The New York herald., 1870-02-24
THE YACHT METEOR.
Particulars Of Her Loss on the African Coast
The Crew saved-Twenty-one Days Among
the Wild Arabs-Details Of the Catas-
tophe from the Second Officer
Return of the Crew.

Brler particulars have already appeared In the
HERALD OF the oss, or the coast OF Algers, on the
18th December, of the yacht Meteor, In gale For
many DAYS fears were entertained Tor the safety OF
the owner Mr.. George L. Lorillard; his guest Mr..
Philip Robinson, and the crew OF twenty-five per-
sons. Later advices gave us the pleasing assurance
that all on board had been saved. From the second
ocer who has arrived In tins city, some Interesting
details OF the loss Of the Meteor been obtained.
HER CRUISE OUT TO AFRICA.
The yacht lett this port on the 2Sth OF August and
after rapid run, which was remarkable for plea
SAINT weather. arrived at Cowes on october 9. After
remaining there some days she sailed for Lisbon,
Portugal. The voyage was noted Tor nothing 0! un.
usual interest," the trim little craft making exceient
time on the passage, and thence to Tunis. From
Iunis she proceeded 70 the port OF Agiers ID NoIIn
Africa, where she lay for few days. Her next
accident. On the 10th Of December the Meteor
beat out OF the harbor. destined for Tunis.
For the nrst thirty hours she experienced plea
SAINT weather. but on the night 0 the llth the wind
freshened considerably. AT five O'Clock on the m
coast, near Cape Bon, strong easterly gale struck
her. The commander OF the vessel took prompt
measures to meet the storm that tnreatened; but
twenty minutes later the noble vessel struck coral
reef heavily three times as she went upon IL ana
over 1t. The weather at the time was tnick ana
raining and there was no indication previous 10
striking OF any Immediate danger
THE WRECK.
treacherous reef she trembled from stem to stern,
ana for an instant those on board believed she
but win the loss. however, OF her keel-fourteen
OF lead Alter passing the reef she stranded IN
the sand In eg, ses q water ana the seas a
vessel, which fell upon her beam ends.
ATTEMPTS TO WORK HER OFF.
The crew attempted to set the mai1sati, bring
her to the wind and work her on After strenuous
efforts they were successful IN setting the sail, ont
she continued to thump heavily until daylight, the
gna IN N.
stantly increasing fury At seven O'CLOCK all
hope Of working the vessel or was abandoned. The
gale increased In violence and promised TO result
In the loss or all on board. In this trying emer
gency the sails were lowered and iurled, and life
line fore and aft the deck 10 prevent the crew
from being washed overheard.
RESCUED FROM DEATH.
The commander now turned his attention to the
rescue OF those on board. The point where she
stranded was of Cape Bonn, one-Iourth OF mile
from the shore. boat was launched Immediately,
and manned by stout hearts, 1t succeeded III
weatnerng the angry sea that threatened 10 en-
gulf II and running line ashore by the aid Of
which oil the souls on board safely reached land.
ON A BARREN STRAND.
The point where they landed was entirely desti-
tute OF inhabitants, except few wild Arabs, VINO
OF succ0r was Tunis, eighty miles distant. The In
terpreter was Immediately despatched for that point
to secure assistance for the shipwrecked crew.
For several hours the sea ran so hlgn That oil
communication with the wreck was cut or.
STRIPPING THE WRECK.
The next day the gale subslded and provisions,
sails and necessary stores were landed. Tents were
manufactured from the sails and the adventurous
Americans organized their encampment on the soil
OF Africa. Several days were spent in removing the
rigging, spars, stores &c, all OF which were anded
leaving the bare hull subject to the will Of Old
BOreas
Finally the English steamer Lancefeld arrived
from Malta, and getting out lines endeavOred to
draw the gallant yacht OF, but all efforts proved
abortive, as she was too firmly embedded IN the
sand
THE DEPARTURE FOR CIVILIZATION.
AS timber is very scarce and valuable ON the coast,
the hull OF the Meteor sawed into three Narts,
broken up and placed on board the steamerHwtth
the rigging stores and crew, and on the 1st OF jan
uary the scene Of their vcissitudes was left In due
time they arrived at Malta, from which the ship
W.T. ecked men were shipped 10 this port by United
StatesC0nsul Adams Of that city. The timber Sc.
cured from the wreck was sold at Malta, and the
spars, rigging and other appurtenances forwarded to
this city.
THE CAUSE OF THE CATASTROPHE.
The gentleman from whom these particulars have
been ascertained asserts that no blame be at
tached to any one for the loss OF the Meteor. The
probable cause was the presence OF an unknown cur
that carried her too far In Shore there have
no mention OF these currents, which old coast cap
tans claim exist are given In the late sailing dlTec
lions.
THE CONDUCT OF THE CREW
during the trying scenes enacted, when death stared
them In the face is spoken Of in terms OF the highest
admiration. Messrs. Lorlllard and Robinson the
captaln-fndeed, all on bOard-dsplayed all the
courage and self possession OF heroes and labored
asslduously to not only their own lives, but the
noble craft To their c00lness Is ascrbed the saliva
toB OF all on board.