The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1873-04-11


about thirty men, my hands being frozen and
my legs stiff, they took me of, the rest follow
ing Immediately.
at $40 A, n. the survivors were landed and
lodged IN u wooden hut belonging to a fisher
man named Clancy. He and his daughter
gave them all they had, made fires and warm
cd them. During the day they were drafted
to the various islands about and bilIeted
! amongst what houses there were there, Mr..
Ryan, the resident magistrate filling his house
and others following bis example. No women
or children were saved. at A. M. 1 sent
Mr.. Brady on to Halifax to give the particu-
lars, obtain food and assistance; also to get
steamers down early and convey the passen-
gers and crew to Halifax.
At p n. the tide having fallen, she broke
in two about the foremast the ship falling
over until the sea washed completely over
her. Her cargo wBs now washed out. Having
no other officer at hand, detailed the cox
swain and eight men to prevent the wreckers,
who now sWarmed around, from carving
away the saved &C OILS, and set Watch of four
men over night, to pick up the bodies of such
as might wash ashore. They picked up but
five during the night. At daylight the Gus
tom authorities came down and took charge.
gave to CAPTAIN Sheridan provisional au-
thority 10 employ what labor he required, for
oeAANo5Cg VIII Allo UNDERSTANDING tue
salvage should not be over forty per cent of
the net value, and if this was objected to, to
leave 1t to the arbitration Of two justices Of
the peace. We embarked all our saved,
amounting to about 429, in the steamers Lady
Head and Delta, and arrived at Halifax at 3
p. NJ, where Mr.. Merritt, the Cunard agent,
who had promptly offered US every assistance,
had place prepared for ALL Ihave given the
companys carpenter orders to get two hun
dred shells to bury the dead, and an undertake
| er to take care Of the saloon passengers bod
les, and the second officers as their friends
might wish them forwarded. Many bodies
had come ashore before I left. Some were
unacceptable, but identified Mr.. Metcalf,
Miss Merritt Mrs. Fisher, and the chief stow
ard together with several others. ] left the
fourth officer and four men at the wreck, to
identify and take charge of the papers, valua-
bles, &C., that might be thrown up or saved.
Thirteen saloon passengers were lost, twenty
saved; 4l6 steerage passengers lost, 527 steer
age passengers and crew saved. But three
women were seen. Two 1 have spoken of,
and the one who got up beside the chief officer
/ and died in the rigging with her baby.
In reply to q question of his counsel he add
ed that he was on the bridge up to twenty
minutes past twelve. Up to midnight there
was brilliant starlight and after that an oc-
| casional sight OF the stars. When he left the
bridge he went into the chart room, thirteen
feet abaft the bridge on the upper deck and
within easy call of the officer on deck. He
got up at 2 O'Clock, looked into the wheel
house and then lay down. In making his cal
culations he estimated the speed to be at the
time eleven knots. She had increased gradu.
ally from seven and half to twelve knots
The third officer reported that she had run
one hundred and twenty-five miles at twelve
which agreed with his calculation He ex-
pected the ship at three would be eighteen OF
twenty miles south of SambrO' He Law BY
until daylight. He had not his clothing of
at all and had every reason to put confidence
in the second officer. He had made two voy-
ages in the ship and always found him sober
steady man.
On cross examination, Captain Williams
said the speed of the vessel at twelve was
about twelve knots. He reckoned he wal
/ easterly eight miles off Sambro, bearing north
| five degrees east. He did not shift the course
and expected to pass five miles east of SambrC
Ledges. He never brought the Ship into Hal
flax, nor had he ever been on the coast before
| The third officer had been in the harbor twice
/ No other officer had been there.
The White Star steamers are supplied with
printed orders for the guidance of the com
manders. These orders are, that we are t.
take all possible precautions against fire, col
lision and wreck. There are no special in
structions as to precautionary measures in ap
preaching the shore. That is left entirely Il
| the Judgment of the commanders. The oficer
in charge have full power to change the courst
or stop the ship if necessary, without consult
/ ing the captain. There are no special instruc
tions as to soundings.