The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-09-20
NARROW ESCAPE FROM SHIPWRECK
The Steamship Wyoming, from
Liverpool, Striking q Sand Bar
Off Sable Island.
An Officer and Five of the Grew Left Behind
In an Open Boat on the Sea-Arri-
val of Mormons Probable Loss
of the Boats Grew.

having arrived. The steamship New York, from
Bremen. brought 800 passengers; the steamship
Anglia, rom Glasgow, 21l, and the steamship
wyoming, from Liverpool, Ss3. The last
named vessel did not reach her dock
until late hour, and at eight O'Clock about 400 Of
the passengers were landed at Castle Garden. The
remainder, including SOC, who are MOrmons, were
kept on board and Will be brought to Castle Gar
den to-day. Two hundred and one are Scandi-
navians, the remainder English, Scotch and
Q few Irish.
The wyoming, on Monday evening last, had a
very narrow escape from being wrecked near
Nova Scotia. The vessel ran on a sand bar, about
fifteen miles from Sable Island light. where she re-
NAMED all night and until about two O'Clock next
day before she was got or after being obliged to
throw over most Of her freight. As soon as she
struck boat was lowered, and the
third oficer. with five men, LEFT for
the shore. No provisions we're put
board. but a barrel OF water was taken by one OF
the men, AS soon the wyoming got or the bar
1t was discovered she was leaking, and the pumps
were set going A boat sent ashore for the
third mates party, but 1t has not been heard
OF or seen After waiting till nearly night the
Captain got up steam and set out for New York.
All the time one OF the alright compartments
Kept ming, Notwithstanding that the pumps
were Kept hard at work at intervals through the
Mr.. Fairbanks, who is in charge Of the Mormons
charge to leave the ship. Nothing has been since
heard Of the missing lileboat in which the third
omcer and Ave OF the crew set out for the island
TO secure help for the steamer directly after she
struck.
NAMES OF THE CREW.
ofboat No. were Third Oflcer WIN. Glegg, Scotch
man: E. Daniel, William Jones, Josiah Long,
Charles Graham and Joseph Roberts.
PROBABLY swAMPED.
1t was quite dark when the boat left the steamer
70 row niteen miles ana make landing on the
spots VIII ere 1t is at all sale or boat to land even
by daylight. Probably she attempted to land and
was swamped, and all hands lost. Fortunately the
weather was fair, so that the steamer was not
broken IN pieces before she was lightened, and
noated of tho bar by the rising tide.
The first otiicer says that II the boats crew were
able to land on tho island after the Wyoming lett
BY steamer expected from Halifax on wednesday
But the chances seem to be ten to one that the IN
fortunate crew are beyond the AID Of the
among the breakers on the coast.
Description OF Sable Island.
Sable Island Is low, sandy tract, about tw.nty.
nve statute miles in length By one and o quarter
In breadth 1t lies in latitude 40 deg north ongi-
tude SO deg. Il min. west, being nearly hundred
miles southeast Of Nova Scotia Thus It will
be seen that the island lies directly in the track Of
vessels plying between the port OF New York
and the northern ports OF Europe. In consequence
OF Its situation in the heart OF o spot remarkable
for the Freaks Of oceanic currents Of varying tenn
peratures 1t Is almost constantly enveoped in
mist and fog The most experienced navgators in
sweeping over the track on which this Island rests
Invariably exercise extreme caution In passing the
reels that encircle It, Especially Is this the
ana maas
unable to take observations OF the sun or the
| weather. After taking advantage Of the favorable
breeZes IN the northern course, captains here
more sontaward entering the polar current which
varying velocity. Thus the navigator, In advanc-
ing from the Banks towards New York, is In immi-
nent danger OF running aground on the coast
OF Sable island, and nothing but the extraordinary
precautions taken in the way OF repeated stellar
reckoning, prevent the occurrence OF repeated
wrecks thereon. Despite the vigilance and
OF mariners, however, numerous shipwrecks have
taken place there some OF them being attended
with extensive loss OF life. SO constantly were
ships found to have grounded on its verge that the
government deemed it necessary to organize a
a company or men for the purpose OF saving life
around It's shores and relieving storm-tossed sea-
men, This Dand is maintained at an annual cost
are furnished with ample provisions and ap-
be dr. driven n to the island Lie-boats, buoys
surgical and medical appliances, &c, are
the occurrence OF disaster in direction or
the land Is Immediately known TO all the rescuers
ceent fishing in the vicinity, and this occupation
attracting more settlers to the place. has acil-
tated the means OF succoring distressed sailors
The island Is covered with rank grass and wild peas
Cattle abound along the borders, and 500 wild horses
roam at liberty In the centre. Hence it may be
seen that there are less favorable regions than
Sable Island on whose treacherous shores ships
may rush to destruction. 1t is, nevertheless, GER
tain that the dangers Of this spot, being well
derst0Od, navgators, especially those who COM
nand ocean steamships can have little pretext for
allowing their vessels to approach so near to
| this dangerous land. The more uncertain the
calculations made from dead reckoning and the
chronometer solely, the more cautious and vigilant
aught they be who are entrusted with the charge
OF so many precious lives, And the sandy beach
slopes gently at well known angles away nom the
island Il L. very easy ID nodefate weather to take
sodndnes in the neighborhood, and thus ASCERTAIN
| whether danger Is near or not. The bars at each
end are thirty mules long, t9e nQrtbwest bar being
seventeen miles and the opposite One thirteen
Fore few miles the slope is gradual, but 1t then
ends precpitately, there being IT'S fathoms OF
water a little farther outward Foaming breakers
and cross constantly play IN the vicinity.
There Is some consolation, however, for passen-
gers by this route IN the TACT that in case they be
driven ashore on the grassy slopes OF Sable Island
there are hospitable friends there before them,
provided with fuel food and shelter suflcient to
AhA ~