The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-03-27

were .u sessd tho Rccksway when ste vac
wrecked, al tee vancyxe Hate. loot 81 Cath
e,re .shr, chou. eleven O'Clock 'ast n;2nt.
They Jshn Doyle, carpenter, from Gi!dersiseve
landing Portland, Conn, AMI John Shea, 81 Baltimore.
carpenter They were about retiring Ter tie nigEt
VIXEN tie reporter entered, and though they were urea
sna WORE Gu, they couricousy consented 10 sii dow
ard give .aateve. information was IN their power.
John Doy:e's statement, which was corroSoraied IN
every particular BY his companion. john Shea, is MS
foows:-
The launch took place at Atlantic Chy which Is just
outside Of Norfolk, Va. about four O'Clock, Saturday
afternoon. After the launch, all the usual preparations
having made, we're taken IN tow BY the wyan-
oke one Of the Old Dominion line OF steamships bound
for New York. On board Of the launch were
ten men, myself and my friend here, John
Shea; Theodore Carpenter Of Staten Island;
Henry Francis, rigger. OF Millbricse, Ne' !
Morris Garvey, caulker Of Brooklyn; Mark Schultz
carpenter Of Now York: the mate John Frost; the
pilot, Luke Schenck, OF New York. Captain Holden
and boilermaker, whose name don't know. When
we left Atlantic City It was about eight O'Clock IN
the evening. and the weather clear and
pleasant. Early Sunday morning the wind was blow.
ing pretty fresh from the northeast and the sea was
increasing. sunday evening the sea was quito ugly
and The vessel was laborng hard. The captain anc
pilot felt some misgving and gave directions
to make everything fast us possible. All
hands were doing their utmost to that effect
and everything worked favorably until little before
daylight Monday morning. We were all night making
things secure, and at one O'Clock In the morning
went into tho hold with a lantern TO see If the water
was gaming any but found that even at that time there
was not moro than five inches OF watcr In the hold.
SHAKING TO PIECES
II was shortly after this, though, that some Of the
shores tell down, aud there lively time from
that tai, six o'clock all the men working like beavers
trying TO keep things secure About five O'Clock In
the morning the hog franc fell and the vessel
parted amidships. We then, as far as can
Judge between Bmncgat and Little Egg Harbor and
altogether out OF sight OF land. II was quite dark
The sea running very high. but we hailed the
steamer Wyanoko and made them hear us on
board. We about ut that time hawser's length
from tho steamer We called to them to back up and
come alongside for the vessel was sinking.
TAKEN OFF.
They heard US Immediately, and all hands on board
the Wyanoke were soon deck They backed up to
wndward and sent fcboat alongside with tho first
oflcer aud two men. They took OF five men, who
safely reached tho deck OF the steamer. and
after the boat was hosted on the davits ana
cmpted OF the water, for II was almost fu II was sent
back Tho other live were taken of then, Captain
Holden being the last leave the wreck with two
other officers. Once on board the Wyanoke we were
all we'll taken care OF and gwen dry clothes.
SHE Goxs DOWN.
The hawser attached to the vessel was tautened and
the wreck was Kept tow till 1t sunk even with the
surface OF the water. II use to attempt to tow
II any longer so 1t adrf. The vessel was oil
breaking to pieces and the sea covered the wreck.
The gallows frame Of heavy timbers was still standing
but the hog frame had fallen away almost completely
THE xEy's LOSS.
All the carpenters and others board the vessel
lost their Clothes TOOLS trunks chests and whatever
money or valuables they possessed The was run.
ming so high when we left the wreck that when we
were in the trough OF the We could not discover
the hull of the Wyanoke. Wc arrived at pier No 81
North River, between seven and eight O'Clock this
evening. Most OF the belong In New York and
Brooklyn and have gone 10 their homes. We will go
home tomorrow.
Mr. Doyle further stated that be had worked on the
Rockaway the 9th Of January, and that she was
an excellent vessel and built In the best OF the
best whte and yellow pine. Although from
the time the frames began to give way and the vessel
parted till she perfect wreck hardly hree-quar.
tiers of IN hour elapsed he considered that sho was
as solid launch, for boat oil hor kind, as ever left
| auy shipyard.