The sun., 1873-02-08
THE NoRTHFLEET HORROR.
.uBrILIYG PARTICULARS OF TIE
DREADFUL CRIME.
ssrec Hundred Endaran,. Ensnlfed-Hero-
lam OF the ships Captnin-statements OF
s,,,,yor. -!nteresiing cidcnts.

-. of the ships Captain-ststenents OF
survivor. -!nteresiing Incidca,s.
iron, n, London Tlp'es. Jan. a.
IN Wednesday night, shortly after IL
,lnch an appalling catastrophe occurred In the
A.onei a few miles from Dover. The North
90, an emigrant ship, was run down while at
.ochnr by a foreign steamer. and more than 100
ives we're lost. The atmosphere at the time was
n,lsrably clear. with stars visible, but tho wea-
her looked threatening, and IA dead-head
md was blowing several outward hound ships
III brough; up for the evening in this part Of
~ nS Channel. The Northaeet was a flne old ship
gai6 ions, built some twenty years ago at cost
AZ enODO She was lately chartered by the hrm
si Edwin Clark, Punchard Co OF Victoria
,trret, \. W, contractors for the rasmanian
Main Line Railway, to convey $50 railway labor
,rs, with certain number OF women aud chill
sren under twelve years Of age), to Hobart
T"wn The Northneet left the Fast India Docks
IN friday, the l1th Inst, with her full compile
nent Of passenrers the onicers and crew adding
,bo,t forty souls, and completing living freight
AZ about 400 persons. There were not more than
xgtons " cargo On board, and these we're chiefly
ron rails and railway material, all of which was
,toycd in the lower hold, the entire range OF
,he ship between decks having been htted up for
THE SHIPS COMMANDER.
Almost At the moment Of the ship leaving the
aorss her commander during the last nye years,
IApt oates was stopped 10y Treasury warrant
of subpoena to attend the forthcoming Tich-
borne iTial r., The vessel was quite ready to sail
Aessrs Patton, having perfect confidence In
r., lain Oatess chief officer. Mr.. Knowles, gave
The command Of the ship to him, and allowed
him ~ take on board with h i'm the lady to whom
he had been married about month ago, and
who IL among the few saved. After leaving
GRyescnd the Northueet encountered the full
force VI last weeks stormy weather, and Capt.
Knowles felt i prudent to anchor under the
day On Tuesday, the weather having slightly
moderated, the Northheet weighed anchor, and
sailed down Channel, and was reported at
Iloyds ~ having passed Deal AL we'll" on
Wednesday she came to mn anchorage af AunS ct
"a Dungeness. about two nilUs from shore, In
about eleven fathoms of water, and al most OPP
pOsite the Coastguard station.
THE COLLISION.
About 10 o'clock =. NJ. the ship was taut and
comfortable for the night. Almost all the pas
sengers had turned In, and none but the usus
officers aud men Of the watch were on deck
lust as the bells were striking the half houi
After 10 the watch observed a large steamer out
ward bound In dangerous proximity, coming
down directly toward them. She appeared u
the watch, who called upon her to alter thei
course, reused Capt. Knowles, who was on th'
M,er deek a. 1oment nor b before teh steamer liam. Gam'
amidships, making clean breach In her timber
beneath the water line. and actually crushing
Tho shock 10 described by the survivors To hav
bean like the conclusion Of very powerful
sns one al 'hs sbs ot so .n
more than very few OF the terrified passenger
out OF sight. Most OF the passengers were
weakened by the shock, and a fearful panic en-
Iued
CAPT. Knowles oALLASTRY.
Capt. Knowles was on deck Immediately and
Wted with a calmness, promptitude, and do
sison that will cover his memory with honor
taised on board the emigrant ship, the steame
passed on her way without offering the slightes
assistance. Capt. Knowles Immediately order
cd rockets TO be sent up and other signals OF dis
lTess To be made, and in the mean time directed
he boats TO be launched, giving imperative
orders that the women and children shoulC
be first secured. There was n disposition to Sc
these orders at defiance, sad on some Of th'
crew crowding to the davits with view, .
and declared he would shoot the first man VIII
attempted TO save himself before the womei
sere cared for: Most OF the crew seemed z
understand that the captain was not TO b
trihed with, but one man refused to obey th'
order, and the captain discharged the revolver
The bullet entered the mans leg Just above tn
knee. Meantime the pumps were set to work
out with little or no effect, the water pourin
n through the openings occasioned by th
collision.
SCENE OF HORROR.
Tho survivors describe the scene as heart
rndng. May Of the passengers were In thei
aght dresses. others had upon them only sucl
.canty clothing as they could secure on quittin
their hcrths. Children were screaming for thei
PARENTS and parents search hing In vain for thei
children; while husbands and wives were hope
les ly separatcd. The horror was increased b.
the darkness of the night, The captains VIII
Nas placed with other women in the lungbOu'
under the charge Of the boatswain, but tn
tackle being too suddenly set adrift, the boa
was stove in. By this time the City OF Londo
steam-tug had reached the spot, having per
ceiyed the signals Of distress, and succeeded /
tescuing nearly the whole of the occupants q
the boat as well as several others Of the passen
gers and crew, the number saved by the tU
being ~. She remained cruising about the spo
I'LL early yesterday morning, picking up such @
The PASSENGERS as could get clear OF the wreck
and In the hope Of rendering assistance to thos
who had fioated on Fragments OF the ship aftC
she settled down. The klncsdown luggcr Mar
also rendered good service. She was likewis
attracted by the signals OF distress and su,
'eeded In picking up - passengers. The Loi
don pilot cutter No. 2, and the Princess, 81
reeded in rescuing 2l. ten of them from the III
ring. The total number thus rescued was 81.
THEcAprAIs GOES Down WITH MS SHIP.
The pilot in charge was named George Brack
he was below at tho time OF the collision, an
gained the deck simultaneously with the ca
tain, of whose conduct he speaks in the highe
.crms. He describes him as displaying the u
most cOolness and presence Of mind, and eyin
,ng every anxiety for the succour of those lea
able t. save themselves. The ship went dow
IN about three quarters of an hour after she wi
struck, the Captain remaining at his post till sh
sank. one OF the survivors states that he WI
standing close to him when she went dowI
he former managed 10 lay hold of some foa
ng substance, and was borne To the surfac
The Captain, however, was not again seen. tt
pilot and ten others mad taken 10 the mizent OF
mast from which they were finally rescued.