The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-01-22
Died Together.
PATHETIC INCIDENT OF THE WRECK OF TIL
SHIP ERIC.
[San Francisco Alta California;

SHIP EkIOs
ISan Francisco Alta California;
Henry WATSON, formerly chief officer o
the ship Eric the Red, who has arrived
from the other side OF the Pacific. tells ;
thrilling story, the main points OF whicl
are as follows: On the night OF September
10th the Eric sighted Cape O;way light
and every one on board was confident thai
the voyage would soon be at an end, and
were looking forward to be ut Melbourne
on the morrow. The light breeze
which prevailed was Just sufficient
to give the ship Roadway. At mid1igh
the second officer called the captain or
deck and reported that heavy fog had set
tied over the land, which was scarcely ysl
BILE. Orders were given at about 1:30 A. NJ
10 wear ship, but there was not sufficient
wind TO accomplish the .manGuvre. The
vessel refused To 90 round. The light, which
had I'D to this time been invisible, suddenly
shone out and made visible to all the peril
Gus situation they were in. A long, narrow
ridge Of cruel rocks runs out some few miles
from the cape. 1t was between this RICE
and the high, preGinit"n..s cossS.. nat the YES
sci lay, slowly drifting to her doom. The
only passengers were a gentleman named
Gould and his wife. I hey had been married
at Bath but a few weeks previous TO the YES
sells departure for New York. Mrs. Gould
had developed incipient consumption, and
by the advice of the doctor had undertaken
a sea VOYAGE with view to combat the dire
malady. The young couple had enjoyed
themselves during the trip and were eagerly
looking forward to the termination OF the
VOYAGE. The vessel was now rapidly drift
ing TO destruction and no power Oh earth
could avert her breaking on the reef. Captain
Doane and his officers stood on the poop.
giving orders to the crew TO get the boats
out. Two Of them were launched, but the
current carried them among the breakers,
where they were Immediately smashed TO
pieces. AT 3 A. NJ, just a. daylight broke,
the Inflated ship, with one bound, struck
upon the reef. The shock took six of her
crew. who were clustered on the forecaStle
head, right of their feet, and succeeding
sea sweeping over the ship carried them
with it. Mr.. and Mrs. Gould were the sur
yiyors on the poop. With fearful counte.
nances and looks Of horror they saw their
end approaching. The captain EXPORTED
them to allow him TO have them dashed TO a
spar, but either through fear or hope
OF being saved by some other method they
steadily refused. The ship was now grind
ing aud crashing among the breakers.
The sbarp rocks were playing havoc
with the timbers, and the huge waves
rolling in shore would i'll her again
and again only 10 bring her nearer to de-
struclion. Bluelights and rockets were
burned, hut the lightkeepers state that.
owing TO the heavy fog, they never saw
them. Morning came at last; the breeze
had freshened TO gale, but still the pail OF
mist hung over the land. AT 4 a. NJ. the
house on deck got loose, and upon it the
captain, Mrs. Gould, and sixteen others en-
barked. one heavy sea lifted it off the deck,
aud they found themselves adrift on the
ocean. Their fate was, however, not yet
decided. The sea was washing over the
frail house. One huge wave swept Mr.. and
Mrs. Gould and three sailors into the yawn-
ing quit. 1t was impossible to save them.
Ropes there were none, and they disappeared
almost Immediately. When last seen they
were ciingiDg to each other. The next MORN
in z the mounted troopers engaged In search.
ing the seasbOre for the dead found the
bodies interlocked in each others arms.
United In lie, they were not divided In
death. Their stif embrace rendering II
impossible to separate them, they were
buried 10 one coffin. The bodies Of five CT
the crew were found ut various points
along the coast bearing marks and bruises
from contact with the rocks. The survi-
yors, after remaining on the deck-house for
twenty hours, were picked up by the
steamer Dawn on her passage from AIDE
laide TO Melbourne. They were kindly re-
ceived by the United States Consul and
clothing provided for them.