Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-05-23
APPALLING sHIPWRECK.


A HtOvm in aha May OF Blachy
DrOwna Three Hundred and TWeu.
- FfshermeD-R0rfy widows and
Tive Hundred Orphans in One
small Village
A correspondent of the London
Daily News writes from Madrid,
April 20: ga terrible disaster oc-
Cured in the Bay Of Biscay last
Saturday. 1t was holy week aud
for several days the fishing boats
had not left their ports. The nets
had been hung out to dry, and the
men loitered about to look on the
quaint professions of Good Friday.
The weather had been very fine du-
ring the earlier part of the week,
and on Saturday the sun rose glori-
ouslY on qniet sea. Accordingly,
before s o'clock the sails OF the fish
ermen of Biscay studded the hori-
zon. BY midday the breeze shifted
to the northeast, and liue Of clouds
appeared far away in the horizon.
The sea rose very fast, and the
waves increased on the sands. Gulls
and other birds began to sweep
along tie surface of the water with
their peculiar cry. The sky grew
overcast rapidly, and then the
fierce noroeste," the Northwestern
of Basque ballads, began to howl
and rage in a manner which made
the bravest hearts quake. People
gathered on the piers and on the
rocks to gaze. at the approaching
squaIl, which came on with rain,
hail and sleet, hiding the sea from
view, and driving all to their homes.
When the squall was over crowds
Of women and children focked
around the dismayed authorities,
and disparingly complained OF the
post captain having allowed the
boats to leave. In vain did the
officials protest that they had no
reason to suppose that the beautiful
morning would end in a squall. In
vain did they say that they had no
power tc prevent the men going on
their expedition. Heartrending
cries were heard, and still no news
came, until it was reported that, on
some beech, three shiprecked boys
had been found. Then planks and
baskets washed in, and larger ves-
sells which had weathered the storm
brought in the dismal tale. The
evening waned, and some boats
more fortunate came in, only to in
crease the agony of the bereaved
with certain details Of the destruc-
ton of their comrades. Santandcr
had last seven large boats and five
smaller ones, with sixty.seven men
and lads. Other places in the same
province had during the night re-
ported twenty-five boats lost, with
crews varying from four to eleven
hands. Biscay, however, had suf.
fered most, and the excitement in
Bilbao was intense on Saturday, as
telegram after telegram came in
from the alcaldes on the coast.
Off Cape Machichace, we'll known
to all vessels entering the Bilbao
river, the squall had been most vio-
lent. Elanchovi, with 300 inhabi-
tants, lost so men and 8 boats
Lequieto, Devs, 0ndorra, and Plen.
cis, each lost 3 smacks. At the
head Of the casualty lists stands
Bermeo, the picturesque and lovely
little town situated near the caps
106 Of the fishermen perished in
10 boats. The aFcalde Of the place
telegraphs that the misery and grief
of the wretched families are terri
bic.
More than 40 widows and 200
in a town of 1900 inhabi-
tants, are mourning this great ca.
lamity. Details have not vet been
received from Asturias and the Ga.
lician coast. The official kilograms
report total. loss up to yesterday
Of 800 men and boys in about 90
boats of different sizes.
The local authorities have taken
steps to relieve the widows and or.
phaus, and for that purpose sub.
have been raised in Bill.
'ao, Santander and Madrid. For
The most pressing requirements the
government telegraphed to place
5000 pesetas, about e200, at the
disposal Of the governors Of Bilbao
md Santander. The ,Basques re-
siding in Madrid have formed a
to receive subscriptions :
md forward the same to the pro-
Iincial authorities. Little wreck.
lge has been cast ashore by the sea,
md no trace is left Of the fishing
leet Of Biscay.
-
Rosy CheshSIn England.