The Sun.
London, England, 1866-03-01 00:00:00

Total Loss of the Ship Palmerston.

Yesterday the following communication from her
Majesty's Consulate at Bordeaux was received by
Admiral Halstead, secretary of Lloyd's, reporting
the total loss of the ship Palmerston :—" Bordeaux,
Feb. 20.—Capt. Wm. Dougall, late master of the
British ship Palmerston, lost on her voyage from
Calcutta for London, has made the annexed sworn
declaration before us this day. He states that he
sailed from Calcutta on the 31st October last, with
a full cargo, bound for London. The voyage WAS
prosecuted with variable weather up to the 21st of
January, when bad weather set in, causing a heavy
sea, in which the ship laboured very heavily. The
weather continued bad, when about midnight a
terrific gale set in, causing the vessel to roll and
strain fearfully. On the morning of the 22d, the
pumps having been constantly attended to, it was
discovered the vessel had sprung a leak, as no suck
could be obtained from the pumps. The gale still
continued with a heavy cross sea, pumps continually
going. On the evening of the 23d the crew began
to complain of fatigue in consequence of the con-
stant labour at the pumps. Towards evening the
gale moderated, but heavy sea continued, ship
la-
bouring, and pumps going unremittingly. This state
of things continued, the leak appearing to gain on
the pumps. On the 25th the gale returned, ship
labouring, people constantly at the pumps. On the
26th, at daylight, a vessel was sighted ; all sails were
set to endeavour to reach her, and about noon the
captain was enabled to hail the ship Trois Sceurs, of
Cherbourg, and to request the captain to remain by
the Palmerston as she had sprung a leak, which was
steadily increasing. The French captain consented.
On the same day, at 3.30 p.m., the crew came aft
to the captain, and represented that they were so
fatigued by the uninterrupted work at the pumps
that they could hold out no longer ; but the captain
told them he was willing to remain by the ship and
take her into the nearest port if thervvould stand
by him. To this they replied that they were too
much fatigued to be able to do any more duty, and
that as the weather was again threatening, and as
probably by the next mornicg the French vessel
would have disappeared, it was madness to throw
away this chance of salvation. The captain then
desired all those that would not remain on board
to go over to the starboard side, which all hands
did, leaving the captain alone. The pumps were then
sounded, and 3ft. Sin. of water was found. A signal
of distress was hoisted, and the French ship imme-
diately bore up and hove to ; the boats were
got out, and the weather turning very wild the chief
portion of the crew were transferred to the French
vessel. About six p.m. the French captain sent
word to Captain Dougall to leave his ship imme-
diately, as it was growing dark and the weather
getting too bad for boats to live in such a sea. In
consequence, at 6 30 p.m., Captain Dougall and
the rest of his crew left the Palmerston, not, how-
ever, without again sounding the pumps and finding
upwards of sft. water in the hold. On reaching the
Trois Sceurs he requested the captain to remain by
the Palmerston all night, in order if possible to save
whatever stores they could, but early next morning
it was discovered that the Palmerston was on fire
from the mainmast forward. lie further states that
the conduct of the ship's company from the com-
mencement of the gale up to the rescue by the
French ship was most exemplary, and they one and
all exerted themselves to the utmost at the pumps
as well as in the general service of the ship." The
ship and cargo were fully insured at Lloyd's and at
the City offices. bier cargo consisted of 320 bales of
jute, 1,120 bales of jute cuttings, 111 bales of hemp,
1,134 cwt. of turmices, 160 tons of linseed, 600 tons
of rapeseed, and other India produce.