Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-10-05
DISASTER.
Twenty Vessels Driven from their Moor
ingS and Destroyed.
Eject OF an Unlocked for Freshet-An
Extraordinary Scene.

Fram the Liverpool Commercial Express 0
The bustling little port Of Irvine wa
tne sceHe Of q most extraordinary seriei
Uf accidents to its shipping, which cam,
nigh being totally destroyed; and, as /
was, received much damage. The re
cent heavy rains have greatly increase
the volume Of water in the Irvine; anC
=oout one O'Clock on Thursday morning
Delng low water, the current was rushing
through the harbOr at the rate Of sever
miles an hour. On the previous evening
about six o'clock the Mary Wilson, load.
ID with deals belonging to Mr.. Hugh
lloyd, Of AdrrOssan), arrived off the
mouth Of the river, and while being
tOwed up the harbOr she grounded at the
upper wharf in the center of the current.
Che fTeshet on the river rose rapidly du-
ring the night, and the Mary Wilson, il
IS asserted, being insUfficiently moored,
broke away, and swinging round was
then completely 1t the mercy of the cur
rent, and was borne brOadside down the
stream.
Now ensued an extraordinary scene.
The roar and rush Of the current, ac-
companied by the crashing Of ships
blIlwarks, spars and bOwsprits, and the
RXclamatiOns Of the various crews for
zlssistance-all combined to increase the
confusion and alarm in the darkness.
Suu driven onward, the Mary Wilson
came in contact with a tier Of nearly
twenty vessels lying at the next anchor
age, and drove them also from their
mO0rings.
These vessels being thus left to the
power Of the current, were swept away,
carrying everything they touched along
with them, and damaging each other
severely. After going some distance,
however, they stuck fast, some on the
north and some on the south side of the
river. Many Of them being heavily la
den will require TO discharge their car
goes before they can be got off the beach.
The harbOT punts broke from their
moOrings and driited cut to sea, but one
came ashore on the north side and the
other on the south side. Two RATS Of
deals, belonging to Mr.. John Bright,
also broke from their mOOrings and
drifted out to sea. One came ashore,
and the other was picked up at sea and
tOwed 10 TrOen harbor. The fine new
tug belonging TO Irvine harbor
and not quite so destructive
iDgs, but drifted out TO sea, with only
one unfortunate stoker manned Henry
HOustonl on board. The following is
the sU0keT's own narrative Of his night
st sea: went on board the tug about
nalf-pqst one o'clock, intending TO stay
for the night. The bOggy fire having
gone out, / went on deck TO get a light,
when the first thing that presented itself
20 me was the ships crashing down on
40 the tug. knew very well that my
turn was next, so l determined to stick
by the tug. Just as I expected, the tug
was nipped from her mOorings, and
away she went with the Others. AS
soon rs l saw we were bound for sea,
went below and gave her a fire. There
would be by this time about ten pounds
Of steam in her boilers. When ! re-
Eurned on deck | found the tug was
nearing the bar perch, where she struck.
/ then started one Of the engines, and
backed her out to sea. i went below
again 10 give another fire, when she
shipped a heavy sea, and a quantity Of
water rushed into the stokehOle. The
steam began tOrise, and / came on deck,
started the engines slowly, and went
10 the wheel, 50 as 10 knock about the
bay till daylight, when / would be then
able TO take the bar. To my surprise,
however, the wheel chains had parted.
4 then went aft and tried 30 ship the
spare iron tiller, but owing to its not
having been in use since the boat came
90 the harbor, it would not work. l then
resolved 10 steer her with the engines,
which We're double. Finding things
worked a little smoother, went to eX-
anime the udder chains, and found the
broken link. Securing a piece Of rope, /
spliced the chains, and was thus enabled
TO steer the boat Between firing the
boiler, working the engiHes and tee'ing
tne steamer, il was not an easy job.
However, after dodging about the bay
all the morning, made for the harbOr,
which / reached about half-past eight,
and met the crew about half way up the
river. During the night / exhibited
lights and sounded the steam-whistle for
assistance, bat none came. 1t blew hard
and heavy sea Was running all night"
Strange 10 say, no lives were lost, but
some narrow escapes occurred, and sew
eral Of the crews had to swim ashore.
The damage has been very great, but as
yet no accurate estimate can be made.