The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-10-09 00:00:00

THE STORY OF A WRECK.

The greater proportion of the cargo of the John
Tennant has now reached London. Very much of it is
not identifiable, and will be sold by auction, probably
in the course of the coming week. The steamer, it will
be remembered, in the early part of July stranded at
Cape Finisterre (says the Standard, from whom we are
quoting). The bottom between the middle and the
bow was broken. About the 10th of August she re-
mained in the same position, and hopes were enter-
tained of getting her off. About a week afterwards
the after part of the poop•deck and beams were
washed away; in tne course of a few days more
it was reported that the keel had been carried off from
the fore-foot to about 30 feet aft. A large hole of nearly
20 inches by 5 was discovered on the starboard side,
and an attempt was made to stop it up with Wedges.
Meanwhile the hope of floating the ship increased, as
her hull was still perfect. Before the end of August
the first attempt to raise her had ended unsuccessfully.
Nervertheless the salvors in charge did not lose all
hope. They discharged more of the cargo, in the
beginning of September. The rice and seeds remaining
in the hold had become a solid mass, broken with
difficulty, the rocks had penetrated through the
bottom of the steamer, the damage proved greater
than had been anticipated, and the hopes of saving the
vessel daily decreased. A few days since all hopes
were relinquished, and, as we intimated a day or
two ago, the wreck of a ship which had been worth
£50,000 was sold for £230. Of the cargo 1,000
packages were saved in good condition. These in-
cluded over 600 cases of indigo, seeds, coffee, con-
diments, bides, and cotton. The remainder was
under water. By the 17th of August the salvors had
recovered, and forwarded to London by the little
steamer Rosebud, 508 bales and 7 bags of cotton, and
4 bales of cotton goods; 123 bales of hemp; 215 bales
of tanned skins and hides; 52 cases of condiments;
2 cases and 1 baz of cardamoms; 160 cases and 184
bags of coffee; 550 bags of seeds; 21 chests of indigo ;
4 bales of deer-horns: 1,100 green hides; 5 cases of
handkerchiefs, and 95 bales of skins and leather.
There is a difficulty in the matter of sales in the
neighbourhood of the Cape. There is no market; it
appears, at Cortuina for damaged tea, coffee, rice,
rape seed, linseed, and pepper, and the Spanish
authorities refuse to allow goods of this description to
be sold anywhere in their district. All tberefore had
to be forwardedto London. A day or two ago the Chevy
Chase brought into dock 200 bales of cotton, 133 bales
of leather, 3 chests of indigo, 2 cases of cardamoms,
16 bundles of deer horns, 7 bags of iedia-rubbert79
bags of seeds, 162 balea of green hides, and ten pack:,
ages of sundries. There have been recovered six cates
of furniture, one containing a pianoforte .by Ooliarif
and Cellard, sold on the spot for rsomethingover 13
dollars. Some of the skins werelsoid in Lendrei on
Sept. 27, and the' inajority realiged- from is. id. to
2s. 10/d. per Nearly 500 were soki at Bs. 6d.- per
doz., and 2;578 at 2.55. per dozen. The value of the
, damaged cargo we do not know, but we understand
that that part of it which has beenconveyed to London
in the Chevy Chase is worth about, 25,000., The salvage
has been condudted by divers enii3loyed by underwriters
interested in the ship.