The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-12-19
CITY INTELLIGENCE
SINKING or A SCHOONER-EIGHTL LIVES
LOST-A WAN SITS on TIE MAST
HEAD ALL NIGHT


SINKING or A SCHOONER-EIGHT LIVES
LOST-A NAN SITS ON THE MAST
HEAD ALL NIGHT
most terrible marine disaster took place yes
terday morning about three o'clock, in the bav Off
Five'Fathom Bank. At that point the shin Noon
day was lying loaded with guano and the schooner
Richmond, of this city, was engaged in tightening
the ship, to enable her to come up to the city At
eight o'clock on Monday night the Richmond, Cap
tain Chiveral, commenced loading, and bv two
o'clock, y. Nj, had one hundred tons of guano on
board She then left the side of the ship and had
moved about half a mile cut, when she sprung
a leak, and sunk in less than five minutes
Eight persons, among whom was Captain Chiv-
eral, were drowned. There were twenty-four aboard
at the time. Fifteen of them were saved in a vawl-
boat, which was only sixteen feet long. The safe
ty of the party in the boat was altogether owing
to the calmness and decision of Mr.. John Sten the
chief of the stevedores. Mr.. George Melville, pilot
was on board and sought safety in the rigging,
where he remained for four hours, when he was
rescued by Captain League of the steam tug Lion
ess, which was bound to the ship for the purpose of
towing her into port.
,,l,, When the schooner sunk, young named
William Hopkins son of Capt. Hopkins, living on
the corner OF Cough street and Chapel alley, was
asleep in the cabin. One of the men attempted to
go below to wake him, but was driven back by the
water, WHICH was fuSnlag furlOuSly into the
apartment Among the Others drowned, were JOS.
Scipher, John Wagner, William Elsesser, joseph
Kline, - SpachhOltz and - Schriner, and a
man whose name is unknown. Capt. Chiveral was
weIl-known as one of the most experienced pilots,
and was perfectly familiar with the waters of the
bay. He owned the Richmond which was
about nine years old, and was considered sea-
worthy. lie leaves wife but no children. Several
Of those who were drowned were men of families
which are left in destitute circumstances.
The following statements give q clear account of
the disaster
JOHN srrNE's STATEMENT.
Mr.. John Stine made the following statement.
1t was about halEpast three o'clock A. NJ when
Mr.. George Melville came to where the captaip
and were standing and he remarked, "captain
the schooner is sinking" One of the hands was
ordered below to coil away lines and in an instant
he returned and reported that there was two feet
of water in the hold. a few minutes before this
discovery was made the pumps had been tried and
all was found right. The leak must have been We
ry large, as the water in the hold increased rapid
y. The crew were called and we made aft, when it
was found that not moment to be lost, as the
vessel was sinking fast. The men commenced
jumping into the yawlboat, and in a few moments
it was flled,-nO less than twelve were in it. At
this point the schooner lurched heavily,
and the captain and myself, who were
standing near each other, both stepped
from the deck. As | went off l grasped the
schooner's painter, and, by it, swung myself into
the boat. Captain Chivral fell directly into the
water. | grasped for him, but could not reach
him, and the waves carried him away. As he was
struggling in the water, he turned to and said,
'John, bid my wife goodbye for me-" He was
unable to swim, but managed, for few moments,
to keep above water. | was extremely anxious to
save the captain, and the moment got in the boat
turned To get an oar to row towards him. but there
was not one in the boat. The current carried MS
rapidly away from him, and watched him struo
Cling in the water for few moments when he dis.
appeared. 1t not more than three minutes
from the time the water discovered in the hold
before the vessel sunk. There were twentv-four
persons on the schooner and when | swung into the
yawboat there were twelve in it. As the schooE er
went down, saw several of those who remained
on board spring into the water Two of them
came within reach of the yawl-boat, and
/ grasped first one and then the other,
and drew them into the boat Their names
are John Brun and Frank Elsesner. We drifted
rapidly from the wreck, and found that unless
some steps were taken by which the boat could be
steered, we would all perish. In this emer-
gency | tore up two of the top boards of
the bottom of the yawl-boat for the purpose of
converting them into oars. This was done without
much inconvenience, and in few minutes | was
enabled to give direction to the boat. The yawl
was only sixteen feet in length, and our weight