 The next morning , the schooner Lioness discovered one of the cutters , and after saving the occupants of the second boat made her way to the scene of the disaster . Arriving in the afternoon , she found 40 people still clinging to the rigging . It was reported that of the approximately 643 people aboard , only 193 were saved . Captain Edward WC Wright of the 91st Argyllshire Regiment was the most senior army officer to survive ; he was awarded a brevet majority for his actions during the ordeal , dated 26 February 1852 . 
