Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1880-11-10
WATERLOGGED IN MID.
OCEAN.
AN UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT TO RESCUE
A SINKING sHIp's GREW.

New YORK, Oct. 3l.-Tho steam
ship California, Of the Anchor Line
IRON London, dropped anchor in thl
lower bay on Friday afternoon. Yes
to-day morning she was towcd intC
her berth AT Per 4G, North River
Her officers reported that thoy haC
encountered heavy seas and rough
weather on the voyage, and that they
had fallen in with waterlogged bark
whose crew refused to leave her, des
pite the efforts OF the CALIFORNIA; crew
10 assist them. Second officer VIM
llerdic, who had charge of the rcscu
ing crew, said 1--WE left London on
Saturday, October lG, Three day,
sail from the English Channel { Wednes
day, October 2O), at about 2;30 in The
afternoon, we sighted the bark flying
signals OF distress We exchanged
signals, aud she run up signal that
she was the bark Macedonia, Captain
Parker, of Newcastle, bound from Pom,
sacola to Berwick ou.Tweed that she
had ten feet Of water in her hold and
wanted us to put out a lileboat. The
sea was running too high for small
boat, but we had three lifeboats on
board, all as tight asa bottle With
seven men | swung off the starboard
boat, in which we had twelve oars and
a boat hook. | was afraid she would
be broken before she lett tho ships
side. We bore down alongside the
bark and backed in stern foremost 10
save ourselves from being crushed
which would have happened had we
gone broadside on.
1--WE rose on the sea to the level OF
her rail and could SEQ on her deck
her crew numbering eleven men with
their kits packed ready to leave.
Three of them rushed to the rail and
while | was speaking to them, the ship
keeled over and struck us astern,
breaking our rudder and starting our
stern post. We were forced away a
few boat lengths and called for them
TO throw us q rope They flung us a
lead.line, which / said was not strong
but told them | would do
the best | could with it. With the
aid Of the line We backed up again to
within about four lengths of her, and
| cried TO the crew to jump. They
made no attempt, however, and seem.
ed quite composed and not anxious to
leave without their clothes. A second
sea then struck the bark, listing her
over and again driving her against
our boat. We struggled back to her
again and told the crew to jump into
the water and we would haul them on
board. Still they made no attempt to
save themselves. A third sea swept
over us and broke the leadline.
u then told the Captain of the bark
to get boat and put out to us with
his crew. could see three boats on
her deck, but he made no attempt to
launch one 1t was then within half
an hour of dark, and as we had no
signals on board and the men were
greatly iatigued, | concluded to put
back to the steamer. We had hard
work to get back. When we got along.
side four or five of the crew got aboard
and the rest hooked the boat on to
the davits. When they got half way
out the ship was rolling so that the
boat was dashed against her and
stove. A lurch filled her with water
and made her so heavy that she car.
ried away one dayit and bent the
other. We then cut her adril. Dur.
ing the night we laid near the bark,
about two miles to the windward of
where we had last seen her. The last
We saw Of her was at II o'clock that
night, when she burned bright light,
which we answered with blue light.
At daybreak next day, we had two
men aloit, in the lookout, but they
lould find no sign of her. We lay to
Ill the next day, losing in all about
.wenty-six hours in the passage, but
got no tidings of her. She had her
over maintopsail set and looked deep.
y laden, but no more so than many
If tho vessels | have met. There
wasn't much water aboard, except
lmidships, and that apparently was
'aused by the wash oil the sea. 1t blew
heavily next day, and the wind in.
'reased in violence, but | believe the
park lived through it all, and as she
was in the track of both steam and
iailing vessels making for English
,orts there can be little doubt of her
iafety. | thought a small boat could
lever live through that night, for
lever saw a heavier sea. After we
lad left the ship | would have given
c1 900 to be back on board"
Tho California brought over 400
passengers.