Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-10-27

made in her bottom, and she rapidly
filled with water and sank. All who
could get in filled the boats and put off
from the wreck; but the sea was rough,
and the failure of any but Mccartney to
be heard from reduces almost to Ger.
tainty the loss of every one else. These
rocks were known, and their danger had
been recognized by navigators but there
was no warning of them by light or 9TH
erwise; and the fact that the Cambria
was going at a high rate of speed, at night,
in their very neighborhood, would indi-
cate recklessness on tho part of her COM
mander.
The vessel was new and fine one, be-
longing to the Anchor Line, between New
York and Glasgow. She was built on the
CLYDE, was 324 feet long and of 5000 tons
burthen, and cost $4,000; and she is the
third boat of the line that has been lost
since it began business,-though no such
loss of life accompanied the wreck of the
others. The last association of the Cam
bria and the people on her with the world
was chance meeting with the steamer
Manhattan of the Guion Line, bound to
New York, in mid. ocean, just a week be.
fore their fatal misohance. The Manhat-
tan had broken some of her machinery,
and was lying idle on the ocean, while re-
pairs were in progress. The Cambria,
going near, and perceiving the stoppage,
turned from her course to come alongside,
and ask if anything was the matter. Re-
oeiving a negative reply, she put off again,
with triumphant sail and steam, for her
destination, - leaving the Manhattan s
passengers almost envious of her favoring
breezes and her unbroken steam appar-
atus. But the race was not to the
strong and swift in this case.
| OF the passengers in the Cambria, AZ
were in the first cabin, and include the
names of many New Workers and some
Western people,-among the latter Gen.
Davis, produce dealer of Chicago. The
Anchor line is composed of stauEch boats,
and though of a lower grade of service
than the Cunarders or the Guion boats,
they have had good reputation with pas
sengers, and won an excellent set of Gus
toners because of their low prices and
comfortable accommodations. But these
repeated disasters, and especially the OBJ
vious carelessness accompanying the APP
proach to a dangerous coast at night, I'M
der both steam and sail, in this last case,
will Justly bear heavily upon them with
the public. With the best security pos
sible in the construction, care and sailing
of passenger vessels, the dangers of the
sea are quite enough to run the risk of.
| Only the boats that reduce these to the
lowest possible number and degree should
have any standing with the travelling pub
lie.
The following is a summary of the
statement of Mccartney, one, if not the
only survivor:
"The voyage from New York was
generally fortunate, notwithstanding un-
pleasant weather prevailed most of the
time, until the night of Wednesday, the
10Th, between 10 and II o'clock.
The Cambria was then under sail and
steaming rapidly. Suddenly, when all
was apparently going well, she struck on
Mistraline Island, small rocky island
ten miles west of Donegal, and thirty
west of Londonderry. The vessel instant
ly began to fill through large holes stove
in the bottom, and the fires were soon ex-
tinguished. 1t became evident that the
steamer was bopelessly lost, and efforts
were therefore directed to save the lives
of the passengers who were massed on the
deck. Four boats were crowded with
passengers, and launched and put off
from the sinking steamer. Mccartney
entered one of these, and he saw no more
of the ship or other boats. The weather
was very heavy and be thinks there is no
doubt that all the boats were swamped,
and that he is the only survivor. Almost
instantly upon getting into the boat it
capszed, and he lost all consciousness.
On reviving he found himself in the
sea, grasping the gunwalo of the boat,
which had righted. He succeeded in
getting into the boat the second time, and
found therein the dead body of lady,
dressed in b ack silk. Mccartney was
tossed about many hours, when he was
picked up by the Surprise, Captain Gil
lespie, who cruised about the scene of the
disaster for long time, in hope Of saving
life and property.
Mccartney says almost at the very time
| of the disaster the passengers and crew
were congratulating themselves on the
tempestuous voyage being nearly finished,
and rejoicing in the fact that i'll one short
hour more they would land at Neville
There were certainly 1870 souls on board
and perhaps more.
Later dispatches from London state that
vessels have returned from the scene Of
I the disaster and report that they discov
cred only lot of broken spars and a few
barrels Of -four, which formed a part o.
Der cargo Nothing yet has been heard
of the three small boats put out from th'
steamer Camb when she struck.
The hope for their safety has not beer
entirely abandoned, but Mccartney re
ports that the wind was little short of
hurricane which prevailed at the time
and which it would be miraculous for suol
small craft to weather.
The rocks on which the steamer strucl
are two miles from the Island. There j
light on the latter but there is no warn
ing placed on the fatal rock to indicate it
hidden dangers. The British Admiralit,
. have been repeatedly notified Of the dan
gerous character of the rock but hav
never needed the warning.