The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-08-24
IRELAND.
Wreck az the ship Brian Bercir'h. on the
Coast-NIeiancho!y Loss Of Life.

COast-NIelancho.y Loss OF Life.
from the Cork Examiner August 1871
On Tuesday intelligence reached Queenstown OF
one OF the most fearful calames at thai has
Cured for some time OF coast. The captain
,RoDert McLea) OF the vessel, the only survivor who
has reached land arrived in Queenstown on Tuesday
aud reported the details Of the occurrence. The Ill
iated ship liz named the Brian Boroimhe, and belongs
TO Messrs. John Martin 4 Sons the well known tim
Der merchants. she left Dublin about the 18th
Quebec, where she was to nave taken IN
a cargo Of timber and return TO this port.
The vessel got on very wen TIL the 9th inst when 1t
about one hundred miles southwest Of Cape Clear
AZ the day went on the wind became more violent
and the sea more heavy; consequently the ship be-
gan to labor very much. She commenced to leak
and the water which Oozed into the hold mingled
with the sand ballast. The great strain caused by
the heavy rolling opened the bottom sheeting and
the sand got into the pump channels. When the
crew commenced to work the pumps they found
them In short time completely choked. anu the ope
ration had to he discontinued. Every effort that could
in such an emergency wa then made to clear them,
but without the least success. The water was rapidly
gaining IN the hold, and there no prospect
whatever OF checking it. the ship should 80 down be-
fore many hours, the crew set about TO save ,!eir
sight portion Of the crew-the captain cannot
say how many-then TOOK boat and rowed OH IN
mile away. The gale at this particular time was
blowing with even more violence than II had been
previously, ana the sea WAS 80 heavy that II would
be impossible for open boat TO live In II for any
time. In less than quarter Of an hour after the
boat LEFT she lost sight of, and Captain McI.ea
says he never saw them reach the ship for which
they were making, 80 the said presumption Is that
they were drowned.
This melancholy occurrence was followed the next
day by OF most appalling character ON Friday
morning the weather had moderated somewhat, but
the wind still continued severe from the same point.
accompanied by heavy sea. About noon 1t be-
came, comparatively speaking line, ana Captain
the mate resolved 10 take the opportunity OF leaving
the ship The long boat was accordingly launched,
and the seamen got into her. CAPTAIN McLea the
mate and OF the sailors still remaining on board
completing small supply OF provisions which
they were about TO pring with them. sud
denly squat came, the vessel lurched over,
and the boat containing FIVE six
men, was dashed TO pieces The occupants
struggled about IN the water and before any assist
once whatever could be rendered them they were
seen one after the other 20 sink, having IN most in
stances been first stunned 10y coming IN contact with
the side OF the ship There were now only three men
on hoard the captain, the mate and n seaman. The
| sudden change IN the weather continued, and tue
wind and sea were viruent ~ on the previous day.
| The survivors were utterly bercrt OF every means
OF saving themselves the two boats and al the life
buoys having been taken by those VINO nnlor'
| IN few hours, however, vessel came ia sght:
| Signals of distress were exhibited to her and
she came 20. A boot was launched, and the crew
remained within such distance ~ was considered
safe from the state OF the There was no resource
but TO swim to her, and the mate accompanied 10y
| ne seaman resolved 20 do so--CaptaIn McLea de-
terrninlng 10 remain behind "a he was unable 70
SWIM Before leaplng or the mate with great oour.
age took line In his mouth, his object being to get
II on board the small boat with the view OF assisting
the captain from his vessel But the poor leow Rol
exhausted himself before he had swan hall the dis.
tnnca ami lei 60 tR line. lie was fortunately picked
M nv the boats crew. but ~ far as the captain
could sec in very weae state. The seaman also got
safely into the boat, which remained about the i'll
iated ship for some tine waiting an opportunity 10
rescue tue captain. Amer living about for some tine
they returned TO them, leaving Captain Mclee 10 III
fate At this tine there was eight or nine IC"t on
water In fhe hold, and the snip was very GRADUALLY
filing Captain Mci.ea spent that night as may wei
be imagined, IN state of the luost awful suspense
the only occupant OF sinking ship not showing
the moment she would settle down. On SATURDAY
morning there change for the better In the
weather but during the night the Brian Boromne had
almost completely nled In, and just as the cap tam
observed vessel In the oing there were unmistaka-
bic signs OF her settling down.
lie boosted signals OF distress and the ship az once
steered her course for him. boat was launched
and came alongside. resculng Captain kcLea from
his perlOus position. This vessels name 10 the
COlonist, bound from Quebec for Liverpool, ana
when she picked up the captain was about Que hun
dred and twenty miles southwest OF Cape Clear ON
Tuesday she was 90 the harbor and was boarded by
Messrs. SCOTS pilot schooner Pilot, william Dunne
master. Captain McLea was then brought on shore
by her and landed Of Queenstown. He was very
much bruised In the body owing TO being knocked
ep0us 10 the TolAps VI the ppp, The severe trials