The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-11-05
Thursday Morning, November 5. 1868.
Shipwrecks and Ocean Currents near Cape
Race, N. +.

RdCcs Ne
1t will be remembered by our readers that
on Monday evening, Oct. IA, the Cunard
steamer Africa, Capt. Stone, from Liverpool
for Boston, struck on Cape Race, and was so
severely damaged that she put into St. Johns,
N.F., for repairs, and her passengers and mails
were forwarded by another vessel. The St.
Johns Daily News said of the affair:
From all we can learn. the Captain ,vas not
dcdre Of his proximity 10 the land and
it seems to us a most miraculous affair that
the vessel ever survived to reach port
1t is also within the fresh and painful recol-
lection of many of our readers that the steam
ship Anglo-Saxon, commanded by Capt Bur-
CESS, only few months previous, was lost on
or near the same spot which came SO near
proving the last resting place for the Africa.
Capt. Burgess had many friends in this city,
bis wife was a Portland lady, she and her fam
lily connections now reside here, and they will
read with special interest any fact or theory
which serves to clear up that terrible catas-
trophy by which noble ship was destroyed
with her valuable cargo, and SO large por-
tion of her more precious freight of human
sous-including her gallant commander =
found watery grave. To this end we copy
from the st. Johns Day-Book of Oct. 18th,
the following article:
The late very narrow escape of the Africa
from total destruction near Cape Race calls TO
mind the melancholy catastrophe which befell
the Anglo-Saxon a few months since. and
ireshens the thought prevailing among those
VINO nave given attention TO the circumstan-
ces, that the memory of the late Capt Bur-
CESS has been most unjustly dealt with. In
endeavoring to ascertain the cause of the An
gio-Saxon's loss, it will be remembered that
we stated in this paper our impression that
the loss was occasioned by an unusual setting
OF the current to the Northward. instead of
to the Westward, the usual course of the cur
rent In that locality the greater part of the
year. We argued that Capt. Burgess was
thereby deceived, he having supposed himself
TO be some nineteen miles to the Westward of
the Cape when he struck. Had the current
followed its usual course at that season of the
year, the terrible catastrophe referred to could
not nave occurred. There is no room to doubt
that Capt. Burgess believed, as he was justified
IN dong, that he was carrying the current
with him. Instead Of that however, his vessel
was being gradually thrown toward the
shore, and before the slightest question could
have arisen in his mind as TO his exact posi-
tlon, the Anglo-Saxon had struck the rocks.
Webased our conclusion regarding the change
OF current upon the facts that pieces of the
wreck were picked up the next day some miles
to the Northward of where the Ship struck.
and that the body Of a child was taken from
the water twelve miles this side of Clam Cove
on the morning following the CATASTROPHE
These facts seemed to furnish sufficient ground
1or our opinion that the current. through some
cause which now more and more deserves
consideration, instead OF following its usual
Southerly course, had taken contrary direc.
ton, carrying the Anglo-Saxon and so many
OF her passengers to death.
We remember that, shortly after giving ex-
preston 10 these views, they were regarded as
absurd and ridiculous, and we think SO pro-
nounced by high authority through the
fress. In little while Capt Orlebar's re-
port touching the cause of the catastrophe was
iaid before the public, that gentlemen i'm strong
terms denouncing the careessness of Cant
Burgess, and suggesting that it beloved the
owners OF the Canadian steamship line to be
more careful in their selection of officers.
we regarded this assertion at the time as
most uncalled for, and the inference 10 be
drawn from it as affecting most injiiriously The
reputation of Capt Burgess The experience
OF the past few months has proved that the
Anglo SaXon's loss was not the result of care
iessness on the part either of her commander
or her officers, and therefore we are not dis
posed to permit false views on the subject n
remain current.
we VIII not say just now exactly how many
ocean steamers have been lost, or come near it.
lh the nelghborhood of Cape Race the past
season. The number may have been two or
twenty. 1t is sufficient for our purpose to
point to the miraculous escape of the Africa.
capt. Stone is well known as one of the most
careful commanders in the service of the
Cuhard Company-the most successful steam |
ship line 10 the world. This gentleman has
pretty generally given Cape Race wide
berth, seldom stopping either to receive or |
put on shore the usual news dispatches. |
Sounding is systematically and thorouohIv |
conducted on board his ship, and all the nrc.
cautions taken that it is possible for com
mander to avail himself OF. And yet = not
withstandng the fact, too, that not many |
nours before striking the Africa spoke the
emma - his vessel finds herself against the
rocks not far from the scene of the Anglo
Saxons wreck The Africa is wooden ship.
nau she, ike the Anglo-Saxon, been of iron.
possibility Of her ever again reacLina mort
and we might have had to deplore another ter,
rioie casualty. Yet who will saw that Cant
Stone was negligent OF his duty? We annra.
bend no one; if he was so, we have yet n
learn it. wv "
Again Three weeks ago the Meran received |
damages by striking near Cape Pine. Cant
Gulliford is probably as well acquainted with |
every rod of that neighborhood as any man
can be. He is eminently careful, and is Justly |
esteemed as steamship commander. Yet |
with all his knowledge Of the coast, and in |
snite of the vigilance we are certain was exer |
cised by him, his vessel smashed herself most |
unexpectedly against the rocks
IL Is unnecessary TO pursue the subject fur
ther We are simply desirous of showing.
nrst now unjust it Is to charge remissness Of |
outy upon the commander of steamship |
meeting disaster upon our coast, without first