The New York herald., 1879-09-10
FoUNDERED BY A FISH.

THE REMARKABLE STORY TOLD BY THE RES
cuED CREW OF THE BARK COLUMBIA.
The Rotterdam steamer p. Caland. which left
Rotterdam on the 27th Of August. arrived at this
port last evening" having on board Captain Larsen,
II. Petersen, mate. and ten of the crew OF the Nor
wegian bark Columbia. which was wrecked off the
Banks of Newfoundland by sea monster the 4th
inst. The rescued tell remarkable story Of the
wrecking of their vessel. In the saloon of the Ca
land last night Captain Larsen told his story to
HERALD reporter. He is plain. unpretending ap-
pearing man. and talked in broken English by the
aid Of his log which written in Dutch. with
degree of earnestness and candor calculated to con-
vince of the entro truthfuness of what he said.
STORY DISASTER.
The Captain said 1.-The bark Columbia of
400 tons burden. 1t belonged to Captain Rad. of
Tunschborg. valued at about $4,000. and, be-
lieve. uninsured. We left London on the sth Of
August in ballast, bound for Quebec for charter.
Besides myself there were on board the mate, H.
Petersen. and o of ten. About half past ten
O'Clock on the morning of the 4th of September
was on deck with the mate. when We heard something
touch very hard on the port bow. We then in
latitude 81 deg longitude 43 deg "a min Myself. the
and three men looked over the side, when to
asonishment. We saw that the sea all about US was
dyed with blood, more especially on the port side.
Then saw big fish. some fathoms away. strug-
Cling in the water. 1t about forty feet long,
and it turned on its side its tail or fin worked
wildly in the water and air. We next heard cry
from below that the ship making water. With
the carpenter went into the hold ascertain where
the leak was and see II it could be stopped. We
were making water so fast that it was then up
to the middle OF the water casks in the hold.
At the time l gave orders to pro-
vision the two boats and put them over the side.
when went out on the bowsprt and saw that three
four planks each from four to six feet in length,
had neen torn away irom the the port sde or the pow,
had been slightly provisioned. When left tho
bark there were twelve feet of water in the hold.
We put OF, and at quarter past one O'Clock the
Columbia went down. We put up small
sail and tried to make the fishing banks in the
hope of falling in with some fishermen. About
which proved to be the p Caland We hosted
on an oar as signal of distress. The steamer
bore down for us and we were taken on board 1T
half-past three O'Clock have been following the
sea since 1882 and have heard great many stories
wrecked by OF the monsters of the deep. have
idea OF the character of the fish that wrecked
1t WAS still alive when we saw 1t last It was of
enormous size and its tail seemed to be furiousy
lashing the sea-.
CAPTAIN pEpDEs REPORT
When Captain Larsen had concluded talking Cap
tain Deddes. of the Caland. who stood by, handed
the reporter the following written report which he
Wrecks On board copy Of Which he sent to the
agents OF the Rotterdam and Antwerp Steamship
1ine-
twelve in them Shaped for them and took
the board. We set the boats adrift. The
bark Columbia bound from London for Quebec. Captain
the made the following statement :on their voy;
age from London they met with variable winds and
weather until September 4 when, sailing with all sails
set In light, northeast wind, about eleven A. NJ,
they felt sudden shock On looking overheard they
the dscolored by blood and either fish other
monster making away from the ship as fast as i could
At the time Captain Larsen heard OF his
crying that the ship was leaking badly and nlng very
nothing could be done to save the ship When he came
deck again the had barely time the boats
board and take few things with them. Half an hour
after they les the Columbia she wont down. Shortly
aft'ward they discovered Us coming in their way. aud
put up pole with signal OF distress which per-
ceived After taking them board proceeded
Captain Deddes told the HERALD reporter that he
fully convinced of the entire truth OF the
rative told by Captain Larsen and his fellow ship
wrecks. When they came over the side OF his vessel
they all told their stories with such evidence of
candor that it was impossible to throw doubt on
their statements in the absence Of motive to fasify.
He added is one OF the most extraordinary
stories of the sea that have heard. know of
instance where q vessel bound for st. Helena, in
the Southern Ocean, once struck q horned monster,
producing similar shock to that given the Colum-
bia but with less serious consequences. When they
reached port part OF the horn OF the fish with
which they had been in contact was found to be
sticking tmbers."