The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-02-10
--LATEST FROM THE UNION
ISLANDS.
The Ship Radical" a Total Wreck.
Beached on the Island of Louisiana.

The side-wheel steamer Radical, as we lear
by recent letters, went ashore on Louisian
Island, January 4th, head on, and broke II
two just abaft midships. There was on boar
at the time full crew, many OF them experi
enced, some having served since the "Radi
cal F." was first launched in 1866. After SOM
successful voyages among the Union Islands
the Off GERS of the Radical broke into tn,
spirit locker and became dissipated. Ere
rquent mutinies had occurred, and severa
changes of officers had taken place.
Captain Grant had been for some time un
itted for command, and the control of the
vessel devolved upon Lieutenant Williams, ar
officer mach disliked by the crew and de-
tested by the passengers. He had his ship
loaded down with a cargo intended expressly
for the market of the more southerly islands Of
the Union group of which Louisiana Island was
one. At the latest accounts the Radical had
not entirely broken up, although the waves at
high tide swept her deck from the stern-post
to the capstan.
excessive drink that he could not be made to
understand that his vessel had gone ASHORE
and must soon 60 to pieces. While awake he
staggered up and down the deck, cursng
sometimes at his mate, sometimes at his
crew, often at his passengers, at the consign-
ors of his heavy cargo, at the weather and at
the slow progress the Radical seemed to him
to be making. He told Williams as soon g. the
vessel reached Louisiana Island he must
make fast to it with his best havser, tow it
out into the open sea and there sink it, but to
be sure and plumber the island completely
before drowning the inhabitants.
The older sailors declared that Capt. Grant
was out of his mind, and had so been for
several voyages. 1t was the purpose Of the
owners of the Radical to employ another
master for the next cruise. He swears that
he will be her commander or sink her at sea
with all on board There was expected to be
much difficulty in getting him ashore before
the vessel was wrecked The last Ineligible
order given by him was to his handyman
Sheridan, to give no quarter to the savages on
Louisiana Island, but to treat them all as
pirates.
The crew and passengers were busily en-
gagged in transferring the Radicals cargo to
other vessels. This cargo consisted Of great
many articles seldom carried out on a trading
voyage. 1t was evident that there was on
board a vast quantity of struggled merchan-
disc, and some of those who went on board
whispered that there was much property
slowed away that had evidently been taken
by force from other vessels-an opinion
strengthened by the belief generally enter
tanned among underwriters that she was ac-
lively preparing for piratical cruise at the
time of her disaster. The depredations of
her crew among the defenseless inhabitants of
the Southern islands lad become notorious
and extremely annoying. There were no col |
ored sailors or passengers on board, but a |
great many who were employed as stokers |
and ooal-heavers.
The most singular circumstance connected |
with the wreck of the..Radical was the multi
tuds of white and black rats that swan ashore
and to other vessels as soon rs she began to |
fill. Yet the Captains trained bloodhounds
refused to leave the deck, and remained bark
ing or whining around their master, a re-
example Of canine fidelity.
At our last accounts several agents Of the
Washington Board of Underwriters were sent
down to make survey of the wreck of the
Radical and to sell the vessel and tackle, but
found no bidders. They pronounced the ship
i total loss. Some of the cargo may be saved,
but with little probability of its being re-
turned, or accounted for, to the shippers or
consignees. The general average is now being
made out. ....5
The Radical was, when launched, an AL
copper-bottomed, copper-fast-
ened, copper-colored, staunch craft, we'll ap-
pointed and thoroughly equipped. She might,
With honest management, under sober mas
.er and crew, have avoided the fatal island
upon which she was wrecked, for some years
It least. '-=. II