The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-10-31

CAPTAIN GyiLL's STORY OF THE HARDsBiPs
SUFFERED BY the SURVIVORS.
| A special cable dispatch from London
says: The Lloyd steamer Neckar. which
arrived at Southampton this morning,
brought the crew OF the bark Margaret, OF
| Quebec. Captain Gull, with seventeen men,
which left Mobile for Greenock. laden with
timber, on August 18th. Captain Gull sends
us thrilling narrative OF his voyage. Adj
verse winds at FIRST delayed the ship, but
nothing remarkable occurred until October
9th, when, the wind increasing,a gale sprang
up. On the morning OF the 10th the lower
foretopsail was blown clean away from the
bon-ropes. The position OF the bark was
then forty seven degrees north latitude and
forty-ene degrees west longitude. The
barometer registered 1920. Binding
| showers OF rain and sleet were falling
and the sea ran mountains high. AT mid.
night the vessel began 10 make water, ana
the captain called all hands to the pumps.
Al half-past on the afternoon Of the ioi-
lowing day u heavy sea struck the ship ana
shifted her deck load, giving the ship
strong list 20 Starboard, from when sOe
never entirely recovered. The ship began
TO fill rapidly, suddenly lurched TO leeward,
and capsized right over, so that only ten
feet OF the weather-poop rail was left above
the water. The crew chung TO 1t with DIM
Guilty. After half an hour the mainmast
went by the deck. The foromsst and miz-
zenmsst, with the rigging, followed. The
ship then partially righted. but she was
complete wreck. The decks were all gone,
with the exception OF one third OF
the poopdeck, which remained above
the water. over this the sea broke
continually. The crew lasbed them
selves to the floating wreck and the captain
called the roll Of the crew. When morning
broke all hands were found ashed to ten
feet OF wood, over which the sea was con-
| tipually breaking. They had no food or
water since 10 O'Clock on the morning OF
the Ilth. w. Armitage died IN the after
noon. The rest took refuge on the stump
OF the mlZzenmast, the bull being covered
with water. On the 18th vessel passed TO
leeward, but did not see the signals OF the
unfortunate men. At 10 A. NJ. the steward
died.
This sad event cast gloom over all.
Hungry and thirsty, they maze search
under the poop, but not particle OF good
food could be found. A few pieces OF salt
pork and beef, badly damaged, TO eat which
would induce almost certain madness and
death. were found. Nevertheless, some bits
OF fat pork, cut the size OF pills, were
eaten. This created intense thirst. ON
the 10th a few damp matches were found
and dried in the sun. The sailors tried
TO strike them, wasting many, until
only two remained. All were standing
round to witness the effort TO light
these. "With Gods blessing" con-
tinues the captain, zone was igniled,
and the men soon had a fire. Having
found an empty paint-can and four feet OF
lead pine and small barrel, they commenced
to try TO oondense salt water. After eight
hours boiling they opened the receiver and
found gallon and half Of liquid, black as
tar, but which was fresh and relieved their
sufferings. The condenser was kept going
night and day, though the fires were often
washed almost away. All bore their trials
brayely, each keeping watch in turn. on
the 14th large steamer passed, but did not
see their signals. -Four other ships were
also seen, one OF them being so near that
the shipwrecked men could see the lights
OF the vessel. They put small pieces OF
fat pork on the fire, but the blaze WAS
not seen until the morning OF the lItb, aiter
seven DAYS Of untold hardships. One OF
the men on The wreck saw vessel. The
sailors made blaze with their last drop OF
v,rnish. Fortunately the vessel saw their
signals and bore down upon them. 1t
proyed to be the Atlantic. OF Christiansund,
Captain Nielsen, from Miramichi to Larne,
Ireland. Every kindness was shown the
shipwrecked captain and his crew. They
cav that their thanks are due TO the men
who manned the bosts in high and angry
sea and rescued fourteen Of the survivors.
This being large addition 10 the number
on the Atlantic, they were transferred on
the 21st to the Neckar Captain Gull ex.
presses his tharks to Captain Willegerod
and the officers OF the Neckar for their KIND
treatment.