The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-09-06
The Great Gale.
Loss OF an English Steamer.
FIFTEEN OF THE CREW
DROWNED.
Thrilling Experience of The Sur
yiyOrs.

HALIFAX, Sept e.-The Cunard steamer Del
ia, whic!. arrived from Sydney, c. B., Thurs
Inflated steamship Saltwell of New Castle,
England, lost on Sag Shoals off Scatterie, dur
ing the gale of the oath ult.
They give the following account of the dis
aster.
The Saltwel sailed from London, England,
August 9th, in ballast, bound for Sydney, c.
B., to load with coal for New York. Arrived
within twenty miles of Sydney harbor at ten
o'clock a. m. on Sunday, the oath, expecting to
get into port about midday. At this time a
thick fog set in and the wind began to blow
hard from the southeast, which gradually in
creased to gale.
At three o'cock p. M, Capt. Mace, afraid Of
being driven on shore, put the ship about to
head off the land and the engines were driven
at flu speed. The wind continued increasing
up to eight O'Clock p. M, when it became
perfect hurricane and the ship could make no
Roadway against it, Still no danger to the ship
was apprehended, and only the usual watch
was kept on deck, the captain remaining on
the bridge.
About eleven o'clock p. M, the ship struck
on what proved to be Say Shoals, off Scatterie
Islands She struck at intervals three different
times before sticking FAST striking each time
about mid-Ships.
The water began rushing in Immediately af-
ter she first struck and quickly put out the
fires. At the first shock the chief engineer
rushed to the engine room. but in very short
time returned AID reported that the ship was
sinking. All hands were reused and the boats
ordered to be lowered. Rockets were also fired
in the hopes of attracting attention from the
Shore
The first boat attempted to be launched was
the starboard life boat. In assisting to get this
beat ng Oh fe EfsaS"aE Ms lbasee f aS
the sea and persisted A few got into this
boat, but in the confusion of the moment they
cut away, letting the boat fall stern foremost
while suspended by the bow. The men were
washed over and tho boat swsshed against the
ship The Dext boat tried was a steamboat
cutter, which, being on the. lee side was
launched without difficulty. An attempt was
then made to get out the port life boat but it
being on the weather side the effort was diff
cult and dangerous. Yet with strenuous efforts
| she was safely launched. The remainder of
the crew were then distributed in two boats, the
| first officer going in charge of the cutter &C
companied by the second officer, second engi-
| neer, boatswaiu and five seamen.
The captain took charge of the life boat nd
| gave orders that the two boats should leave to-
| gether and keep as near as possible to each 9th
er and render asssta ace in case either should
| need it. The captain was accompanied by the
| third engineer, the fourth engineer, carpenter
| chief steward, engineers steward, cock cabin
| boy, seamen, four firemen and q, stowaway, in
| all fifteen souls.
! When about to leave the ship the captain
looked over the side to apprse those in the cut
! ter but she was not to be seen, and has not
| since been heard of. The probability is that
| those n charge left at once and got lost among
| the breakers in making for the light.
When the life boat got clear of the ship she
was headed for Louisburg light, bearing about
| southwest. but after a time tbs course had to
| be abandoned owing to the violent head wind
| and heavy sea, the night being intensely dark
| We then followed the course of the sea, keep
| ing the boat easy until daylight, when land
was seen and the boat was headed for it, but
| again we were doomed to disappointment for
| on nearing the shore the sea was found to be
one mass of huge breakers through which no
boat could pass and live. We had then to pull
| off shore and after some four hours rowing
again saw light head, which we sheered for
| and succeeded in landing at Fourche C. B.
| where we were cared for by the inhabitants.
| and next day walked to Sydney.
| Fifteen of the steamers crew have been lost
| and fifteen were saved In the life boat.
Still Further Particulars.
The American revenue cutter Woodbury.
| from Boston bound for Cape Breton and the
| Magdalen Islands. arrived this morning.
| letter from the Magdalen Islands gives the
| following particulars regarding the late storm
there:
| The tide rose to an extraordinary height
| causing very heavy sea in the hey and vessels
| to ride heavily at anchor. At daylight on the
| 25th the scene at Amherst harbor defied de-
scriptiOp. Nine American schooners were
wrecked between Amherst and Bacque harbors,
! anu uuFllg Uue Jay VESSEL dIJer vessel CUnLln
ued to break adrift from their moorings, and
| those who were far enough to wndward ran
| for the harbor and anchored with the ground
tackle that they had on board, while others who
had none were obliged TO run on to the beach
| to save the lives of their crews. Many did not
| strike the channel and were wrecked at the en-
trance. During the morning an American
| schooner drove across the bows of the bark
Swift, and for q short time the destruction of
| both vessels seemed certain. Fortunately a
fl,no nt..
and dismasted her instantly. At noon the bar
Ometer fell to its lowest point, $3.50. The shore
| at this time was covered with debris and wrecks
of hundreds of ships Destitute mariners were
| wandering about the beach not knowing where
| to go to find food or shelter from the bowling
| storm.
The inhabitants of the village did all in their
power to relieve the sufferers, and administered
to their wants as well as their humble means
| would afford.
About D. m the bark Swift of New Jersey,
from Blame Sablon, which had been riding with
| four anchors and cables ahead was driven from
| them all, and having $50 souls on board, she
endeavored to reach the harDor for safety
| When nearing the breakers she became uu-
| manageable and drove upon the beach at its en-
| trance, and became wreck. When night clos
| ed in, 40 vessels were on shore wrecked, and 26
Others were afloat in Amherst harbor. with loss
| of anchors, cables, boats, and otherwise dam
aged. Only nine remained outside at their
| moorngs in the bay Fortunately the loss of
| life was small Only three bodies are missing
from the schooner E. S. Smith of Wellfeet,
Moss. One of the bodies has since been found.
| The field and garden crops have suffered severe
| ly, and in exposed situations are entirely de-
stroyed.I Barns and hay stocks were blown
| down, and a number of fishing boats were sunk
and lost. A schooner from Chatham n b.,
discharging light house materials at Entry Is
land was dismasted, and after the storm abat-
| ed was taken in tow by schooner for Prince
Edwards Island OFF Old Harry Head schoon
| er was seen going down with all hands. Since
then some blubber casks, mast, sail, with 9TH
| er wrecked materials have come on Shore in
Guiding piece of board with "Tyro'' painted
| on it.
| The following Maine vessels were stranded
| Diploma, Kate McClintock, Samuel McKeop
| and Silver Lake of Boothbay, Snow Squall of
| Deer Isle. and Yannuard of Snuthnnrtr