New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-11-28
LATER.
STATEMENTS OF TWO OF THE CREW.
From The Bo,ton Trareiier, Nor. 26.
sIAILMIAI OF IAMLs HIGGAN-

STATEMENT or JAMES BiGGAN.
Mr. James Biggan, third mate of the steamer Indian
arrived at this port last evening in the schooner Wave
Capt. Mcdonald, from Charottetown, having been
picked up by her al sea- with four Others from one oil
the boats Of the steamer Indian Mr. Biggan says that
the steamer experienced severe westerly gales the
most of the passage but sustained no damage worth
reporting She made Cape Race and from thence
took fresh departure, but the next day the horizon
was cloudy that observation could be obtained,
but the Captain feeling confident of his departure kept
on under full head Of steam.
On Monday morning the weather very dark
the Captain was on deck occasionally; the duties OF
the ship were conducted in the usual stylehat is one
watch was below, and the other was on deck no
danger was apprehended. About o'clock, however,
going at the of ten miles an hour she ran upon
sunken reef about two miles from the shore. She was
steering west al the time by the compass the chief and
third mates were the officers of the watch the sea out
side of the reef was smooth, and the wind moderate.
All bands were Immediately on deck, and the Captain
assumed command. He ordered the helm starbOard
and the engines stopped but the ship immoyabe.
She had run nearly her whole length aground.
Orders were then issued to clear away the boats, OF
which she had seven but in lowering them three were
stove alongside and rendered useless The third otcer,
Mr. Bigpan two seamen, John Bennett and John Furs-
land assistant steward Charles Barlow, and butcher,
James Cuttings got into boat No. q, and Kept her
alongside though half full Of water 70 receive pas
senoers She was supplied with oars and there were
four buckets in her for balng, but while clearing her
of water the line by which she was fast parted, and
she drifted seward.
In vain they tried to return to the ship, their boat
half full of water and only kept aOat by the AIR
compartments in her. Mr.. Bggan said he saw two
boats land but knew nothing OF the tate OF the thiId
Borne seaward by the current and swell those IN the
boat could still the steamer several hours, and
though we have later accounts by telegraph stating
that she had broken in two Mr.. BiRgan saw her mZ-
zen-mast standing four hours after she struck.
Considering the audiences OF the accident, and that
one watch rushed on deck Mr. Biggan says there was
very little confusion. Every order was promptly
ha a
hand and the passengers gave way 10 no iears. 1t
was the broken swell which swept over the reef that
DESTROYED the boats more than any miscaieualion IN
lowering them. >,
females in the after cabin and III IN the steerage.
Her crew, all told, numbered 20.
After remaining in the boat five hours, the schooner
Wave as already stated, picked MIS- Biggan and her
companions up All hands board treated them very
kindly and upon their arrival here the British Consul,
with his accustomed pronptness, supplied them with
clothing odgn&eand everything else they required,
and viii send theh home In the steamer canada, winch
sails next Wednesday.
The Indian Was fine iron vessel of $50 tuns, with
FIVE watertght bulkheads and had she not broken IN
two would not have sunk, unless all her compartments
bad been first stove.
her compasses. She had made the land the courses
steered were considered correct by the distance run,
and il was confidently believed, up TO the time she
struck that she at least 40 miles clear OF the land
his Was apparent bN inc ldNic AAlab cuC was
going at fall speed, that extra watch was ordered
10 lock out for land, and that the engines were Io1
stopped 10 sound The captain felt cure Of his poston
and must have been mised by error IN his eompases
Another boat with six women and two men, driiieu
10 tie southwark, out Of sight IN few hours, but was
not seen from the schooner Wave when the other ooa
was picked up. These are no doubt the two boats re-
ported az missing by the telegraph.
Tie sailors who arrived here say that they only 50"
one man drowned.
STATEMENT OF JOHN BENNETT.
John Bennett, one of the sailors rescued from tne
boat which drfted 10 sea, gives the following facts "
relation to the wreck. The steamship Indian ieiI
Liverpool on Wednesday, the 9th inst, with good
weather and westerly wind which continued Tor SIX
days.
The number of passengers on board the steamer
numbered eight or nine IN the cabin and 81 IN the steer
age. The numbered four officers, five engineers
sixteen remen twelve stewards and - sailors. They
had freight OF $50 or 30 tuns, mostly bale goods
The weather, although moderate, WAS hazy ana
thew did the but three or four times after
leaving Liverpool until they struck. The last tune
was ON Saturday, the 18th inst. At II O'Clock, md
night Of Sunday, the Captain saw light which DC
supposed 10 belong 10 a ship. .,
The mate went aIoff and reported that il was ahd
EQht and he supposed II 10 be the Whitehead Lign'.
The steamer going in q westerly direction al inc
time and the Captain ordered her 10 be headed away
a Point 20 the south. .,
There was fear at the time Of striking and only
the usual number CT men duty. AT Il eioeA,
Bennett who in his berth al the time, felt the
steamer suddenly rise, and heard crash. lie iune-
diately went on deck and lighted all the lamps siies