New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-02-11
DISASTER AT SEA.
Sinking Of Steamship Ella Marley
Rescue Of the Passengers and MOsI
Of the Crew.
Tx LIVES LOST IN TIE ENGINE.RO0M.
STATEMENTS or OFFICERS AND PASSENGERS

About hall past eight o'clock On Monday night
fearful disaster occurred at sea- ten miles sonth Of
the Highlands, resulting in the loss Of six lives ard
the sinking Of the steamship Ella Marley. The
steamship North Star, from New Orleans, came il
collision with the steamship Ella Marley, hence for
Havana, striking her about iailsl;ps, and sinking
her in fifteen minutes. The passengers were oil
saved but six OF the crew were lost. TIE ladies
had retired to their berths AMI were buried up on
deck, and hssteued into the boats in their night
clothes. st the time Of the accident the sea was
calm and the moon was shining brightly. From the
conflicting statements given By the passengers and
officers it Is difficult 10 determine p9ecisely where
the blame reefs. On one hand it alleged that the
cLief officers Of the Lila Marley had been drinking
freely, snd were not in proper condition TO manage
slip at sea- This report is r.outy denied By other
witnesses, who account for the apparent helpless
neqs and indifference of the captain snd some OF his
officers, on the ground that they were badly Injured
b. the wreck.
The rurser the pilot, tie chief mate, and one
two other persons from tho Ella Marley, state posi-
lively that all were perfectly SOBER and that no
officer OIL board the Ella Marley should be blamed
for tho dsaster as the lights Of the illia,ed vessel
were fully Set and the man a. the wheel exeded bis
beu; efforts to escape the collision with the Ncrih
Star, which came down, they allegs, upon her
with terrible crash, hitting her the Ella Wailey)
ariidships, and tearing half way through Der hull.
Tie bow OF the North Star is badly smashed, and it
is a wonder size did not sustain greater damage.
The Ella Marley had u cargo OF dry goods, pro-
visions, leather, hay, and large amount Of express
matter. The Adams Express Company had one
safe containing $780, and a passenger had in his
possession s. 900 in gold. Her cargo is valued at
sl75,OC0.
In order that the public may set at the facts, we
give the statements by eye witnesses on both sides:
FROM OUR SHIPMENTS REPORTER.
Oar ship.news re portermakes tie following report:
The steamship North Star, United States transport,
Capt. lie Fevre, from. New-Orleans jan. 80 VA Key
West 18th inst, with passengers 10 the United States
Quarerinaster, the 9th inst, at Or. NJ, of tie
woodlands, came in collision with steamer Ella
Marley, hence for Havana, striking her forward Of
the wheel on the starboard side, crushing in the
boilers and .he sank in - minutes.
Tie North Star lo.t her stem, and isleak.ns badly
The Ella Marley lies in seven faiboms water.
STATEMENT BY TIL STEWARD OF TIE NORTH
STAR.
Lat night, while steering on our course, we saw
the light of the Ella Marley two miles or; had sho
kent on the course she was ON then she would have
kent clear Of us. All 1t once when within 10 Yards
OF Us, sue changed her course and ran ACROSS cur !
bows. =,
"Our engine was stopped, and we were bacAiog .
at the time she ran into Us. Capt. Leeyre, OF tAe
North Slag, called cut to the Captain OF tue Lila
W:rev. and wanted to know il they were al crazy,
and then requested him 70 back his engine. bu; 10
attention WIS paid to his requests they kept on |
fnl mead O. steam. Tie moment that she struck our
ves.el Inc CAPTAIN lowered all lis boats and lay by
the Ella Marley until all were saved that could be
sayed The first Assistant Engineer and four fire.
men were lost. They were IN tue engine-rocn 81
the tine OF the accident.
The women and children Of tie Lila Warley |
were N bed ~ the im3 OF the accident, but were al
rescued and taken on bead the NcrtG STAR and com
torf.by provided fox 10 the saloons. a subscription
Amounting 70 about 500 WAS mAcc by lilo lasscn-
gers md officers Of The North sar, fer tue CeneAt oil
rbs women and CHILDREN. Among TIE passengers ,
were a French family, IN which were seven wciAen.
gentleman from Panama, wife ana 1--we Children, /
were also on board the Ella Marley.
I" the money contributed was gwen 20 me leulale J
passengers fos the purchase OF clothing. Auong
The nus sengers OF tho North S.ar were Calt. J. Al.
Walsh OF the cpper-ship Sparkling Sea, recently
wrecked on the bahanss, aud bis first oiiicer, Mr..
CUNNINGHAM; also, Caps. Coffee and Denisou oi
The L. y n, who were on the deck OF tie vessel
at the time OF the accident, AID they came 10 the
conclusion that there could have been 10 watch on
the Eta Marley or tho disaster Would not nave nap
Ientd.'
STATEMENT OF one or TIE LADY PASSENGERS
OF TIE Fila MARLEY.
4 lady, who arrived in tbs city only few nouns
prcvions to the sailing of the Ella Marley, whcm
our reporter conyersed with on beard the Nor'h
S,ar. payo the following account OF the disasters
"lne Ella Marley left this port on Monday after
noon nj ) o'clock AT about clock, when out oi
sight OF land we came III collision win the steamer
North Star. The latter struck her DOW lear tDe
etnr 5oard wheel % the Ella Marley. There were
ssout 60 persons on board the Ella Marley at
Ia. time; 80 were passengers aud tic others Were
crew. The ladies' Lad all retired ~ the tmc oil inc
collision. The b0ats were got GoWh hDmeaateiy,
AMI all were saved except hve OF the crew Tue lSt
assistant engineer and Tour liemen. ilese ANo in1
wee in the engne.room at the time OF the snOch,
and tho door having been suddenly closed upon 'hei
n il annoyed that they became confused ana Were
drowned in the general scramble for lie. IL was
ruInored that the Captain, George scHeheA, was
nndar ira influence OF sLmulans ut the tnle Oh tie
occurrence and that through his misliahageihehe
the DISASTER occurred. lie was put 10 pea as soon
as ma came on board the North Star, and lie dd not
,e, ND I'll this morning. Wnen no turned OUT III
Ibe morning he did not seem TO care ABOUT any per-
son but himself.
,,;,,,t.s fer She struck. When we went Oh board
,ne Ila Marley, we observed that liquor OF various
Sinds was being Piled rather too freely among Off
cars and crew 10 warrant safety at sea. We were
absolutely thrown into tue boats, leaving behind
everything We had-many OF us We're without even
stockings or dresses beyond what we left tho bed |
with.
"Our treatment on board this ship North |
star), by officers and passengers, has been
ell that we could expect. We have been enter
tanned with great care and kindness. The Ella
Va WA her IIa
North River Tor at leas. two hours previous TO