Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-05-16
DROWNED. DROWNED, DROWNED.

Bay OF Biscav---Three Hundred and
Iscesty Fishern.cm's LtUes Lost.
A correspondent Of the London daily
Neaos writes from Madrid, April %: A terri
bic disaster occurred in the Bay OF Biscay,
last Saturday. It was holy week, and for
several days the fishing boats had not left
their posts. The nets had been hung out to
dry, and the men loitered about to look at
the quaint professions Of Good Friday. The
weather had been very fine during the earlier
part of the week, and on Saturday the sun
rose gloriously on quiet sea. Accordingly,
before 8 o'clock the sails of the fishermen of
Biscay studded the horizon. By midday the
breeze shifted to the northeast, and line of
clouds appeared far away in the horizon.
The sea rose very fast, and the waves in
creased on the sands. Gulls and other birds
began to sweep along the surface of the wa
ter with their peculiar cry. The sky grew
overcast rapidly, and then the fierce
"noroeste, = tho northwester of Basque bal
lads, began to howl and rage in manner
which made the bravest hearts quake. Peo-
pie gathered on the piers and on the rocks to
gaze at the approaching squall, 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 dis
mayed authorities, and dispairingly complain
ed 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
be autiful morning would end in squat. In
vain did they say that they had no power to
prevent the men going on their expedition.
Heart rending cries were heard, and still no
news came, until it was reported that, on
some beach, three shipwrecked boys had
been found. Then planks and baskets
washed in, and larger vessels which had
weathered the storm brought in the dismal
tale. The evening waned, and some boats
| more fortunate came in, only to increase the
agony of the bereaved with certain details of
the destruction of their comrades. Santan-
der had lost seven large boats and five
| smaller ones, with 67 men and lads. Other
places in the same province had during the
| night reported about 25 boats lost, with
| crews varying from four to eleven hands.
Biscay, however, had suffered most, and the
| excitement in Bilbao was intense on Sunday,
as telegram after telegram came in from the
a!caldes on the coast. OF Cape Machichaco,
well known to all vessels entering the Bilbao
river, the squat had been most violent,
Elanchovi, with 800 inhabitants, lost SO
mon and boats; Lequietio, Deva, Ondorroa,
and Plencia, each lost smacks. At the
head of the casualty list stands Bermeo, the
picturesque and lovely little town situated
near the cape; lO6 of its fishermen persisted
in Is boats. The alcalde of the place
telee raphs that the misery and grief of the
wretched families are terrible. More than
40 widows and 200 children, in a
town of 1.800 inhabitants arc mourning
this great calamity. Details have not yet
been received from Asturias and the Cali
clan coast. The official kilograms report a
total loss up to yesterday of 800 men and
boys IN about 80 boats of different sizes.
The local authorities have taken steps to
relieve the widows and orphans, and for that
purpose subscriptions have been raised in
Bilbao, Santander, and Madrid. For the
most pressing requirements the government
telegraphed to place 5000 pesetas, about
f200, at the disposal of the governors OF
Bilbao and Santander. The Basques resid-
ing in Madrid have formed committee tc
receive subscriptions and forward the same
to the provincial authorities. Little wreck.
age has been cast ashore by the sea, and nc
trace is left of the fishing feet of Biscay.
DID HE POISON HERR