The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-02
WRECK OF THE ABERFELDY.
THE CREW At LAST ON LAND AFTER A
SEVERE EXPERIENCR


Working Desperately Untn the Pump. ,v.r.
Chsked-A ship Sighted ne They Wsre
About co Take 20 the Lifeboats-Re scuea.
HALIFAX, March The Captain and crew
Of the steamship Aberieldy. previously reported
abandoned on q voyage from Philadelphia for
Ipswich. England. arrived here to-day from
Port Meadow. Queens County. Capt Sandwich
says that on Feb. 20 they experienced the rst
gale. The next day II had increased TO n hur-
ricane with the ship laboring heavily, taking
water fore and aft. the waves breaking over tho
bridge. The iollyboat. gig and starboard life
boat were carried away. nearly all the sky-
lights were smashed and everything moyable
about the deck was washed overheard. All
hands were on deck. using every effort 10 secure
the things washing adrift At az A. NJ. It was
found that tho starboard bunker hatch was
partly washed of. and an effort was made TO
cover the hatch with spar sails. but II was found
impossible. as tho mon were continually being
washed away. Tho master and second mato
were washed overheard but were washed back
again. At 5K A. M. they succeeded In getting
spare sail over the hatch but as a great guam
tity OF water came down through IT, and also
through the engne-room skylight and stoke
hole Rratings. the wnter began to rise in tho
engine room very rapidly. the floor plates were
washed out OF place, and at about q A. NJ. tina
hres were extinguished and the engine stopped.
A6:3O A. Nj. being unable to keen the ships
head to the wind the carpenter cut a hole in the
fore hulkhead., They then got the best hawseI
out from the fore hold. and by binding the ac-
commodation ladder to 1t and paying II out.
made sea anchor They also got tho next best
hawser. with kedge attached. TO assist the after
sails in Keeping their head to the wind. All
hands did their utmost to save the ship and her
cargo. most OF them being employed at the deck
a. NJ. the port pump got. out OF order, They
then rugged gear in both stock holes TO bail out
with and every man on board was at work
would not lie head to sea. and the sea was
breaking right over her She was straining
very much and tho deck seams opened, which
caused leakage. The port lifeboat was stove,
and work on deck was rendered very danger
Gus. The foremast was then cut away. at which
time the mate was disabled and had to leave tho
deck. The crew then began TO iettison cargo.
and continued 10 do so until dark. The hands
relieved each other Mt the pumps. and the water
in the engine room seemed to decrease. At
midnight there we're two feet OF water in tho
On Saturday, .22d. the wind slightly modcr.
ated. At O A. NJ. the coal washed out OF the
bunkers, choking tho starboard pump. The
men worked at the cargo all day 70 Tighten and
ease the ship. the mate and second mate assist
$50 a. longitude So To- west. there were three
three feet in the after hold. Tho work at tho
pumps and tho battling continued. but at mid
On Sunday the 2 the weather. ca ' was moleS
ing. A hole was cut In the bukhead Of tho
water-tiRht compartment to get the water
through the shaft tunnel into the ballast tanks
and thus relieve tho engine room, At about
+. NJ. they succeeded in cutting hole into tho
tank. the mon working all the time In four feet
Of water. This rendered the master unfit for
duty. and no was taken from the lazaret almost
insensihle Tho crew worked at the water. but
did not succeed In gaining on it, aud Mt mid
night the sea again became stronger. All day
they had signals Of distress flying for passing
ships but. though two passed. they took no no.
tice; The water at midnight was six feet deep
In the hold.
On Monday, the oath. they let go both anchors.
and Stacked away the cables TO try and get the
ships head TO the sea. This proved unavaing.
and finding that the ship was straining for
ward. and leaking, they were obliged to ship
the anchors. At 10 A. NJ. they began to repair
the lifeboat and get ready to leave the shpin
the evening. all on board being quite exhausted.
At about 80 T. NJ. they sighted a vessel, which
bore down toward them. Tho master called
the crew aft. and they expressed themselves as
DESTROYS to leave the ship. II being the opinion
Of everybody on board that the ship would not
float until midnight After great difficulty
ifeboat was launched. and at 3 Il. NJ the Cap
tain left the ship with part OF the crew and sue
ceeded In putting them on board the schr. G. A.
Meniac. which was on her way to Port Midway.
At $3.50 the last OF the crew were placed on
board OF the schooner. the master. mate.
steward and two men being the last to leave tho
chip. All were greatly exhausted. While
exertinR themselves for the safety OF the steam
er many OF the crew were compelled to sue
cumb through fatigue but resumed work again
Tor their own preservation.