Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1879-07-25

the ships boats being unsuitable for
such a shore. Proceeding in toward
the shore, the men appeared TO hang
back considerably before entering the
surf waiting for a smooth sea, when
they could be seen from the ships boat
following to give way on their oars to
land. They no sooner began to pull
than larger roller rose Just behind
them. All that could be seen from an
other boat was an oar nearly end on in
the water. The boat had turned over.
In the space of a few seconds people
could be seen struggling in the water
and one or two making an attempt to
get on top of the boat, which was now
bottom up. Several of the gentlemen
passengers, looking from the boats fol-
lowing, having wives and children on
the surf-boat, began crying and wiring
ing their hands, and the accident thus
caused great excitement and suspense
on the other boats, and some of the
passengers wanted the ships boats to
pull in among the surf, but were pre-
vented. The other boats then pulled
back to the ship. All the boats were
then provisioned and started to go
round the island to land or the north
side. On proceeding the fog settled
down again and signal was given to
return to the ship, which they did.
Everyone then lay down 10 pass the
night as best they could. All were
more or less worn out, having been at
work since Saturday night Monday
morning the boats again left, although
the fog continued. The vest end of
the island was safely rounded and the
boats landed, when man arrived and
instructed them to proceed to Middle
Station, about seven miles. They en-
barked again and got to Middle Station
safely and landed, every attention be-
ing paid to the passengers and Grew by
the Governor of the island and his fam
lily. Monday night, at $3.50, No. 2 life
boat proceeded with the purser, third
officer and nine men to make for the
mainland.
Captain Noodle says that he took all
the usual precautions to avoid danger.
The steamer was running about twelve
knots an hour when she struck. The
crew and passengers behaved splendid
ly, and but for the sad disaster to the
one surf-boat all would have been well.
Lieutenant Barker, of the United
States Navy, gives an interesting ac-
count of the wreck, in which he says
the first surf boat took off eleven per-
sons, principally women and children,
and succeeded in landing them safely.
They returned and took another load,
with whom they started for the shore,
but were caught in the surf and the
boat thrown end over end. Some sue
ceeded in clinging to the boat and were
washed ashore, but four women and
five children were drowned.
Lieutenant Barker also said: On Sat
urday evening we supposed we were
about twenty-five miles off Sable Island,
but had not taken any observations
since Friday. The fog was very dense,
and we could not see any light nor hear
any sound to indicate land near. At s
o'clock we meant to stop and take
soundings, but at 7:55 we struck. The
steamer passed right over the first ledge
so gently that the shock was hardly
felt, and then struck a second in which
the bow became firmly embedded. The.
engines were reversed, but this only
served to swing the vessels side on to
the ledge. The working of the engines
was continued, however, until the rud-
der post broke, after which they were
stopped. The first officer was in charge
of the deck when we struck. He would
have been relieved five minutes later.
After the engines were stopped we
could hear the breakers on the beach,
though we had not heard them previ-
ously. The fog continued very thick and
we could not see the land, which we
afterward found was about a mile
Cf. An anchor was got out to try and
warp the vessel off, bat this proved of
no use. Then the cattle, of whom we
had 10Y head, were thrown overheard
to tighten the vessel, that we might
have better chance to get off, but we
were still unable to do so. Minute guns
were fired, and the Governor of the
island, with surf boat and crew, came
to the beach. One of our boats went
toward shore to let them know what
had occurred, and what chance there
was to land, but were unable to effect
a landing, the surf was so heavy. Then
the people from the shore came out to
us w u6H VIC l0lG JH6 SJCdIueT WAS IdSG
sinking in the sand by the bow, and
there is no possibility of her getting off.
She will break up in the first gale.
Beyond the cattle thrown overheard,
some of whom were washed ashore, and
a little flour and cheese, the cargo re-
mains on board. 1t can never be saved
in boats. do not see that any blame
can be attached to the officers for the
accident. They were following out
their instructions to the best of their be-
lief, and the only way can account for
our being astray is that we were car
ried out of our course by some strong
currents, which are very treacherous
about there. The Captain shortly be-
fore the accident had altered the course
another point to the north, not because
be thought we were in danger, bat, as
sailors say, to "guard against precau-
tion," or to make assurance doubly
sure. AS it turned out, if he had al
tered her course point and quarter,
we would have passed safely. This,
however, could not have been foreseen.
Most of our passengers were pleasure
excursionists bound for Europe, but
they think they have had pleasure
enough for one summer and will return
home.