New-York tribune., 1879-01-02
WINTER IN THE BAHAMAS.
THE GAINS AND LOSSES OF COMMERCE.


NASSAU. Bahamas. Dec. THE accident 10
the steamship Cleopatra, which performs INC 'i.'
and possengpr service between New York and the
Robamos under contract with the Bahama Govern
mont is likely to prove far more serious than was
ot first anticipated. When the Board OF Surveyors
appointed by tho American Consul made par,."'
examination of the vessel directly she ran upon tue
rocks and whist she was still lying at Cochrahe ;
onchoragp il was not thought that she had sustane"
very extensive injury; but the full survey made
after the vessel had been brought into Nassau ilu-
bor reveals the unpleasant fact that the steamer IL
almost a wreck. and might about as well have gouo
70 pieces when she struck. The surveyors feooH'
filed Yesterday IN the consulate. shows that vic"
the vessel struck the shock so great as 10 now
both her boilers forward several inches III ther sa"
dies whilst there was a general displacement an"
lneako0e of clamps. bolts and bars. severe strihh-
ing of the sides and decks, and worse than all rha
the keel of the steamer had been literally gr"nu"
and pounded to pieces on the rocks oelhs oIui'
damaged for length of 80 feet amldshlp anu III
several places hogged down to the garooald9' l"o
report is summed up by the declaration OF inc F"i-
vevors that lbe vessels back is broken; that she IS
at present Totally unseaworthy; that she cannot n
her condition be removed from this port, ana that
tbe facilities here are not equal to those denandea
for her repair.
This is certainly bad showing, and would seem
to indicate that the owners would prophoN
abandon her to the underwriters The vessfI Is
owned by ID. G. Murray and Others, or New-iork'
and is controlled, believe, by Messrs Murray
Ferris g. Co., who arc performing the contract 'ol
mail service with this colony. The exact amount
of insurance uDOn the vessel is not KNOWN oI' ~
stated at abont $4,000. carried by New-lorK
Offices The Cleopatra had just been put IN thoi-
Onph repair for the Winter service between new
York and Southern Cuban ports. via Nassau ana
her loss ot This particular time is especially to be
rerretted There will, however, be no interruption
to the service, as the screw steamer Norman has
been put on the line TO take the place OF the diS-
abled vessel, and will no doubt perform all her
voyages until permanent arrangements Can oo
made.
The Port of Nassau stuated as it is in the midst
of the trcacherous waters of the Bahama Banks,
affords a secure and welcome haven to the uniot-
tunate shlpmaster whom disaster or stress ot
weather cOmpels to seek an asylum and ITS qule''
loyely waters have experienced more than ordinary
activity during the hurricane months just closing
September. October and November are bad times
for mariners in this vicinity, and the months Just
ended have done their usual mischief to ships,
cargoes and seamen. Three American vessels nav"
been wrecked in the Fall hurricanes. and thrice
that number have been driven into Nassau iarborin
distress during the same time, whilst fully as many
English ones have reported IN the same condition.
The schooner Clara Sawyer, of Boston, which
came in a short time since, leaking and loaded with
guanO from Nevassa, after careful survey has
been declared unseaworthy. and will nnquestlon-
ably be condemned. The crew have been paid off
and discharged and the master. Captain A. e.
D-... L,~I~ lxt~ap1
Albro 10 confer with the owners in New-York. The
schooner San Juan, of New-York, which expert
enced bad hurricane, lost her spars and was
towed into this port by wreckers, has completed
her repairs and sailed last night in ballast TO COM
pleto her original voyage to Frontera, Mexico. for
cargo of mahogany. The hull and materials of the
J. NJ. Richards, which was con-
demned last month, were sold yesterday at public
auction by order of the master. The materials
generally brought good prices but the hull and
spars were given away for 5000. Her cargo OF
sugar some 800 hogsheads. will be forwarded to
New-York per steamer Norman on her next tnp.
The brig Cora, of Philadelphia, which put in for
repairs has discharged her cargo and has been con-
demneG by the surveyors. Her owner. j. y. HICKS,
Of Philadelphia, is here i'll consultation with the
consignees and authorities in hopes that he can
have her repaired and be permitted to complete hs
voyage or at least to take the vessel home in bal
last. The schooner Mary A. Harmon, of Philadel-
pha, has experienced hard time. The captain,
John C.. Scaife was taken very i'll during the voy-
age from Kingston to New-York. and the manage
ment of the ship devoived entirely on the mate.
After rough voyage they encountered n ter
rife hurricane near the Biminls, which car
ried away nearly all their canvas and rigging.
The crew showed signs of rebellion, and compelled
ia. 4
arrival of the vessel at Nassau the Captain died and
was buried. A new master was appointed, repairs
were made. and this morning the schooner sailed
for Ncw-York with her original cargo of logwOod.
The brig Winfield, of Boston. went ashore at Berry
Islands and became total loss. She had on board
valuable cargo of sugar, of which was saved,
Her crew, ten in number escaped and came to
Nassau The schooner s. J.. Seabury of Bangor,
was also lost at Crooked Island, small portion Of
the cargo which was iOgwoOd only being saved.
OF her crew. six escaped and one was drowned.
The schooner Monte CristO. OF New-IOrk. was also
found abandoned al sea, not far from Nassau, and
nothing has been heard of her crew.
Tho number of marine casualties in Bahama
waters is decreasing each year, owing 10 tho erec-
ton of lighthouses exposed points, and the pub
licaion of accurate charts giving the location of
sunkeu rocks aud shoals. In 1873 there were
twenty-five wrecks in these waters: IN 1876 there
were nineteen: IN 1877 there were only thirteen,
with total -yalue of only S104 900. In the
olden times when lighthouses were few and ship
masters were CREASED to run their vessels ashore
the number of wrecks and disasters was simply ap-
palling.
As the close of the year approaches, it is natural
to begin to hunt up statistics. and to compare the
results of the year inst ending with those of pre-
cedng ones. An examination of export and import
tables reveals the pleasant fact that trade between
the Bahamas and the United States is increasing.
The United States onght by right to monopolize
the commerce of this colony, from the fact that
these islands lie contiguous TO them, and for a score
of Other reasons which easily suggest themselves.