Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1865-01-05
APPALLING DISASTER,
THE Loss OF lo4 LIVES.
THE NORTH AMERICA f0UNDERED.

The LOSS OF l94 LII V Els
THE North AMERICA foUNDERED
The United States transport Arago, Henry
A. Ga1sden. Commander. from Port Roya
December &c, ria Fortress Monroe, arrives
at New York on Thursday.
Purser Ely reports OF Egg Harbor, fell
in with bark Mary Z. Libby. of Portland
and took from. her Captain Marshan,, Of til.
steamer North America which foundered a,
s:n--and forty seven Of his officers. passcn.
gers and crew. Captain Marshau's statement
is subjc:bcd:
REPORT or STEAMSHIP NORTH ASrttiCA. or
PHILADELPHIA, FRoM NEW ORLEANS TO
NEW YORK. C. p. HARsuXM, MASTER.
Left New Orleans on the 10th December
1864. and Southwest Pass OH the 18th, having
been detained By fog. Had on board tw,
hundred AMI three sick soldiers. twelve cabin
passengers and crew Of forty four mcn
From th, time of leaving the bar until Tho
both. noon, had pleasant weather. At oul
p. NJ. of that do, commenced blowing heavy
from southwest. with heavy sea running
vessel laboring and straiuing greatly elst
a continuanc. Of the sane wcath,r.
22i.-F:rst part Of the day, weather mod.
Grating a. noon began blowing; heavy sea
getting up. III. engineer reported ship leak
ing badly p. NJ he reported The wat,r
gaining changed our course to the westward.
Took OF the forchatchcs. and discovered the
water running III forward cut away tho cell
ing 70 try to stop it; but could not /; put
blankets and sail over the bow, but all to
no purpose; water gaining very fest. At .
p. NJ. vessel hove in sight; bore awsy for
Nher, and h,istcd our colors unihn down-we
being at the time in lat. $40 Ivy NJ. lon.
$50 4V W. At 2;l5 p. NJ. spoke tl, bark
Msfy e. Libby. Capt. ] libby, from Cardchas,
Cuba, for Portland. Informed Captain Libby
Of our situation. Tie replied that lie would
remain by us, and take all on board, if NO.
ccssary.
AT $50 p. M. the engineer reported that
tho water had put the fires out Hailed the
bark aud told Captain Libby Of it; he then
hove VIC ship to, and prepared to receive our
people on bourd at the time we had fotr feet
Vi WStSi III tyC uofu SOuluChCCN SACatbS
away the boxtst At D 30 p. NJ. started the
first boat, with the Chief Engineer in charge
and all the lady passengers. We got six
boat LOADS on board Of the bark. The seventh
boat left ut dark. containing our Purser
lMr. c. PETTY and eight men, and is sup
posed tn be lost. as they never rsathe.l the
ship. Night setting in dark and blnwihg
hard. with high sea running. SO that the
boats could not get bach from the bark to the
steamer. ~ ...
Up. M-Ship settling fast, having twelve
feet of water in her hold. Prepared oar last
boat.
1902. M.-Fipding it impossible for any
moro boats to return 10 the steamer that night.
left the ship. taking with me my FIRST and
Second officers and eight men.
9P. M.-Arrived on board the bark !;
hoistcd the boats on desk for the night; made
sail, and proceeded towards the steamer; her
| lights al in sight. distance about six miles.
lP. Nights all disappeared suddenly !;
We suppose the ship to have gone down at
that time. At daylight, nothing in sight ex.
ocps water cask. INSIDE all sail, snd efuiscd
ali around, but did no, see anything Of her.
M.-Ga&e up all hopes the bark made
sail and proceeded on her course. Nutnber
Of passengers aud crew SAVED, 81 lost with
the ship, 1877. Total 259,
ACCOUNT OF SURGEON x'ctikT0tA.
Never was there prospect Of fairef
voyage. Our vessel was considered, il pos
siblc, little better than first clsss; ample
provisi,n had been made for the comfort of
the sick, furloughcd and discharged on
board-2U3 in cumberland the officers hav-
ing, in addition to the heads Of seamen, the
hearts of men, borc = willing hand TO every
thing that could alleviate the suffering ~ in
crease the comfort Of the men. We left New
Orleans al p. NJ, Friday. the lGsh. and
after being detained twenty-six houss by feg,
paused the bar Sunday morning At Il A. D.,
in salm sea aud fine weather.
We passed Key West ut P. NJ. on the
Goth. sea calm and men doing well.
At =. NJ. on the 2lst the wind began TO
raise, and at blew gale, the sea running
high. when more than the usual quantity Of
water vas found in the hold. Tn the 29d
this gradually increased. and ct IL A. NJ.
the pumps failed to keep her clear, and. it
then FIRST became apparent that the vessel
must 20 down, and her course was changed.
l.ndwsrd There was but one sail.in sighti.
about ten miles to lscward. The oolsrs wore
raised At half mast, union down.. aida. ssh
Tue leak had now hecouso fighkfal-.T A. 2
z. NJ. We reached the vessel in,which lay oil
our hopes. which proved to b the Mary +.
Libby. Of Portland. bound hcmewarl. from,
Cardenas. she having obsss~sdsous signal and
stood by for our relief. tI.YGr +
AZ il to make our misfortuhsn more COM
= n IL Al a.