Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-07-30
WRECK OF THE VIRGINIA.
The Passengers are Returned to Halifax,
Where They Tell the story of the Dis.
aster...All Usual Precautions Taken.
But Rock Does the Busdess.

But Rock Does the BuSidess.
y Halifax dispatch of July Goth says:
The government steamer Gleudon ar
rived at 9 p. NJ. from Sable Island. with
seventy-nine passengers from the wreck
ed steamer Virginia, being all the pas.
sengers on board of her, and the fire
men. The Glendon reached the island
at P, NJ. yesterday, and in five hours
had all on board and started for Halifax.
The vessel was much crowded, but the
passengers took ii good-naturedlv, and
were glad to reach the main land to-
night. The wreck had not gone to pie
ces when the Glendon left. Captain
Moody and his crew remain on the
island to endeavor 10 save the property.
The vessel is filed with water, but If tine
weather continucs, some OF the cargo
may be saved in "A damaged state. The
following liz the substance of the state.
ments OF passengers and crew: We left
New York the 10th at l0A. Nj. All went
well until 7:5o P. NJ. Saturday, wnen the
vessel was felt To strike something. The
engine was at once stopped and revers
ed ut full speed. Leads were dropped
over the side to find the depth of water
A boat was lowered and sounded
all around the ship. A kedge was run
out astern to assist the engine, but was
of no user The passengers remained
quiet, but refused to go below. There
was no hurry or confusion of any kind.
The crew started getting the boats out
and anchors ready to run ont. They
IL / A
then got out the lower anchor and
about twenty-five fathoms of chain, all
being ready for heaving. The stream
anchor was started, putting the cable
over the side. Throwing cargo over
board was begun and continued until
about high water, when IT was endeav
ored to heave the vessel of, but it was
no use. Then they got the boat ready
to land passengers, II surf-boat from the
shore having already landed one boat
load and returned for another. The
surf-boat again started with another lot,
two more boats following, the !inten.
ton being to allow the suri-boat to land
all, the ships boat being unsuitable for
such shore. Proceeding in toward
the shore the men appeared to hang
back considerably before entering the
surf, waiting for smooth sea, when
they could be seen from the ship boat
following, to give way on their oars to |
land. They no sooner began to pull
than larger roller rose just behind
them, and all that could be seen from
the other boat was an oar nearly end |
on end in the water. The boat had |
turned over. In the space of icw
seconds people could be seen strug-
Cling in the water, and one or two
making an attempt to get upon
the top of the boat, which was now bot
tom up. Several OF the gentlemen pas
sengers looking from the boats follow
ing having wives and children on the
surf boat began crying and wringlng
their hands and the accident caused
great excitement and suspense on the |
other boats, and some of the passengers |
wanted the ships boat to pull in |
amongst the surf, but were prevented, |
The other boats then provlsioned and
started to 90 round the island to land |
on the north side. On proceeding, the |
fog settled down again, and the signal
was given to return to the ship, which |
they did Everyone then lay down to
pass the night as best they could, all
more or less worn out, having been al
work since Saturday night. In the
morning the boats again left, although |
the fog continued. The west end Of
the island was safely rounded, and the
boats landed, when man arrived and
instructed them to proceed to the mid
die station; about seven miles. They
embarked again, and got to the middle
station safely, and landed, every atten-
ton being paid passengers and crew by
the governor of the island and his fam
lily. Monday at $50 p. m. No. 2 life
boat proceeded with the purser, third
officer and nine men to make for the
mainland. Capt. Moody says he took |
all usual precautions to avoid danger. !
The steamer was running about twelve !
knots when she struck. The crew and
passengers. behaved splendldly and but |
for the sad disaster to one surf boat all
would have been well. The passengers
are all well quartered at various hotels
IN this city.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
Lieut.. Barker, of the United States
navy, gives an interesting account OF
the week, in which he says the first
surf.boat took off sixteen persons, prin-
cipally women and children, and sue
ceeded in landing them safely. They
returned, took another load, with whom
thew started for the shore, but were
caught in the surf and the boat was
thrown end over end. Some succeeded
in clinging to the boat and were washed
ashore, bu. tour women and five chill I
dren were drowned.
Lieut.. Barker also said On Satur- |
day evening we supposed we were