comet, a sudden blaze of mingled flame and steam threw a momentary glare of red light over the sinking vessel and the devoted crowd (illegible text) her quarter-deck. There were three ladies and four gentlemen, cabin-passengers, (illegible text) the Ayr, and about a dozen people in the steerage. ”

“ In his state he was seized by the engineman of the Comet, who held him so closely, that he found it impossible to disentangle himself. They were on the point of sinking, when they fortunately came contact with the packet’s yawl, which was floating about, keel uppermost, with several individuals clinging to it. In consequence of their struggles, the yawl righted, when they got into it, though it was full of water. Being without oars they were unable make any effort to gain the shore. They remained in this situation about twenty minutes, when a pilot-boat discovered them. ”

“ About two o’clock the Comet was off Kempoch Point, a headland on the south side of the river, between the Cloch Lighthouse and the village of Gourock, and close to which vessels bound for Greenock usually steer. The important precaution of displaying a light had been neglected; and a jib-sail was set, which, in a great measure, precluded any person but the man on the lookout from seeing directly a head. Captain McInnes, according to the most credible statement, was on the cabin-deck, conversing with such individuals as were near him. ”

“ As the morning advanced, the village filled rapidly with strangers, anxious to learn the extent of the accident and names of the sufferers; and a picture of unprecedented agitation and bustle was soon exhibited. ”

“ Several law-papers (leases, &c.) belonging to Mr Rollo were found in a good state of preservation, and the crockery-ware in the steward’s cabin was in general found uninjured. Sunday being a beautiful day the wreck was visited by a great number of people from Greenock and the neighbourhood. In the evening gentleman counted 1130 passing his house from Greenock to Gourock within an hour, and the number who visited the spot where the Comet was drawn from the water is estimated to be little short of 10,000. The vessel itself is a perfect wreck ”

“ It is a remarkable circumstance that the body of a female found floating from the wreck on Tuesday, is supposed to be that of Mr McDonald of Borrodale's cook-maid, was in a better state of preservation than any other yet found ”

“ Sutherland and Mr. Alister. Betwixt this period and the 11th November; six bodies have been found; which, with eight individuals known to be amissing, produce the melancholy amount of sixty-five persons drowned, and out of the whole passengers and crew, only thirteen have been saved.
After the 28th several days of stormy weather having interrupted the trawling, arrangements were made for raising the Comet; an operation for which the relatives of persons missing were most anxious, (illegible text) which was not at that time effected. ”

“ Another, and we believe a latter report, mentions that about £1000 (since found to amount to £632 13) notes of different banks has been found in the late Mr Rollo’s box with his journal; Capt. Sutherland’s sword, his military cap, and his lady’s silver tea-pot; case containing a fowling piece, with the necessary appendages, the property of the late Mr McAllister; the captain’s gold watch was found in his bed, and a box containing a considerable sum of money. ”

“ The vessel herself is so complete a wreck that she must be broken up; she can never again float. It re (illegible text) cts much credit on the ingenuity of Mr Brown that succeeded in bringing her ashore. Both stem and stern are quite smashed, and the deck planks torn up. This must have been chiefly by the chains last winter, the first attempt to raise her.
The copper boilers have collapsed in a surprising manner, and, as boilers, are useless. The sudden condension of the steam must have produced a vacuum and the pressure of the surrounding water on the outside caused this effect. ”