The Sun.
London, England, 1867-11-15 00:00:00

Serious Collision at Sea.

A small Dutch schooner named the Pavidette, '
150 tons, Captain Putts, landed at Queenstown 45
persons, consisting of seamen and passengers of
two vessels which had been in collision at sea. The
Pavidette was outward bound from Glasgow, with
a general cargo, for Berbice, and on Wednesday
morning last, about six o'clock, when between 9 and
10 deg. W. and 50 deg. N., Captain Potts saw sig-
nals of distress flying from a small boat with a num-
ber of persons in it, and also from a large French
ship which lay close to her. He bore down imme-
diately to render assistance, and it was found that
two ships had been in collision, a French vessel sur-
viving., while the captain and crew of the other ves-
el, which had foundered, were in small boats close
by. The lost ship proved to be the Esmok, 854
tons, Captain M'Kee, which left Liverpool on
Saturday, the 2d instant. She was bound for Cal-
cutta with a cargo of salt, and with a fair wind
all went well till late on Tuesday night, when
about 180 miles S.W. of Cape Clear. Then it
commenced to blow a gale from the S.S.E.,
and Captain M•Kee found it necessary to shorten
sail. He remained on deck till half-past four the
next morning, and, seeing his ship all right, and
finding the gale moderating slightly, he went below
to have som: sleep. Ile was not long in his cabin
when he heard a shout from the look-out of " ship
ahead." He ran on deck, but before any attempt
could be made to prevent it, the two vessels were in
collision, the Alma, which was the name of the other
ship, fastening in the fore chains of the Esmok. It
was blowing hard at the time, and, as may be
imagined, the shock was fearful. The utmost con-
sternation prevailed for some time on board both
ships. The Esmok was cut down almost to the
water's edge and she began to fill quickly. The
Alma got entangled in her stays, and the wind blew
her round till she came side by side with the Esmok.
The wind continuing to blow freshly, and there
being a heavy sea on, the former thumped heavily
on the Esmok's starboard quarter, starting
the planks of the latter even below the
copper. 'The Esmok now commenced to make
more water, and there appeared to be no chance of
saving her from foundering. All this time the crew
of the Alma were rushing about the decks in a
frantic manner, having apparently lost all presence
of mind. They made no attempt to clear their ship
of the wreck, which was fast sinking, and indeed to
this oversight, if it may be called one, the safety of
the Esmok's crew is attributable, because if she had
not been so firmly fixed to the French vessel she
would have foundered much sooner. Captain
M'Kee had the pumps o.e. his ship sounded, and it
was ascertained that in four minutes she had leaked
14 inches of water. At this rate the vessel could
not float long, and on a subsequent sounding the
leakage was found to have increased. Captain
Al'Kee and the carpenter were slung down the side
of the ship, and found her planks all started, indeed
in such a state as left no doubt of unseaworthiness.
The captain, seeing nothing else for it, ordered the
boats to be lowered, and having taken as much
provisions and fresh water as they could lay
hands on, the crew got into them, Captain
M'Kee being the last man to leave the ship. Cap-
tain Moniere, the master of the Alma, then cut
away the rigging which fastened the ships to-
gether, and the Esmok fell clear of her, foundering
in about eight minutes. She first went down
at the stern, and before her bow had disappeared
under the surface of the water her fore-head decks
were blown into the air. Shortly after this a vessel