The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1859-12-08
Pie Loss of the Indian.--Fnll Particu.
lars...Scene of the Disaster.

Die Loss of the Indian..-Fnll Particu-
lars.--Scene of the Disaster.
Marie Joseph is settlement of few
houses at the head of a small bay, land
locked by low rocky shores and islands.
The waters around are full of reefs, rem,
dermg the navigation difficult at all
times, and in thick weather impossible.
A larger island than the rest, named
Barren Island, and having on 1T one
fisherman's hut, lies off the entrance to
the harbor. A reef or ledge runs from
that extremity of the Island consid-
cradle distance seward. II was on
this reef the Indian went ashore. Ac-
cording to accounts from Capt. Smith
and bis officers, they had been able to
take but one observation on the pas
sage out. On Saturday they sighted
Cape Race. The weather was cold,
and sleety, when they had run such a
distance as indicated they were APP
preaching the shore, Capt. Smith had
recourse to soundings, and kept the
lead constantly going. He states that
he was misled by his soundings, which
eorresponded closely with all those laid
down on the chart for the locality in
which he imagined he was, namely-off
Sable Island. The shock was not vio-
lent; the ship was going about eight
knots at the time. No breakers were
seen before the ship struck. The morn-
ing was dark, with sleet and hail driv-
ing from the land. Immediately after
the vessel struck it became apparent
that she was working so much that she
would go to pieces. Preparations were
accordingly made to lower the boats,
and Notwithstanding the remonstrances
of the Captain, many of the forward
passengers crowded into them. The
cabin passengers, eight in number, in
GLIDING three young married ladies,
were calm and selfpossessed. The Ia
dies, Mrs. Street, Mrs. Patterson and
Mrs. Melbrum, were accompanied by
their husbands and were saved. Their
boat went off the land, and they were
exposed for nine hours to the cold, with
gale blowing and heavy sea. About
half an hour after the vessel struck a
heavy roller came in, and lifting the
ship about six feet, let her fall on the
rocks, when she broke across the pad
die boxes into two parts the bow fell
over sideways, while the after part re-
manned entire. Several persons were
on the bow, but were rescued by pass
ing a rope over the chasm and hauling
them aft.
A singular incident occurred here.
An aged Irishman, who had consid-
cradle sum of money with him, had
been insane for a week previous, from
fear of being wrecked. He would fire.
quently pack up his apparel, and offer
any one money to put him ashore,
prophesying the ship would never reach
Portland. After the bow fell over he
was seen sitting on the forecastle deck
ladder, with his satchel in his hand ap-
parently unconscious or unable to take
advantage of the attempts made to save
him. In little time he fell from his
place, and slid across the deck into the
sea, where he was drowned, as he had
foretold week before.
Most of the loss of life occurred at
the time the ship broke across. Strange
to say not one of the dead bodies has
yet come ashore Mr.. Smiths (the
fourth officer) boat was driven thirty
miles along the beach before it made
the land. On landing, the passengers
were bestowed in the houses in the set
Element. The passengers complain Sc
riously of the natives for stealing. A
store, in viii, h was the baggage, taken
from the ship, was broken into and the
valuables stolen, leaving several of the
passengers literally without change
of raiment. The Gladiator took all
the passengers at Marie Joseph, and
the officers also, and brought them to
Halifax. Some had already left in a
coasting schooner.