Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-03-29
Loss of H. B. M. Ship EurydiCe.

LONDON, March "A.
The naval-training ship Eurydice
capsized off Dunnose Head. on the
south coast of the Isle of Wight, this
afternoon, in a sudden squall and sank
Immediately. She had over 800 men
on board.
The Eurydice was under full sail when
she was overtaken by snow-storm, ,ac-
companied by heavy squall The sun
shone brilliantly again shortly after
ward, but nothing was then visible ex-
cept a few boxes floating down the chan
mel. The survivors say they saw the
ship suck down many as she sank.
The Eurydice was training ship for
ordinary seamen. under command of
Capt. Marcus A. $. Hare. She was
sixth-rate, 92l tons, and carried four
guns. 81"
-.f-.. l..', roll.
....tt. . LONDON, March 25.
The schooner Emma, passing the
Eurydice at the time she capsized, res
cued five persons, including Lieut. +.
II. Taber, after they had been an hour
in the water Three of these died, so
the only survivors of the disaster are
Benjamin Cuddiford, an able seaman,
and Sydney Fletcher, first-class boy.
The following is Cuddiford's statement
The ship capsized in a squall and snow
storm about four in the afternoon, when five
miles from Dunnose. There were over 800
persons on boa :, all Of whom, except myself
and Fletcher, were, | believe, lost. Capt.
Hare was near me when she went down after
capsizing, aud she carried with her large
number of men, who were clinging to her or
were drawn down in the vortex. A man near
me said: g A vessel was close by when the
Nl.nWu
to be picked up.n Twas more than an hour in
the water, being u iirst-rate swimmer, and
very many of my comrades cried to me for
help. | tried to assist two or three, but at
last there were four elinging to me, and | was
obliged to kick them off. Our ship left Ber-
muda three weeks ago. We passed the Lizard,
in the county of Cornwall, aud the most
southern point of Great Britain, yesterday,
and expected to anchor at Spithead about five
In the afternoon. r.. ...s. ....
The Admiral commanding at Ports
mouth has sent steamers to search in
the vicinity of the accident, but no fur
ther report has been received. The
Eurydice had about 800 officers and
seamen, of which 270 were young men
in training, besides about twenty Off
GERS and men taken on board at Ber-
muda as invalids.
Dunnose, off which the ship was lost,
is a lofty headland and well known to
visitors to the Isle of Wight. 1t is sit
uated short distance south of Shanklin
Chine, about midway from that point
to Block Garry Chine. The Eurydice
was commissioned at Portsmouth in
February, 1877, and went on practice
cruise to the West Indies, whence she
had been for some days expected at
Portsmouth. r--
A telegram from Ventnor states that
bark was seen bearing toward Dun
nose just before the squall, and there is
some hopes she may have rescued 9TH
ers. In consequence of the strong ebb
tide and north wind at the time of the
accident the bodies are not expected to
come ashore.
All hands were mastering on deck for
PRAYERS at the time of the disaster. But
for the schooner Emma nothing would
have been known of the disaster, as
everything on the sea was hidden from
those on the shore by the binding snow
storm, and 1t would have been thought
the ship had gone on the Spithead. AT
half-past three the Esplanade at Vent
nor was crowded with visitors admiring
the Eurydice, which was carrying every
stitch of canvas. She sailed SO close to
shore that from the pier-head the cord
age of the rigging was visible. Sud
denly the sky became overcast and snow
and sleet descended, quickly driving
the promenaders to cover and hiding
the vessel from view. When the storm
lifted only the schooner Emma, lower
| ing her boats, could be seen.
Mr.. Fletcher states that he was below
when, hearing the noise on deck, he
rushed up and found the vessel on her
side in a sinking condition. He seized
hfe-buoy and jumped overheard. He
| had been in the water scarcely minute
when the vessel launched forward and
sank, drawing him down such n distance
that he gave himself up for lost, but the
life-buoy drew him to the surface.
Several gunboats are to-day cruising
in the neighborhood, and an effort will
be made to raise the vessel.
A telegram from COwes says there is
no doubt that the Eurydice was carry
ing too much sail. She had her lower
and upper studding sails set.
LONDON, March 2S.
The official list issued by the Admi-
rally shows that the Eurydice's officers
and crew numbered 29S men. Seven,
however, were possibly left at Barba-
does in prison. All accounts agree that
there were also from twenty to thirty
passengers, officers, invalids and men
whose time had expired, on board.