The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-07-20
A SEA CAPTAIN DROWNED.

CAPTAIN ROBERT BAlN OF THE STEAMER LANG
SHAW, LOST OFF FIRE IsLAND-THE STEERS
MANS SIGNALS UNHEEDED.
The steamer Langshaw, of the Unicorn line, left
this port about three O'Clock on Friday afternoon
for Belfast. Ireland The vessel is of 1.S40 tons
burden. and laden with general cargo. in
Guiding seventy five head of cattle and large drove
Of sheep. The evening calm, and at half-past
nine O'Clock the steamer off Fire Island light
1t was the first mates Robert Barkleys) watch and
he had only four men deck maintaining what is
termed half watch. Frank McAdam at the wheel.
The Captain, Robert Balm, went on deck and paced
up and down the poop short time He there was
noticed by the man at the wheel to step the
boards the cattle pen and thence to that part of
the stern abaft the wheel known the half round
place frequently resorted to by the officers although
o most undesirable one in rough weather Nothing
more was of him. The unsuspecting wheel
man looked around after q few moments, wondering
why the Captain was delaying. and missed him. He
thereupon blew his whistle vigorously but. strange
to say, no attention was paid to the signal till
after the lapse of five minutes. when it oc-
CURED to the mate that he might what the
man wanted The Captains gone overheard, and
I'm calling Ave minutes and no one would answer
mel" gasped out the frightened wheelman. "What
oyerboard?' exclaimed the mate who to the
bridge and gave the signal to stop the engines and
reverse. The vessel was turned around and boat
was lowered but the search was unavailing. The
unfortunate Captain had no doubt been engufed be-
fore any heed was paid to the signals OF McAdam
who too much controlled by naval discipline to
abandon his wheel, though life might be
saved. Barkley was stunned when the boats
crew came alongside the vessel after half an
hours search that for several minutes he was
poweress At last he consulted with the second mate
and and concluded to return to tins port,
wishing to assume the responsibility of taking the
vessel across the Atlantic Accordingly he put back
and arrived at Quarantine yesterday morning He
then came to the Office of the steamship company
No IS Beaver street. and made report to the agent
Mn. uh xya MpA 1a, tla
wheelman, and Henry Steel. the engineer. The
agent immediately set to work to find captain for
The vessel, and he selected Mr. Henry Hammond
first mate OF the steamer WOODBURY.. also OF the
Unicorn line. so that the Langshaw sailed again yes
terday afternoon.
As is usual in such cases. for dis egarding
the signal whistle of the wheelman plentiful.
One is that the mate and his men watch thought
he only wanted his lantern. another that they were
only u half watch anyhow. Poor McAdam, who was
very much attached to the Captain, regrets that he
did not take the risk of abandoning the wheel and
rushing to the quarter deck to give the signal di-
rectly. "Had done so, he remarked, 1.-THE Captain
would be live man to-day. wouldn't be taking
much risk after ALL even if the sea was heavy,
we carry passengers.
The lost Captain thirty-six years of age and
leaves wife and children in South Shields Eng
land. Although III the prime OF life. he was a COM
paratively old and sklfui mariner. He con-
nected with the Langshaw since she built in
1875. He possessed the confidence of the officers of
line to the fullest extent, and in his relations
his officers and crew his kindness and consideration
almost exceptional.
THE MATES REPORT.
The following is the report made of the occur
renee and entered OH the log by the mate. Robert
Barley July Is, 1879, 945 P. NJ, Fire Island
light bearing about northwest by north twelve
miles: employed setting foresail; heard a whistle
aft: thought the captain wanted something ana
went aft, when the man at the wheel
tMcAdam) called out that the captain had
walked over the half round and that
minutes; turned ship round in the opposite course
and ran back about five minutes; lowered boat
ordered them pull round i'll circle for about half
an hour. but could not anything; then the boat
came alongside. when thought it best to come back
to New York.
singular feature of this report is that the name
of the mate does not appear in it in any part of
the book. 1t is the only entry therein, and is made
In the middle of the book. The report is second
hand its face, and it's entry in the column headed
Required by Act OF Parliament" explains the ne
cessity OF making it even in that shape.