The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1870-10-27
The Cambria Disaster.


Vessel Wrecked within an Hour OF
the End of the VOyage-NarrativeO OF =
Rescued Passenser-NO TidinSs OF the
Missing Boats.
By Telegraph to the Pittsburgh Post.
WAsnINGroN, Oct. 22-The total loss OF
the steamship Cambria which was yesterday
rumored, is fully confirmed by later dispatch
es, and there is little to give hope that the
passengers, who had taken to the boats, have
escaped The coast is very dsgnerous one,
and it is evident from the upsetting of one OF
the boats, from which the single survivor Of
the wreck was picked up, that the sea was
very rough at the time of the disaster. New
ertbeless, those who had friends on board
need not be in any haste TO imagine the
worst. The coast is admirably guarded by
expert and adventurous men. and it is not
impossible that if the boats were driven
ashore some of tho passengers were saved.
Other less fatal but still serious marine loss
es are reported this morning, many OF them
on our own coasts.
The late gales were everywhere dangerous,
and we may expect for several days of seri-
GUS wrecks along the Atlantic and Gulf
coasts. The Cambria was considered in
sound condition, and has ever been regarded
AS the finest vessel on any of the ocean lines.
She was but recently rebuilt, thoroughly OF
iron, and in every way prepared for the Sc
verest contest with wind or wave. Captain
| Carnaghan, the commander of the Cambria
| during this i'll fated voyage. was one of the
most experienced and skillful naval officers
visiting this port. lie has been in command
| of vessels of the Anchor Line for several
years, and was thoroughly couversant with
| the navigation of the trans Atlantic route to
! Glasgow.
LoEDoN, October 22.-Late on Wednes-
I l. Al,,H
the steamer Cambria, of the Anchor Line,
had been wrecked off the cost of Donegal
Information was brought to that city by the
survivor, John Mcfarland, steerage pass
enger. The intelligence at first disbe>
lieved, but has since been confirmed.
The telegraph lines have been disarranGed
; by the recent storms, and the following
! summary Of McGartland's narrative has just
come through from London: The trip from
New York was generally fortunate, notwith-
standing unpleasant weather prevailed most
of the time until the night of Wednesday
October 10. between ten and eleven O'Clock
The Cambria was then under sail and steam
ing rapidly. Suddenly when all was going
we'll she struck on Mstraline Island. a small
rock island ten miles west of Donegal and
thirty miles west of Londonderry. The yes
sci instantly began to fill through large hole:
J
extinguished. 1t low was evident that the
steamer could not be saved. and therefor,
attention was directed to saving the passen>
gers, who were massed upon the deck. Four
boats crowded with passengers were launch
ed and put off from the sinking steamer
Mcfarland entered one of these and he saw
no more of the ship or other boats. II,
thinks there is no doubt that all the boat!
were swamped, and that he is the only sur
vvor. Almost Immediately upon gettin2
| into the boat it capsized, and he lost con
sciousness. Upon reviving. he found him
self in the sea, but grasping the gunwale o
the boat, which had righted, he succeeded il
getting inside q second time, and founC
} therein the dead body of a lady dressed il
black silk.
Mr.. McGartland was tossed about many
hours when he was picked up by the Enter
J prise, Capt. Gillespie, who clused about th
scene of the disaster for long time in tht
hope of saving life and property. Mr.. Nc
Garland says that almost at the very tim
of the disaster the passengers and crew wer
copgIatulatiug themselves on the tempestII
Gus voyage being nearly finished, and rel jlic
ing in the fact that in one short hour NOR,
they would land at Moville There wer
certainly one iuudred and eighty souls OIL
board, and perhaps more.
LONDONDERRY, October 22.-Midnight
Vessels just returning from the scene 0
the Cambria disaster. In the North Cha annel
report that they discovered only lot o
broken spars and few stray barrels o.
-four, which formed part of her cargo
Nothing has yet been heard of the three
small boats which put ont from the Cambria
when she struck. All hope for their safety
has Lot been entirely abandoned. but Mr.
Mcfarland reports that wind little shor
of a hurricane prevailed at the time, which
it would be miraculous for such small craft
to weather.