The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-01-15
FOUNDERING OF THE BRITISH
PACKET SHIP GRATITUDE.

The Passengers and drew Rescued by the
Barque FredOnia.-rerrtblo SuRorlngs
WOf the hescued-A Half Pint of Water
and Two BlscuIts the Daily Allowance
WOf Each for Nearly Two Weeks.
The British barque Bredonia arrived at Boston
yesterday morning, from Fayal, having on board
two hundred and seventy.three Of the passen-
gers, and thirty-three OF the crew OF the packet
ship Gratitude, which vessel was abandoned at
sea on the Sd instant, in sinking condition.
The Gratitude, commanded by Captain Nc
Stocker, left Liverpool, bound for New York, on
the 10th of last November, with large compile
ment of passengers and a valuable cargo of
assorted merchandise. She had very tempes-
tuous passage almost from the time she left
Liverpool until after Christmas, and it is sup.
posed that the ship was badly strained during
the heavy weather she encountered.
On the 1st inst. while in latitude Al 80. and
Longitude SO, the Gratitude was fallen in with by
the British barque FTedOnid, Captain Burke,
from Fayal, bound to Boston, and which vessel,
at the request of Captain McStocker, remained
near the Gratitude to render any assistance that
might be needed. Captain Burke, of tue barque
BTed0nt0, soon asceraned that the Gratitude
was in a very critical condition, and was fast
filing with water. He Immediately set to work
to rescue those on board of the Grastude, aud it
IL mainly owing TO the assistance thus oppor-
tunely rendered that the most OF them did not
men with a watery grave.
The n edonid lay by the sinking ship Gratitude
for three days, during which time the passen-
gers two hundred and seventy-three in nuraber,
and thirty-three of the crew, were safely trans
ferred from the Gratitude to the FredO1td, and
the ill-fated ship was resigned to the winds and
waves In order to make room for the unfortu-
mates, Captain Burke was obliged TO throw over
board a large portion of his cargo, consisting of
whalebones and oil, and 1t was with the greatest
difficulty that they could even then all find
IN 10 having this
number of persons so unexpectedly added to his
own crew, Captain Burke was obliged to place
all hands on short rations, and the sutferings
from hunger and thirst endured by them tor
more than one whole week can better be ina
giped than describ d.
From the Sd instant until yesterday morning
they subsisted on nothing but water and biscuits,
and even this means OF sustaining life must have
soon given out but Tor their fortunate arrival at
Boston yesterday morning. Every day two
biscuits and halfa pint of water we're issued to
each individual, and they were obliged TO live
upon that for twenty-tour hours before receiving
any more Had there been a sufficient supply
of provisions on board of the Fred0nid to have
allowed the issuance of larger rations it would
have been done; but as that vessel was already
short of provisions when she fell in with the
Gratitude the short allowances were necessl-
tated through sheer force OF circumstances.
AS soon as the above facts became known after
the barque was telegraphed below BortOn, a
steamer was despatched to tow her up and on
her arrival the survivors were placed in Rid
dells large carriage hall, and had all their wants
generously attended to, by the city authorities.
Captain Burke, OF the barque Fred1niI, is de-
serving Of praise for the manner in which he lay
with his vessel alongside OF the Gratitude for
three full days, and for the sailor-ke manner
in which he rescued so many unfortunate beings
from inevitable death, and the unse6sh motives
that prompted him to throw overheard large
portion OF his valuable cargo in order to make
room to accommodate them his own vessel
Captain McStocker, OF the ship Gratitude, is al
illness evidently DplnG
occasioned by exposure, and the worrying con
sequent upon the loss OF his fine vessel.
The Gratitude was vessel of one thousand
She was s bnIt m in oI this ctv a "u the rSye eI
known slipyard of j. A. Westervelt in the sum
mer of 1866, and was owned in Liverpool, Eng
land, by j. Farmer. She was one hundred auC
twenty-eight feet depth of hold, with three full
decks, and was copper and iron lastened.-N Y
Herald.