The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-01-28
BURNING OF THE EMIGRANT
SHIP COSPATRICK.
Loss Of Four Hundred and Fifty
Lives.
Heartrending Scenes at Sea.

at sea on November 18th, Of the emigrant shi
Cospatrick, with the large loss Of life al
tending it. The Liverpool Weekly ADion, c
January 2, has the following graphic accoun
of this terrible marine disaster narrated b
one Of the survivors, Mr.. N Donnall, the sec
ond officer:
The ship Cospatrick, Of London, Capt. A
Elmslie, left Grayesend for Auckland on tn,
18th September, 1874, with upwards of fou,
hundred emigrant and cabin passengers, anl
crew OF forty-one men, all told. Tuesday
18th November, noon Lat. 81. 10 S, long
II % E.; wind light from n. n. W, sea
smooth. 1t was my watch on deck from 8 p.
NJ, till midnight. Everything was quiet.
was relieved by the officer and went to bed.
! had Just dropped off to sleep when l was
awakened by the alarm Of fire. Jumping out
OF bed met the captain, who ordered me TO
60 forward to see what was the matter. I ran
forward and saw smoke coming out of the
forehatch, all passengers running on deck.
and the chief officer getting the force pump
at work
We poured water down the forescuttle as
everybody said that the fire was in the boat
SWANS locker | ran aft to put the ship be-
fore the wind, and found the captain endeay-
orlng to do SO, but in vain. The fire was
rapidly gaining on us, flames bursting out of
the forehatch, but we still continued our
endeavors to eXtinguish il. The passenoers
rushed all about with loud screams for helm,
| impeding US in our work. The ship came
head to wind, which drove flames and a thick
body OF smoke att, setting fire to the forward
| boats, and obliged US to recede | asked the
captain If we should lower away the remain
| ing boats and was told "No," but to endeayor
to extinguish thefire.
The passengers rushed to the two quarter
NtrhJ rl, h.
the side, and crowded them l consider that |
no less than eighty mostly women-eot on |
the starboard boat, when the davits bent
down with the weight, and the boats stern
dipped under the sea. The boat filled. can
sized, and all Its occupants were drowned
alongside, it being impossible to render any
assistance. | had stationed some sailors by
the port boat, giving strict orders not to
lower away unless by orders of the captain.
but the passengers made a rush for her. and
we could not prevent them from getting in,
by this time the foremost had fallen over the
side, and the flames were bursting out of the
atter-hatch
then heard the captain, who was standing
at the wheel, say to those around, "Nowo
every one tor himself to save his own life, " or
words to that effect. His wife, son and
daughter were standing alongside of him.
The mate, boatswain, third officer and N.Y. !
self were trying to turn the large pinnace over 7
to launch her, but could get no assistance,
and as her bows were catching fire we left
her Some threw the captains gig over the
side, bat saw no more of her. ordered the
port boat to be lowered, and when half down
got INTO her. When we got clear of the
ships side the chief officer jumped overheard.
swami to the boat: and we helped him and G
emale passenger.
The boat was kept off the ships side.
3eing overloaded thirty four persons being
n her-the malnmast fell over the side fl
yhch must have killed a good many The Ell
hips stern blew out. One passenger told ii
ne he saw the captain throw his wife over .
'oard and jump after her, whilst the doctor ri
umped overheard with the captains boy in al
rs arms and that they were drowned. The &C
nizzenmast then fell overheard. "a
We laid by the burning ship till DAYLIGHT.
ONE people hanging on to the spars along an
lde We picked one man up who had been 90
eating on piece of plank all the time 70
ulled toward some spars floating at the dis
lnce, and met the starboard boat full of peo- XII
le, the boat having been righted by some pa
ailors. Not having an officer in the boat :.
ley begged me to take charge which [ will
Ugly did; and as their boat was not SO full. I
'ok one seaman and one male passenger CT
ong with me. We stopped by the Ship until
ne sank, which was on the 10TH at p NJ. II
we drlfted all the night and next morn at
g. divided oars-one and half in str
y boat, no rudder; two oars: rud- r.
er in the mates boat. We were without "
rovislons or water; had neither masts nor {
us; but got petticoat from an Irish girl !
the mates boat to use a sail. We then -
laped, as we thought, our course for the
ape OF Good Hope, and kept company all mr.
e 10Th and Dist, when it commenced to blow. IN
"a we got separated during the night l
hlstled and shouted, but got no answer, and d
daylight the boat was nowhere to be seen. ID
My boat contained the baker, the emicrants M
ok, three A. b. IS, ten seamen and twenty &c
rec passengers-all males-and myself, IN ou
thirty people. The other boat contained NJ
e chief mate, Cunningham, 4. B., Nicol, A. an,
, Derby, A. b., Roscory, A. B., Wood, O. l
the butcher, and twenty-five passengers, mo
en- and women, and one baby about eleven :
VS. old.
Sunday, 22d.-Weather dull and a heavy ~-~
ell on. Thirst began to be felt on all hands.
man, named Benthy, fell overheard whilst
eering and sunk. Three men died. having
st become mad In consequence of drinking
t water. We threw their bodies overheard.
Monday, 23d.-Blowing hard. and a biab
. running which kept us constantly baili3g 81:
ter out We tore the seats and stern sheets
and made drag, which caused the boat
lay easier, but it only being fastened with 81
ands Of the painter we lost it. Four men
ID the same as the others, but we were so
ngry and thirsty that we drank the blood ia
ate liver of two Of them. We lost our
y oar this day by the man steering falling Ofe
eep. witt
tuesday, 2ith.-Strong gales. Rugged an stt w
er drag, fastened with braces and belts a. if
clothing Of the dead. Six more deaths Z,
lay. mea
Wednesday, 18th Light breeze unlawful ~ ~
lot. Some more died. and We are reduced -
7ight-three Of those out Of their minds. ID
all felt very bad to-day
.arly on the morning Of Thursday 10Th, ,sa
beng daylight bark passed close to rs
ming. We hailed but got no answer,
Oh made us lose all hope One more He
i. Light, me weather. We kept sucking price
blood Of those that had died. =
riday, 9th. -Squally all around, with light lin