The New York herald., 1871-01-20
Rurs,inx Of the Britannia oil GrOrGe's Banks
LErnna the Rnslnn Ira veller Ian. Ial


Burninx Of the Britannia oil GeorGe's Dapks.
From the Boston Traveller, Jan. 1871
A few days since the Trorelter published an nc.
count OF the burning OF the ship Britannia or
for this port ana that the crew escaped IN an open
boat from the burning wreck and were subsequently
On Monday the schooner TWignt % CAPTAIN Robert
Bell, arrived at this port from Yarmouth, N. S. hav-
ing on board eight of the crew Of nineteen men who
left the Britannia one or our reporters visited tho
Twilight, lying at Long wharf, and convcrscd with
number OF the shipwrecked crew, from wnom the
following particulars concerning tho burning OF the
ship ami the trials and dangers OF the men while in
an open boat on mld-ocean were obtained:--
The following are the names Of tne men:-Henry
YORK; George Mason. of OXFORD Mass; Robert
Sheaves Second matel. Henry 0leson, New York,
and Joseph Hltchings tChlnaman) aud Peter Joun-
son. 6( New York.
Them were all frostbitten more or less ana
were not IN condition nt to travel. They consider
their preservation nom death as proyidental, ex.
posed as they were 10 the rgor of the weather and
Upon the arrival OF the shipwrecsed crew Col .ec.
tor Russell visited them, and, learning their condt
ton, immediately made arrangements for having
noon he had them transferred to tugboat TO Chel-
sea, when they were taken to the hospita. No
doubt eful treatment Of the men will restore
them to good condition again.
The remainder Of the crew. including the captain,
were left at Yarmouth; but no doubt the Consul
there mas made arrangements before this 10 have
the men sent 10 Boston.
The captain webb. OF Kennebunk, Mc.), displayed
the five days. tossing on the ocean, ana all the men,
IN fact, conscious that they were almost In the Jaws
ment and observance of discipline and a trusI in
God, would save them from warery grave.
Tbs first mate iair. Amesl, the cook tJohn r.
Sbeah. Ch,namani, and seven other men yet re.
main 70 arrive at home.
That portion OF the crew we saw this morning
speak In the highest terms OF praise OF the treatment
they received from the captain Of the Twilight
while on their way to this port aud he will be re-
membered With grateful feelings. .
ha nv htynvv rnl
arriving at this port after the lble expe.
rlence OF the beginning. of the year can he better
imagined than described.
The story OF the experience or the crew after hay
ing deserted the burning Ship Is thus graphically
After getting into the lonQboat, and before we
could get clear OF the ship, said one Of the sailors,
who seemed to De the most intelligent Of those our
reporter met, she gave lurch and the took us
away with eucn force that ii wrenched the stem
nearly out Of the boat and We only saved II by cut
ting the hawSer.
We backed Off, and the carpenter he was
what might be called carpenter-set TO work and
patched up In good shape. SO that it carried to
our journeys end instead OF Davy Jones' locker.
The lifeboat was tod to the stern OF the longboat-
no one In her-wnen great wave came down and
split her IN two. We cast her of, as sne was useless.
After we repaired our stem and made all tight we
rowed back to the ship and Kept near to her. The
and fast out OF every seam and crack IN her. The
sea was running mountains high at the time and
the WIND DIV was blowing great guns we lay BY the
when enc blazed up, sheet oI name gu the top Of
the raging waters.
II was grand sight, but we did dot think 80
much Of 1t at the time as Of our own fate 1t was
dismal, tell ycu; but we found Ii was no use to re-
main longer where we were ana made sail on me
boat, the wind having moderated little.
we lay our course Tor the nearest land 20 the east
which was Nova Scotia; the wind being west, you
see, we could not make the American shore, though
we were quite near to 1t.
The wind was bitterly cold and we were wet to the
skin al the tlme ana had TO take our turn AT baiing
as well rs we were able.
1t was hard work to keep her ahoat as the sca
kept continually breaking In upon us.
FO0dp Yes, sir, We had plenty to eat bnt not hav.
Ing much water, were put on IN allowance OF three
biscuits and lnt OF water day.
We had abundance OF salt meat, but did not dare
to eat 1t for fear OF thirst boy eat piece OF salt
beef tongue TOM nc had become 90 hungry after time.
to drink, he took to drinking the salt Water. ter
This made him crazy, and he got so bad that we
had to tie hun. 1t was while holding and helping
lite llim that got this black eye.
We kept on before the wind, wet, hungry suffer.
ing and freezing An, sir, II was terrible struggle
forms before, bul never did he look grim and ter
rbe--neyer did he seem to grip me by the heart
with ms cold, Icy fingers rs he did a. that time.
For hve days, sir-1ve ages, filed with horror
enough to make my hair stand Oh end when think
oi1t-We were churned and tossed about, suffering
all that men could suffer and live many OF the poor
fellows have been badly frost bitten. as You Sec
sir), when the welcome sight Of land greeted our
IL was on the fifth morning, about eight O'Clock
when we landed at a place called Cheeong Point,
on Tusket Island. Mr.. Robinson who lives there
there did for us ul that could be done.
No, sir, we had no difflcuy In handing. There
were plenty OF people before the beach TO take
hold vi boat ana jerk her out ot the winter the
snore.
We had terrible time. indeed, and VIC owe
great deal to the Kindness OF ihe good people who
took care OF us. and 70 Captain bell, VINO brought US
here.
Captain Bell here spoke up. sad he'll was on
my way from tlle West Indies TO Yarmouth ana got
to anchor where the boat landed only few hours
after she got inr
must have followed right In her track. and tell
you u IL not one boat ~ thousand tna would have
liyed through such sea in any weather, not 10
speak of the bitter cOldness OF the weather al tho
time l regard the escape OF that boat ana her
crew AS among the most singular nave ever