The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-02-12 00:00:00

THE WRECK OF THE "BOHEMIAN.",

On Sunday night the steamer Bohemian was wrecked
in Dun.lough Bay, near Crookhaven. She lay on
Mizen Head, and was atetal loss. The second officer
and 20 seamen were saved, but at the time were too
exhausted to give particulars. Two other men were
on the island, but could not be got at. A portion of
the cargo, consisting of cotton and bacon, went adrift.
The Bohemian was on a voyage from Boston, United
States, for Liverpool, having left the former port on
the 27th ult. The crew numbered in all 54.
The following additional particulars have been
given :—On Tuesday there was nothing to mark the,
scene of the wreck of the Bohemian beyond the wreck-
age which was washed ashore in large quantities. The
masts have entirely disappeared. It is now ascer-
tained that 35 persons belonging to the Bohemian
perished, and another victim was added to the death.
roll,' a man, while engaged in snatching up waifs
from the ill-fated ship, being drawn in by a sea and
drowned in the presence of a number of persons, who
were unable to render assistance. Among those
who went down with the ship were W. M. Grundy,
master ; James Rennie, first after ; Walter Saunders,
third officer; Edward Thomas, fourth officer ;
Allen Dunsmore, chief engineer; Mr. Hastings,
second engineer; Mr. Voce, engineer. The fourth
engineer, whose name is not known, was also among
the lost, with Quartermasters James Mulligan, James
Whitman, and Browne. Invalided sailors, who were
sent from Boston by the British-Consul were also
drowned. The crew consisted of 49, all told ; but there
were, in addition, four men engaged in the refrigera-
tors on board, one cattle driver, the two invalids, and
one stowaway—in all 57 souls. The news of the dis-
aster reached the Coastguard station at Rock Island,
opposite Crookhaven, at half-past one in the morning.
The information was brought by a resident at Mizen
Head, who, having heard the steamer's whistle going,
suspected something was wrong. When the Coast-
guards reached the place, it was so dark and thick that
nothing could be seen. At daylight the topmasts were
observed over water, near Caher Island, on the
southern point of the Mizen Head. This island is sepa-
rated from the mainland only by a deep and narrow
ravine, into which the sea rushes with great force. Just
outside the island are two rocks rearing themselves
about 15it. above water, and extending from them
the reef upon which the Bohemian struck. To the
larger of these two rocks two men were seen clinging
for hours, apparently beyond human aid. The people
became excited and seemed not to know what to do.
They could not launch their boats owing to the surf.
The two ill-fated men seemed to be no pther than the
master and his first officer. At half-past two o'clock
word was sent to the coastguard station for the rocket
apparatus. By the time this arrived it was late in the
evening, and probably the two men were drowned.
The apparatus would have been of no service even had
it been there before, on account of difficulties of the
place and the distance. of the men from shore.

THE LABOUR MARKET.-With the improvement in
the weather, the outdoor trades have resumed their
activity. Employment in the London engineering
and iron trades is very good, as the work is being
prepared for the alteration and enlargement of the
bridges over the Thames. At a meeting of the
engineers of the Tyne, held at Jarrow on Friday, it
was resolved to apply at once for a rise of 15 per cent.
in wages. The Clyde shipbuilders have agreed to
comply with the demands of the men for an advance
of 7i per cent. At Leeds the engine works keep up
the activity recently reported, and most firms are still
well off for orders. The machine and tool trades are
steadily improving, and some firms are working full
time. The cloth mills are working full time, and
the felt mills about five days per week, the latter
being an improvement upon the haul lately werked,

ACCIDENT INSURANCE IN ENGLAND
AND GERMANY.

The Birmingham Daily Post observes that the re-
sponsibilities created by the English Employers'
Liability Act are capable of falling with great
severity on individual employers, because it is con-
ceivable that under its provisions a single man or a
single firm may become answerable for the con-
sequences of a gigantic catastrophe, involving
an expenditure for the relief of hundreds of suf-
ferers. No such case as this can arise under the
German scheme, for all employers will contribute
alike, whether accidents happen at their own works
or not, and their separate payments can amount
only to a moderate sum, though creating a total
adequate to the purpose. The plan, in fact, will
constitute an aceident relief fund, such as has been
often projected, and in some imperfect manner carried
out, in this country, for the protection alike of
masters and workmen, and for the prevention of the
injured workmen becoming dependent on public
charity for their compensation.