The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-18
THE STEAMER NEDERLAND.

Brigantinc Shoals-A LifcbOat Driven
Throwing Cargo observation-disclosures Of
Her Going to Pieces.
ATLANTIC CITY, N. j., April II. 1874.
An awful night closes upon terribly stormy
day. Last evening dreary storm set In, accom-
panied by terrific Winds which rolled up seeth-
ing breakers that dashed on the shore like peals
OF thunder. at an early hour this morning your
correspondent, accompanied by Captain Townsend,
chief officer of the Coast Wrecking Company,
and parties interested In the Red Star line put out
in lieboat manned by fourteen oarsmen, with
the view at all hazards OF reaching the wreck
The sea was rolling frlghtiully at the time. The
craft tossed hither and thlther like feather,
and plunged and rolled and pitched in the break
ers like simple toy and seemed to ship seas
every moment. After three hours OF this terrible
struggle against wind and tide the safety Of the
little craft became critical, the tempest increased
in its strength and the rain came down In torrents
THE LIFEBoAT DRIVEN BACK.
The sea underneath a leaden sky was dashedland
beaten into foam; great masses or water reared
up in front OF us, the craft became utterly un-
manageable, ana the Captain commanded that the
boat should return. For three long and weary
hours, despite the wind and rain and the great
foam in faces, did the at the oars struggle
with "mght and main;'' but the effort was in vain
and our progress amounted to nothing. The
wreck was still three miles away, and to reach
1t in our boat was impossible. The Captain would
not allow the craft to proceed, but ordered its
head to be turned at once toward Atlantic Beach.
The agents OF the line and the managers of the
wrecking company became nervous, the storm
gained strength with each hour, the wind roared
Us hurricane and the boat was likely to be cap
sized. Much difficulty was experienced in turning
about, but, when once around, strange
to say the trip, which had consumed
three tedious hours, was retraced in just
fifteen minutes. 1t is now late at night; the
storm is still at its height, and the sea dogs
here assert that 1t was one of the most severe
that any corresponding season OF past years has
known. The large companies OF wrecKers ex-
pected home at eventide have not returned nor
can they reach shore until the wind abares. Every
lighter which yesterday rendered such great
assistance to the helpless Nederland failed in the
attempt to reach the stranded ship to-day; not
one lighter has sailed over the intervening waters
and the position Of the ship is critical. Indeed
last night one or two men Of the wrecking COM
pany came ashore, and they tell the following
story
STATEMENT OF CAPTAIN JAMES.
captain James, CHIEF Oulcer VI the Ncuerldnu anu
a Frenchman, says that he mistook the Absecun
light for that OF Cape Henlopen and supposed that
the flash OF Little Egg Harbor was the fass beacon
of Cape May. Hence, he suddenly became stranded
upon Brigantine Shoals, and lost at once his rud.
der. He ran aground at eight O'Clock on the even
ing OF Wednesday, He signalled all night
long, sending up rockets and burning blue
lights, but his signals were unanswered from
the shore. Yesterday morning, at about
six O'Clock, the large SHIP was seen and assistance
at once set out for her. She was found lying upon
the shoals, with her head standing east.southeast
When aid reached her from Atlantic City the crew
OF the Nederland, consisting OF eighty-fve men,
were hastily and Unfortunately throwing over
board her cargo. Hence the despatch in the
HERALD OF to-day, which the agents OF the com.
pany this morning officially denied turns out to
be strictly true. They threw overheard immense
quantities OF barley Is, 200 pounds OF pig Iron sew
eral tons OF lead and several thousand pounds
OF miscellaneous merchandise. The draught
OF the Nederland is twenty-one feet astern and
nineteen feet forward, while the water in which
she Is now lying is only twelve feet deep at ordi-
nary high tide. Hence she was driven ashore by
o terrific sea, and every inch OF her Is now
aground, and, In this fright!u night at the mercy
of the tempest.
FRUITLEss ATTEMPTS TO FLOAT HER.
The Wrecking schooner John Curtin made fast at
once to the Nederand with two 16-inch hawsers,
using for purchase to draw the vessel for
ward two anchors each Weighing 4500
pounds. Lighters or smdl craft In the
meantime had arrived, and in order to
render the vessel as buoyant al possible. much OF
her valuable cargo was transferred to them. The
wrecking steamer Chamberlain then came up,
and soon alter another one of similar type,
named Jessie Ervlng, OF the Coast wrecking Com
pany, which also put out hawsers and tried to
drag the vessel on. Quite Unexpectedly, how.
ever, a heavy sea struck her and carried her 300
feet farther up the shoals. Late last night the
tug Relief arrived from New York, having divers,
hawsers and wrecking apparatus OF all kinds on
board. A little steamer from Philadelphia turned
on from her regular course ana made fast a
hawser to the Nederland, but 1t was instantly
snapped In twain and no EFFORT made to unite 1t.
This steamer was supposed TO be the Rattlesnake.