The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-06

cloudy and clear; at II 40 my servant came up
me until three A. NJ, when the secod ofncer,would
can me- the lrst ntlmation had OF anything was
the ship
STRIKING ON hEAGHER's ROCK,
or Meagher's Island, ana remaining, heeling
slightly TO port; the officers quickly AT their
stations, accompanied by the quartermasters. The
nlst sen swept away al me port noats ana
the snip heeling over rapidly soon rendered the
send the people forward, outside the snip, but
terror defeated all Our Efforts: the second
officer IN the starboard liieboat carried two
ladies' and placed them with him, ana returned for
more; before got as lar as the saloon entrance
hnding the snip gong over sun further
ra and get back TO the hleboat; /
took the ladies out and placed them
second oilcer TO come out, as the boat would roll
over, which she did In n few minutes, carrying
with her MIR. Metcalf and from thirty TO ioriv men;
finding tnat was oil no there l returned to
the man rigging and found that
THE LADIES HAD GONE.
The chief officer Mr. Firth, got up into the
mlzZen rigging, where his retreat was soon
cut on and had 10 remain there until three
with the falling tide and he was got OIL. Mr..
Brady, the third officer, finding the boats use
less went forward. and with the assistance of
Quartermasters Speakman and owens. established
communication with IA rope to
SMALL OUTLYING ROCK.
distant from our starboard bow about forty yards;
owens swan first, but failed 10 get footing
Speakman then tried and succeedcd; a stouter
rope was hauled on the rock, along which Mr.
Brady passed. followed by the Oldest OF the men,
BY this time il was 4 A. NJ; was at this time in
the main rigging trying TO get the passengers
there collected TO make an effort to get forward
Many went; but the larger number several saloon
passengers among theml
LAY THEE AND DIED.
The purser was ING drst to succumb to the intense
cold that prevailed; finding myself OF no use there
got along outside the ship To the tore rigging, got
the fore sheets ana tack undone and Slid ashore;
we now had five ropes to the rocks, along which
men TO the numDer OF 200 passed safely, though
nearly exhausted reaching the rocks; Mr..
MeSSrS owens.
and Thomas now got u line across the inner
channel, which was about one hundred yards vide
and shallow, though with heavy surf running
through; they then went up ana
GAVE ALARM,
and sent messenger to Halifax; about nifty got
To the larger island by the line, though many were
drowned in the attempt, among the number being
the chief steward, who was drowned by the pas
engers crowding him down; !. with the fourth
officer encouraged as much as we could the PEG.
pie about four hundred and fifty who remained
on the ships side to keep moving and keep nom
falling asleep; in many cases they gave right up
ana died, apparently without any pain; twelve men
seated together laid down beside me- and despite
all efforts to rouse them died and slipped into the
sea; at 30 A. NJ the first boat came but she was
100 small to be OF any use.
THE CAPTAINS EMOTION
At this point the Captains feelings overcame
him, and u was several minutes before he could
proceed. Ife then continued
In about twenty minutes more the first large
boat was launched ana proceeded to take the
passengers OF the small rocks; she was in half an
hour followed by two Others. succeeded, fearing
the ship would part and slide into deep water, in
getting them to take of those from the ship first,
and many were saved who ii left there TO the last,
would have persisted from exhaustion; at tins time
! missed the fourth officer, and feared he had
fallen in, when saw him on the rocks encouraging
and helping another boat along; when all had lett
but about thirty men, my hands being frozen and
Immediately. At s:45 all the passengers were
landed, and lodged III a wooden hut, belonging to
FISHERMAN NAMBD CLANCY,
who, with his daughters, gave them all they had,
made fires and warmed them during the day they
were drafted on to the various islands about, and
4 NJ .ttIn hat M.
RYAN the resident Magistrate filing his house and
the others following his example;
No WOMEN OK CHILDREN WERE SAVED;
| at one 7. NJ. sent Mr.. Brady on to Halifax to give
particulars, obtain food and assistance, also get
steamers down early ana convey the passengers
and crew To HALIFAX; at five Y. NJ. the tide having
! fallen, she broke III two abat the lOrcmast ship
falling over Till the sea washed completely over
other officer at hand detailed the boaJswaln and
eight men to prevent
/ THE wREckERs, WHO NOW swARMED ROUND,
| from carrying away the saved goods and set a
watch OF Jour men during the night TO pick up the
bodies of such as might wash ashore; they picked
up but five during the night; at daylight the Gus
toms authorities came down and took CHARGE |
| gave to a Captain Sheridan provisional authority
to employ what labor he required for salvage, with
the understanding that the salvage should not be
over iorty per cent OF the net value; and II this
was objected to, TO leave IL to the arbitration OF
| two Justices OF the peace; we embarked all our
| saved, amounting to about four hundred and
and arrived at Halifax at three p. NJ Where Mr.
| Morrow, the Cunard agent, who had promptly
| offered us every assistance. had places prepared
| for all; l nave gwen tile company'S carpenter
| orders to get
TWO HUNDRED SHELLS TO BURY THE DEAD
and an undertaken to attend to the saloon passen-
| gers bodies and the second oifcer's as their
| friends might wish tnem forwarded; many bodies
had come shore before lett, some unrecogniza-
BILE; but identified those OF Mr.. Metcaif Miss Mer-
rift, Mrs Fisher and the chiefsteward together with
several OF the crew; left the fourth oficer and
four men at the wreck to identity and take charge
OF papers, vauables &C., that might be thrownup;
saved l3 saloon passengers lost ~ saved 416 steer
were seen, the two have spoken OF and one who
got up beside the chief eficer and died IN the rig
EXAMINATION DIRECT
In reply 10 questions oil his counsel he added:-l
| was on the bridge up to twenty minutes past
| twelve; up to midnight it was brilliant starlight;
when 1 left the bridge went into the chart room,
thirty feet abalt the bridge, on the upper deck,
within easy call OF the officer on deck
/ got up at two O'Clock, looked into
| the wheelDouse. and then lay down for
an alarm; IN making calculations ] estimated her
speed to be eleven knots she had Increased gradu-
| ally rom seven and half to twelve knots; the
third ocer reported that she had run 122 miles at
| twelve o'clock that agreed with my calculations
! expected the ship at three O'Clock would be
| eighteen or twenty miles south OF Sambro. and to
all; had every reason to put confidence IN the
| second olilcer; he had made two VOYAGES IN the
, ship; always found nun a steady, sober man.
| CRoss-ExAMINED BY MR. BLANCHARD.
| Ihad latitude by observation and by chronome-
ter when bore up for Halifax; the charts have all
been LOST the ship increased her speed alter bore
| up for HALIFAX, because we were not then so
anxious to economic coal: the speed at twelve
O'Clock was about twelve knots; ! reckoned then
we were forty-elght miles or Sambro then bear
| ing nsrth, five degrees east; ! did not shift the
course; Iconsidered we would pass five miles east
oil Sambro light: | had
NEVER BEFORE BROUGHT SHIPS INTO HALIFAX;
or been on this coast; the third olicer had been in
! the harbor twice; none OF the other officers had
ever been here: did not use the lead at all in
coming TO Halifax: knew we were within sound
| ings, north OF La Have; did not sound because
1 the night was clear and Sambro light should he
! seen twenty-one miles In clear weather and in
| moderate weather fifteen miles; the bridge was
| thirty-six feet above the level oil the sea; knew
/ was approaching the shore; the cearness OF the
night and the certainty OF seeing the light were
| my only reasons for not sounding; am now salts
| fed that when went into the chart room
! WAS MISTAKEN IN THE LOCALITY or THE SHIP;
! she must have been further northward and west
ward than | thought; knew the coast was an
| iron-bound and dangerous one, though had never