New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-03-19
Remarkable circumstances in Connection
with the NOrthfeet Disaster and the
TfchbOrue CRse.


A very curious circumstance has come 10
light in connection with the loss of the
NOrtbhcet. Captain Oates. who was hel
actual captain 1p TO within a few hours %
the ships sailing, has been trettlng ai1n
Tuning in the tolls which the llchoo4 nc
case cast around him as being an inpoftanS
witness against the claimant. "a Ia-,.
Oates is the only man living VINO ga" 81
TichbOrne safe on board the beiI'' o. 49,
bound for New York, and he was
naed BIZ the counsel tor the young I NO. %
soon as the claim OF the p'.ui-iiI
Sir Roger was put IN. >, e. "a,
Wien the NGr1htiee. was ready 1"' sex
CautaiD Oates secretly ieared dtI' liti''+,
huf as he had already mdue d uGP"'i14U'
which was in the hands OF the Ieau,hg -
ael for the prosecution. he ptt d voiu . ~
on the matter and vent on WIN us p 49,
r.tio,s for the voyage as II no subpoena was
Lanoing over his head. When the law
-t"ns beeard that the Northfpe. wa' about
70 saI they intimated to Captain Oates that
Ia was .:wanted' in Aprli. and must nov
sail. under heavy penalties. me me
600 or 1900 if you like. SAID
Contain Oates. "hut | must sail IN IN.
Northheet on saturday next NO sad
| NJ Hawkins, the coun5e! for The crown.
..w, must have your body in court. and If
vo,, attempt to sail you viii be arrested.
The Northheet was TO have sailed on Satur.
dav. the eleventh ultmo. and only on the
orevioue Friday. Captain Oates. from IN
formation received in the shape Of sund.y
formidable instructions OF the law. SAID Il
was impossible for him to sail.
After hasty consultation with his
brother owners. captain Oates had a
share in the ship,, il was decided to give
the command TO Captain Knowles. who
had sailed with Captain Oates for i've
years, and of whom very high opinion
was held. All the personal effects OF Cap
tain and Mrs. Oates we're at the time on
board the vessel, and were hastily removed
to give place to the new captain ana his
bride. Mr.. Knowles had been engaged Tor
some time to be married. but had always
said he would wait TIL he got COM
| mand. The waiting was so long
that that, about Christmas he determined
| to tarry no longer. and here VITA
wonderful good luck. as it appeared to the
poor fellow. a command unexpectedly tum'
| bIed into his hands. when he had been
married only few weeks. He and mrs.
| Knowles gave up the apartments winch
they had Just taken and furnished, and III a
| given day, Mrs. Knowles joined the snip at
| Gravesend, taking up her residence IN the
superior cabins which Captain Oates had
| especially fitted up for himself and wife
| The rest of the story the world knows; 0u:
| there are some curious incidents connected
with it, which are worthy of mention.
About seven years ago. Mr.. Knowles be
ing then chief officer. an emigrant ship out
ward bound from London was lying III he
Downs when his Snip was run into by
steamer and cut down to the waters edge
Fortunately assistance was at hand. and
| she was towed back SAFE " to London and
| there underwent repairs. What adds great
Iv TO the remarkable character of the com
cidence is that George Brock, the pilot. II
charge of the Northheet at the time of heI
being run down, vas also in charge OF the
other emigrant ship Of which the hap.ea'
| captain was chief mate.