The Sun.
London, England, 1863-05-15 00:00:00

THE SUN, -LONDON, - FRIDAY EVENING, MAY 15,- 1863.

THE LOSS OF THE ANGLO-SAXON.

By the Jura, which arrived at Liverpool on Wed-
nesday, we have received the following additional
particulars of the loss of the Anglo-Saxon :

STATEMENT OF WILLIAM WMASTER, CHIEF ENGINEER.

" the Anglo-Saxon left Liverpool with about 444
souls on board (comprising 48 cabin and 312 steer-
age passengers, with a ship's company of 85 souls)
on the 16th of April, at 6 p.m. Reached Moville,
near Londonderry, on the 17th. We had strong
westerly winds up to the 22d, and on the 25th made
field-ice; got through it safely on the 27th, expect-
ing to make Cape Race about noon on Monday, en-
gines going at a slow speed; very thick dense fog.
At 11 a.m. discovered breakers ahead. Orders were
received to reverse the engines full speed, and re-
versed them full speed. The ship then struck heavily
aft. Then ordered to stop and turn ahead full speed.
Did so. Gave orders to the second engineer to stand
by the bilge injections, and every man to stand to
his duty, which was done. Shortly after this the
water came rushing into the forward stokehole,
putting out fires and filling engine-room. By this
time the engines were stopped, and I eased the
safety-valve levers, and told the men that nothing
more remained to be done, and that they had better
be cool and save themselves. I then came on deck
and assisted in rigging out a studdingsail boom from
the ship's rail to an adjacent rock. Over this we
succeeded in getting ashore, and then by mears of
a basket, slung for a chair, we succeeded in getting
ashore the women and children. About this time
the ship began to break up. Numbers of the pas-
sengers and crew climbed into the rigging, leaving
also a large number on deck, all of whom were
drowned. The scene at this time was a dreadful one.
We could give them no further assistance, and many
attempted to save their lives by dropping into the
water, but were swept away by the surf. The ship
fell over to her port side, and broke completely up,
leaving those on board to the mercy of the
waves. We then despatched four of our
number to find the Cape Lighthouse station.
They returned with Mr. John Murphy, captain
of the Associated Press newsboat ; we went with
him to the telegraph station, and were there made
comfortable. During our stay near the wreck we
gathered sufficient wood to light a fire, and suc-
ceeded in getting about two ounces of bread for the
children, but the arrival of Mr. Murphy provided
us with sufficient shelter and food. To Mr. Murphy
for his extreme kindness I, for myself and compa-
nions, desire to return our most sincere thanks.
We shall never forget it, nor the large-hearted
liberality with which he took care of us and seemed
to anticipate our every inclination or want until we
were received on board the Bloodhound."

STATEMENT OF MR. WILLIAM dENKINS, PURSER.

"At 11 a.m., while going very slow, saw land
ahead. The ship was stopped and backed astern ;
she struck forward first, then her stern fell in upon
the rocks, striking heavily under the_ counter. I
went up on the poop, and then to the forecastle;
got a rope from the jibboom on the rocks, and tried
to get out a hawser, but before we could do so her
head fell off, and she came broadside on the rocks.
We then got a hawser fastened to the rocks from
the starboard fore gangway, and got the women
and children ashore by means of a basket, also 30
or 40 men. The ship was thumping very heavily,
and the water getting in forward and covering the
deck. The people were washed away and smashed
against the rocks. As the ship began to settle down
No. 3 boat, filled with the passengers, got foul of
the rigging, was upset, and all lost. The top of
the saloon then floated away with a lad upon it,
holding on to the capstan. Some of the people got
into the rigging, but went overboard with the mast,
except those in the mizen rigging, who succeeded
in getting away upon a raft. Three boats on the
starboard side also got away with some people in
them, but I soon lost sight of them in the fog, We
then succeeded in getting the women up the rocks,
and when they were all safe we sent men on in
both directions, north and south, to find the Cape
station. While these men were away we got the
remainder to go down to the wreck to save clothing
and provisiocs if any could be found for the women.
We found the foremast still standing, with about a
dozen upon ic, but the sea was so high we could do
nothing for them. The fog was still very dense.
We collected some broken wood, and sent it up to
make a fire for the women and children."

STATEMENT OF ASSISTANT-PURSER GILBERT LITTLE,

" At a quarter p,:st 11 yesterday morning, the ship
going at slow speed and the fog very thick, the cry
of breakers' was heard, and immediately after the
ship struck. the captain tried to back her, but the
vessel had slewed round, and there was a large rock
right under the stern, which prevented any chance
of backing and hemmed the ship in so that we could
not possibly get her off. When Capt. Burgess found
he could not get her clear he gave orders to get out
the bow anchors, so as to steady her where she was.
We were lying close in to the shore at the time, the
sea running high, and a rock between the ship and
the shore. We rigged a basket on a rope leading
ashore, and commenced to land passengers. The
bowsprit at this time was right over the land, and
three men managed to get ashore by it. While the
passengers were being landed on the starboard side
the three port boats were being launched, and almost
immediately a number of the passengers and crew
got into them and hauled off. We continued getting
the people on shore in the basket. At this time the
captain and officers did not apprehend any danger
of the ship going to pieces immediately, and we
worked away at landing the people nearly an hour.
The ship's forefoot was firmly fixed on the rocks,
but the stern was deep in water, and although the
ship rolled considerably we believed she would hold
together some hours. I went below to see the con-
dition of the ship. Found the water up to the orlop
deck forward, but no water in the bedrooms aft, and
felt satisfied that the ship would last for a few hours.
We had six boats altogether—three on each side.
The three port boats had get off partly laden.
We now lowered the aft starboard boat. It was
-so difficult to get this boat clear of the ship,
being on the shore side, that only five or
six persons were in her. The mail officer had
charge of this boat. He went off by the captain's
orders and brought back one of the port boats,
in order that she might take more passengers. The
two boats came alongside and were quickly filled
with passengers, chiefly women and children. We
were still landing the people in the basket. In the
meantime the water had begun to rise in the ship,
and she was slowly sinking. When we had got all
the ladies who were standing near into the boats,
and they had put off, Captain Burgess, who was
assisting me, turned away and said something, I
did not understand 'A hat. That was the last I saw
of him. The water was now washing over the
decks. I then leaped into the boat. The chief officer,
when the water was up to his knees on deck, jumped
overboard, and we hauled him in. At this time
the vessel was listing over so much to port that we
were afraid the masts and rigging would swamp
our boat. A great number of people were in the
rigging at this time, and we hauled our boat off to
clear the masts and rigging, and so as to pick up
any persons who might get into the water. But we
could not get near enough to pick up any, for the
masts were coming down fast enough upon the
water, the vessel having fallen almost entirely over.
It was now about a quarter to 1 o'clock p.m. The
three boats kept hanging round all the afternoon,
picking up a few persons, and then we put off to
find a landing-place. We went some 15 miles
noth, but could not land, and rowed about all night,
anxiously waiting for daylight. Just before dawn
we spied the tug, and three such hearty cheers as
we gave have not been heard for a long time in
that neighborhood."

STATEMENT OF MR. G. H. TEALBY, PASSENGER.
" I was on the deck when the ship struck. The
captain was on the bridge at the time, and or-
dered the engines to be reversed, which was done.
After a few revolutions of the screw she was brought
up by a rock. After some time I got into No. 6
boat, which I helped to lower, and into which got
19 passengers and two or three of the crew. The
vessel listed over so fast that we were in danger of
being smashed by the falling of the hull.
Searched for some time for a landing-place until
after noon, when
we fell in with the other boats,
and after spending all night on the water,