The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-12
Captain Price Reveals His
MiScalculation.
A REMARKABLE STATEMENT.
Steaming at Seventeen Knots
Without a Bearing.
WRECKERS AT WORK.
Lloyds' Agent Comedies the
Steamer a Total Loss.
rBY CABLE TO THE HEgALD.1

[BY CABLE TO THE HERALD.1
AMLwcu, Wales, May IL, 1877.
Your correspondent boarded the stranded
steamer Dakota OF the Williams Guion line yester-
day. After reaching the Amwch Tor Almwich)
shoals 1T was not easy to get at the vessel but
with the aid OF the sailors he finally succeeded
in getting on board.
CAPTAIN PRICES STATEMENT.
saw Captain Price, who was busy superintend-
ing the removal of some valuables and giving in
structions concerning the cargo In reply to my
questions as to the cause OF the disaster he said
that at the time OF the mishsp the Dakota was
steaming forward at the rate or seventeen knots q
an hour.
OFT OF HIS RECKONING.
He had no idea that she had gone out OF her
course until suddenly she struck upon the rocks,
first slightly, then with a terrific bump, shaking the
vessel violently. When she struck the second time
1t was discovered she was only about one hundred
yards from the Shore
ANXIETY OF THE PASSENGERS
The cause OF this humping was great mystery
to the passengers, among whom were welsh Eng
lish, French, Dutch, German Italian and Swedish
emigrants There were also few Americans on
board When 1t became known that the vessel
was on the rocks there was the most painful
anxiety to leave the ship as strong though not
high tide was running, and 1t was feared the
steamer would break up. Subsequent events prove
how well founded these fears were
POSITION OF THE WRECK
The position OF the Dakota now is peculiar. Her
bow stands high up on the rocks, pointing to the
shore, while her stern is submerged oceanward,
covered by about thirty fcot of water at low tide
listing over at an angle of about thirty degrees
badly ripped for q distance OF twenty-five feet.
She fills with water at high tide.
COMMENTS OF THE LIVERPOOL NEWSPAPERS
THE CAPTAIN AND PILOT NAVIGATING THE
sTEAMER-LLoYDs GIVE HER UP AS A WRECK.
LIVERPOOL, May IL, 1877.
The passengers and some OF the crew OF the
Dakota reached this city by the midnight train
from Anglcsey.
LIVERPOOL PRESS REPORTS.
The Courier says the vessel got ten miles out OF
her course either through the thickness OF the
weather or some miscalculation. She was in
charge OF the captain but had one OF the companys
pilots on board. The wind was blowing moderately
from the east and the was almost calm. At low
water the forward part of the Dakota was high and
dry but the strain OF the cargo caused her to break
in two. There is hope that great deal OF the cargo
will be got out without much damage.
TWO MEN NAVIGATING THE STEAMER.
The Post says:-"The accounts we have been
able to obtain throw little further light upon the
cause OF the mscalculations which led to the dis.
aster. 1t appears the error had been discovered
before the vessel struck, and land was distinctly
sighted. The engines were at once reversed and
the vessel simply glided in upon q smooth rock,
The sea was toleraby calm at the time, so there
was comparatively little commotion among the
passengers. The captain and pilot were cooperat-
ing in navigating the vessel. Tho passengers bag
1t was reported yesterday evening that the Dakota
had parted and sunk, but this is said TO be erro-
neous as although she is In critical, If not hope
less condition, she remained upon the rocks up to
a late hour last night The captain andsome OF
the officers remain by the ship, but as the water
portion OF the after part the hope OF saving
her or the cargo is not great.-
REPORT LIoyDs' AGENT.
Loyds' agent here says:-"The Dakota has not
parted, but 1t is believed there is no chance OF
saving the ship. She lies in an exposed position,
with list to seward OF forty-nve degrees. There
Is thirty-nvc feet OF water over the tanrail, and
onc-third OF the deck is submerged at low water.
The Salvage Associations agents are at the wreck
with tugs, pumps and gear for getting out cargo.
There was heavy sea this morning, but the
weather Is now fair"
unTET. ADpIUiTc