The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1873-02-20
THE WRECK OF THE
NORTHFhEET.
Incidents ct fhe Disaster
Statements of Survivors.


The English newspapers yet give much
space to accounts of the terrible disaster
which met the Northheet on the night of
the 22d of January. Dispositions in regard
to the matter, taken by the Collector of Gus
toms at Dover, contain much of interest,"
John Beveredge, the only surviving passen-
ger who saw the approach Of the steamer
which. ran into the NorthReef,, says that she
I was two-masted screw, and that after the
collision he spoke the boat, telling it to stand
by, as there were four hundred souls on
board. He received no reply, nor did he
see anybody on the deck of the strange boat.
The night was dark and drzzling. The
watch of the Northheet hailed the steamer
at least five minutes before the collision. 1t
will be remembered that the captain shot
man for getting into one of the boats, which
were reserved for women and children this
man was Thomas Biddis, now lying in the
Dover Hospital. He says as soon as he
knew that the vessel had been struck he
sprung out of bed and ran upon deck; rock
cts were fired, bells rung, and the usual sig
mails of distress given the pumps were work
ed for about fifteen minutes, when it was
found useless to work themany more. The
greatest confusion prevailed; women were
praying and screaming, but above all could
be heard the voice of Captain Knowles, who
stood at the wheel giving orders. He shout
ed, f'The women first I'll blow any mans
brains out who attempts to get intoia boat
Biddis saw that the boats on both sides we're
being rapidly filed, and knowing that his
life was at stake, jumped into the boat at
the stern, where the captains wife was
The captain ordered him out, but he refused
to 60, and was fred at twice, one bail taking
effect in his leg Others made for the boat,
and, in spite of the captains revolver, soon
filed it, and were rowed away to tug which
was coming to the rescue. Just as the tug
was reached, Biddis, by the gleam of the
last rocket in the sky, saw the head of the
Northfleet sink slowly under the water
The crowded stern rose up in the air, and
then, with loud, rushing noise, disappeared
under the water, leaving four hundred peo-
pie struggling in the waves.
Mrs. Sturgeon was rescued with her child,
SIX months old She was in bed when the
collision took place, and with her husband
and baby reached the deck in time to get in
to the Ife-boat.: Her husband threw her
child after her and it was caught. She says
the captains wife wanted to stay on deck
and go down with him, but this he would
not permit He was about thirty years old,
and had been married only six months. One
of the surviving sailors says that Mrs.
knowles was pretty little thing, quite a
girl in her ways" She had gone to bed, but
when che crash came she ran on deck to her
husband, who put his ann around her waist
and, calling out to the boatswain, said
t.Bosen, I'm going Il do my work right
through mp here, but just look aftermy wife,
and see her safe into a boat. The boat
swain did so. and Just as the boat pushed off
the captain waved his hand and said, ''Good-
by, my dear, sood-by, land to this the wife
replied, ''Good-by, my love, don't expect
to see you any more. John Brown, a Ia
borer saw father and two sons struggling
in the water; the father yas an old man.
The elder son said faintly, Let me kiss
you, father, for my last, for we shall all be
drownede Bdih sons kissed the old nan,
and all went down. When Brown himself
was swimming away be was pulled down by
a woll;In who wanted him to take her and
her child on lis back. 1t was impossible,
and both were drowned.
A passenger says that only four of the
ninety women on board got into the boats,
the majority acting as if they were crazy.
Men pushed them aside and made for the
boats tine boatswain cursed and swore at
them and fought them, but to no use. The
captain pulled out his pistol and said: SECT
back, if you are men, and let the women |
pass. By God, IN shoot the next man that |
gets in the boat" and though he used his |
weapon, it was to no purpose. All the &C
counts agree as touching the admirable con-
duct of the captain and the officers. generally. !
1t seems certain, also, that the steamer
which stove in the Northfeet, might have |
saved the passengers. She merely reversed |
her wheels and disappeared in the darkness