The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-11-11
ABANDONED AT SEA.

LOSS OF THE BRITISH BARK CANNING-TH1
VESSEL FIRED BY THE DEPARTING CREW.
The ship L. w. Steston Captain G. Moore arrived
here last night from London. with general cargo
consigned to Messrs. Grinnell, Minturn Co. She
brings board the of the British bark Canning.
which abandoned at sea and set fire to BY
her captain the 3lst of last month. The Canning
sailed from Bremerhaven for Philadelphia on the 18th
of September under command Of Captain A. w.
Sproule, of London. who had crew Of twenty
hands and "stowaway." The vessel was partly in
ballast and partly loaded with empty bar.
rels. The voyage was not marked by any
thing unusual till the Goth Of October. when the
wind increased from a stiff breeze to . moderate
gale. At half-past ten O'Clock it increased to
severe gale. accompanied. by binding rain. At
intervals terrihcaliy heavy squalls succeeded
each other. the sea arose and the yes
sci began to labor in every timber.
While wearing ship heavy sea broke on board.
smashed in the port bulwark and filled the cabin
and main deck with water. considerable quantity
of destroyed at the same time, and
one of the boats on the after skids dashed
to pieces. From midnight it blew terrific gale,
and there a tremendous sea running. The ship
was rolling fearful rate that it became EVIL
dent that unless the weather improved the bark
could not hold out. At two O'Clock. on the morning
of the 30th there a sudden shit OF wind to the
and at four 1t was blowing with hur-
ricano violence The frightful force of the wind.
which made it necessary to take in almost every
stitch OF canvas, continued till eight o'clock.
PUMps OUT OF ORDER.
At eleven O'Clock the forenoon 1t was found that
there were twenty-eight inches of water in tho
well. On commencing to pump one OK
the pipes was discoveries 70 Do SnoAeI up
the same fate. At six p. NJ the pump which haa
first filled up lifted so that 1t might be cleared.
This was found to be impossible, as the sand con-
tinued in and fill 1t. in spite OF the crows
efforts. piece cutaway from thelower part SO
that it be again. but it eventually choked
up altogether. Meanwhile the water was gaining fast
At seven p. NJ. the carpenter went down 20 cut am
other piece from the lower end OF the pump, ous
speedily came up again without having effected
much, saying that the water then washing up so
high that he could not work. MI. Gendeil the
in cutting the pumps so as 20 free tnem
of the sand but they were soon atterward rendered
useless. Part of the main hatch now lifted of.
and all the empty barrels down to the ballast were
thrown overheard. The water was washing over
the ballast the lee side toward midships All
hands were set to work with buckets. but the
water continued to gain Roadway. At midnight
running alarmingly high and the water still in
the cabin and hold. The lower tier OF
barrels in the fore part Of the hatch w.s
light Of the 31st found the water still
gaining upon the toll worn crew. Seeing that there
held q consultation with his officers and crew. and
all hands agreed that 1t necessary that the ship
a signal Of distress was hoisted to attracs the
attention of q sail which luckily happened 70 be In
STRANGER turned out to be- the ship Z. W. stetson,
which had sailed from London on the 18th Of Sep
tember At this time there were eight feet OF water
in tho hold OF the Canning.
OF SHIPPING"
Captain Sproule stated that before putting away
from his ship he set her on fire.
why did you do that, CaptainY' asked the re-
porter
because she was right in the track Of shipping.
and IL allowed to remain there in wateriagged
condition would be DANGEROUS to vessels passing
that way
'You saw her burning. CaptainY'
'Oh, yes, 1 saw her burning"
els IT the custom for commanders to SET nrs 70
their ships in they may have to abandon them
II think IL is There is nothing unusual In tnss.
The reporter addressed himself to Captain Aoozes
| of the Stetson. and asked -
''Did you see tho Canning burningT
81 saw her when she was ON hro.
'Do you understand IL TO be the RUE TOT com-
manders to set fire to ships which they may nave 10
| abandon .. - a..
| "There is nothing unusual In it,. 1 have often
| nveolf set fire TO waterogsed wrecks loaded with
| timber 10 Get them out OF the way.
! Tbe crow of the lost bark saved but portion OF
.,ar personal effects. Captain Sproule loud in
his prpise of the hospitabe aud friendly manner in
s.h,an ne and those under him were treated by the
.antain and men OF the Sctson. This ship took
the wrecked crew on in latitude ~ ~ and longitude
er