The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-10-18 00:00:00

COLLISION AND LOSS OF SIX LIVES.

/ Early on Saturday morning a disastrous collision
F
between steamers, by which six lives were lost, oc-
curred on the Clyde near the Clock Lighthouse. The
steamer Europa was outward bound from Glasgow for
Malaga with general cargo, and the steamer Roseville
was inward bound from Taganrog for Glasgow with
barley. When opposite the Clock the Europa ran
into the Roseville and the former steamer sank in
three minutes. Fourteen of her crew managed to
scramble on board the Roseville, but the captain,
engineer, and four of the crew were drowned. The
' Roseville had a large hole knocked in her starboard
bow, and to prevent her sinking she was run ashore.
Two minutes after the collision and before the Europa
sank, the crew of the Roseville lowered their jolly-
boat, and pulled about for an hour, but failed to pick
up any one. The mate of the Europa had his leg very
seriously injured in the collision, and one of the crew
of the Roseville was injured about the head. The
shore at Clock is strewn with wreckage, and one body
has been washed ashore. When the collision occurred
a number of the crew were below, and the body of the
man washed ashore is entirely naked. Most of those
rescued were also undressed, and had to be supplied
with clothing at the Gourock Coastguard Station,
whither they were taken on reaching shore. A tele-
gram on Sunday night states: "The steamer Rose-
ville lies still ashore on the beach near the Clock
Lighthouse, with a hole in her side measuring 18ft.
by 26ft. Lloyd's and other surveyors have visited
the wreck, but, so far, the engineers and others have
been unable to do anything towards floating the
stranded vessel. The boilers of the ill-fated Europa
exploded as she went down, and the fragments of the
vessel now strew the shore." Captain Joseph Dove,
of the Roseville, has made the following statement at
Greenock concerning the disaster: About 11.45
p.m. on Friday, steering N.E. half E., with
the Clock light one point before the beam,
distant about a quarter to half mile, I
noticed the masthead light of a steamer two
points on our starboard bow. This steamer showed
her red light. We were then abreast of the Clock
Lighthouse. I ordered our helm to be ported, which
brought our ships head to the east, and brought the 1
other vessel about two points on our port bow—that
is, we were showing our red light to her red light, she
being distant about three miles. I proceeded on this
course about five minutes, when the other steamer
suddenly starboarded her helm, showing her green
light and, as if wishing to pass inside of us, she con-
tinued this course till on our starboard bow, and if
this courM bad been continued the ships would have
cleared. We sweie then distant about ball a mile,
when suddenly, to my utter astonishment and dis May,
the steamer ported her helm, ?lowing both lights to
as. I immediately saw that a collision was inevitable,
and at once stopped the engines, blew the whistle
three times, and then gave orders to put the engine
full speed astern. I cannot positively say that the
engines had started astern before the collision took
place, so sudden was it. After showing both her lights,
my impression is that she starboarded her helm to
pass inshore of us, but found herself too close to the
lard, and afterwards tried, when it was too late, to cross
my bows and go outside of us, and by so doing the
collision took place, she striking my ship abaft the
stem on the starboard bow. We appeared to tear
into the steamer, and, seeing that she was in a sink-
ing condition, I stopped my engines and started easy
ahead to allow her crew to scramble on board of us,
shouting at the same time for all hands to get on
board my ship. I then ordered my own crew to put
out our bcat, which was done instantly, and before
the other veizel had sunk it was on the water ready
manned to proceed to her. I also ordered the life
buoys to be thrown over, my chief officer taking two
up to the forecastle head, but he found we were some
distance from the ill-fated ship, and did not throw '
them over. I then ordered the carpsnter to sound.
He reported 6f t. of water in the forehold. As my
ship was rapidly sinking I started the engines full
speed ahead, and ran for the beach. The crew of
the other vessel, which I now found to be the steamer
Europa, from Glasgow, seemed panic-stricken. They
came on my bridge and seized the two remaining life-
buoys, thinking we would sink also, and it was with
the greatest difficulty I could get them to
assist my crew in putting the remainder of
the life-boats in the water. As soon as we
were beached I mustered the crew of the
Europa to see if any were missing, and then I found
that the captain and four of the crew were missing.
My boat was at this time plying about the scene of
the disaster to render assistance. This boat returned
in about three-quarters of au hour, but none of the
missing could be seen. After coming back the second
mate of the Europa, along with one of my officers,
returned to the scene of the disaster and searched
again, but without avail. I then ordered the crew of
the Europa to be landed, fearing my ship would turn
over into deep water. This I did to prevent confusion
in case of further accident. I then ordered my own
crew ashore, retaining only those necessary for the
working of the ship. As the water was coming
, through the stoke-hole bulkhead and gaining in the
engine room I told the mate of the Europa,who was about
to proceed to Greenock, to send assistance, but shortly
after he left a tug-boat came down to us. I went to
Greenock and reported the matter to the police
, authorities, returned with a tug-boat to my ship, and
took my own crew, with their traps, to the Sailors'
Home, Greenock. I may add that my chief engineer,
during the whole time, behaved in a highly praise-
worthy manner. When the water was rushing in he
stuck to his post., and obeyed my orders rigidly. My
chief officer also rendered most efficient service, and
did his duty calmly and intelligibly."
One of the survivors, George Goodall, able seaman,
of the Europa, states that they left the Tail of the
Bank at a late hour on Friday night with a crew of 19,
all told, and though the weather was rather rough, all
went well until the Clock Lighthouse was reached.
He was on the deck engaged coiling ropes, when he
heard a general shout of alarm, and lookin ahead
saw the Roseville bearing down on the Europa's star-
board side, and before another quarter of a minute
had elapsed there was a terrible crash. He was so
excited that he did not know what to do at first, but
seeing that Mackintosh, the man on the look out, had
got jammed between the broken rails of the Europa,
he sprang forward and caught him, and dragged him
out of the bow of the Roseville. Mackintosh was
almost insensible from the effects of deep flesh wounds
on his legs. As he saw the vessel was going down he
went up the rigging, and was seized by the collar by
Mackintosh, who also had mounted the rigging and
they both succeeded in jumping into the Roseville, the
bow of which was jammed in the Europa's starboard
side. Fourteen of the Europa's crew also succeeded
in jumping on board the Roseville before the Europa
went down. As the water filled the Europa there
was a sudden and loud hissing sound, and a slight
report as if the boiler had burst.

If others misfortunes deterred men from pushing
ahead over the beaten path, few successes would be
won.

_
M. GLADSTONE AND MR. E. CLARKE, M.P.—Mr.
Gladstone's attention having been drawn to the fact
that Mr. Clarke had charged him with errors in his
financial statements, the following reply has been
received: "Sir,--Mr. Gladstone, who duly received
your letter, desires me to inform you that he is pre-
pared to stand firmly by the figures he used in his
speech at Edinburgh as against those which Mr.
Clarke has been using in his endeavour to dispute the
accuracy of Mr. Gladstone's calculations, and which,
so far as Mr. Gladstone is aware, have not had the
.tdovantage of being checked by financial authorities,
am. sir, your obedient servant.- E. W. HAMILTON.

ROBBERY OF THE TURKISH NAIL
•••••••••
The following despatch was forwarded to the Net;
York Herald, New York, on Monday, from its corre-
spondent at Varna:
"Very great excitement prevails here in Govern-
ment circles, owing to a most audacious robbery that
was successfully accomplished here on Monday last.
The Turkish mail from Bagdad was attacked near
the Zgorge Sakarich range of mountain, some forty
miles from Ismid. According to the official report,
the escort fought bard, but were taken unawares.
The horses were shot down by the brigands, who were
lying in ambush, and they eventually overpowered
the escort. The entire freight was captured, one
mail-rider and two Zatiehis being killed, while several
others were seriously wounded. The brigands made a
grand haul, the Government loss alone is believed
to be no less than £60,000, consisting of tithes, re-
mittances, and accounts,' while private losses amount
to about £2OOO. One of the mail-riders succeeded in
escaping, and it was he who carried the news to Ismid
the following day. The Sultan was very much exas-
perated at such an occurrence happening so near
Constantinople, and issued orders immediately on
receipt of the news for the despatch of a large body of
cavalry to follow in pursuit of the brigands and, if
necessary, to follow them across Asia Minor. Three
hundred troopers left for Ismid on Wednesday night,
but as yet no captures have been reported. The
attack was so well planned that the existence of col-
lusion of Government officials with the brigands is
strongly suspected. The pursuing party found several
dead horses and mules on the scene of the struggle,
but iiithout finding any trace of human bodies.