The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-02-15 00:00:00

LOSS OF THE "NORTHFLEET."

In reference to the .Ifuriffo, "An Occasional Cur.
respondent" of The Times, writing under date, Madrid,
Feb., says :

_
The chief engineer of the Murillo. Mr. Giles Bethel], be-
longs to Painswick, tilmmeater. lie testifier that, after
leaving London, the skewer proceeded to Antwerp, which
port she left on the 21st ..f Jmuary. They took shelter in
Flushing that night, proceeded the next morulug (22nd) on
their voyage to Lisbon, (a...1z, to. At I) or, they landed
their thann,l pilot nod their captain, don Pasciusl Mare,
Rho was ILL The chief officer, Don Felipi hands, as-
slimed command and they stood out to sea The chief
engineer was at this time below &Mending to the engin, s.
They worked full speed 1111 +Omit ten p.m , when he
r,ceive 1 orders to go at hall-speed. In half an hour or so
the speed wits still further reduced. They were going under
easy steam till about 19.45, when suddenly he received orders
to stop and reverse his engines, which he did Instantly. Next
moment he felt the steamer strike something, hilt down in
the engine-room the shock did not appear to ldm very severe.
lie Illsfieti on Seek, and saw that they had conic int., coltiston
Wlth to largo chip ahead. lie nw diatinclly that she had a
very brilliant light burning at the beta of the form se!,
and she appeared to be siding at anchor. Instantly
returning, as was his duty, to the engine-room, he MAW
nothing more of what was prising on deck. The next
mo-nent he received orders to put no easy speed, and
they c.ntintred at that Pace all night, not stopping till the"
arrived at Portland the next, morning. Mr. Bethel felt they
ought to have stood by the other ship till they had seen
whether Cary had dune any damage or not. Soon alt, r the
cilbilon he spoke to the captain on the subject, and the latter
remarked that he did not believe they had done much injury
to her. 110 thought they bad struck her somewhere about
the chains, and, after carrying away the beam to which they
were attached, had sheered gently off. 'They did not com-
municate with the shore at Portland, but left when the
weather moderated, and in due than arrived at Lisbon, from
Web place, without landing any clrgo, they proceeded to
Cada, winch they reached on the 301 h

" Mr. William Gunder°, of Wandsworth, Surrey, the
secood engineer, was off duty at the moment of the collision,
and in hie state-room on deck talking to Mr. Bell, the
passenger, som shared the room with him Be confirms
ad Mr. Bethell's details IN to the movements of the
steamer tip to the moment of the collision. Ile says of
the latter Unit his attention was attracted by sudden
Loin. and bin-tie on deck, lie had just time to cry
out to Mr. Bell, the passenger, who was undressed ha
hie berth, 'Look out ! We are ving into a chip' when
he fell the stuck, which jerked Mr. Bell out of the
berth. Melling to the deck, he found they had
atrunk the ship on the starboard side. She appeared to
be a long ship, with painted ports, elute figurehead,
and hut her businswit light Introiug brightly Mr.
Goode re cortutiorates the fact Hist at the moment of the col-
lision the engines had been reversed, and they were going
slowly. The ship was ba sight for tour minutes afterwards.