New-York tribune., 1882-04-20
CRUSHED IN THE ICE.
LOSS OF THE STEAMSHIP RENPOR.

LOSS VI LIE = LAlDllil h~.'i C4''
CAUGHT ICE-FIELDs On TIE BANKS OF NEW
FoUNDIAND-IIIE CREW RESCUED BY PASSING
STEAMSHIP.
The British steamship Mary Louise, which ar
rived from Newcastle yesterday, several days over,
due had on board Captain K. >. Osborn and
twenty others, comprising the crew OF the BrltISh
steamship Renpor from est Hartlepool, England,
Tor Boston, with a cargo of 100 tons OF bloom ana
pig iron and 5000 bags of potatoes. Inc KenpoI
was caught IN d great field of ice on the banks OF
Newfoundland on April l. and her bows were so
badly crushed that the vesse was abandoned two
days afterward Captain Osborn, who visited the
Office of Simpson X Spence, consignces OF the Mary
Louise, made the following statement:
ave sailed from West liartlepool on March 81
with general cargo, Tor Boston, ana Win q crew
of twenty men. We had fair weather until April
II when we encountered terrific snOwstOrn fol-
lowed by a strong gale. About 10 a. H. we dIscov
cred large field of ice on the starbOard DOW, anu
ordered the vessel to keep to the southward TO Try
to clear the ice; bnt toward noon the ice became
thicker and the engines were slowed down so as TO
give the vessel barely steeIage way. an hOur lateT
we found the vessel surrounded by hcaVy ice, anu
no clear water could be seen. 1he Ice was heaVed
up bv heavy northeast swell, and ground ana
crushed against the bows with great force. In
some places the ice was piled up IN great num-
mocks while il Others it was scarcely above the
surface. so closely was the ice packed about the
vessel that she was perfectly helpless ana me en-
zines were unable to move her, We then dlscov-
cred that some OF the plates on the staTboaId bow
were broken III and that the forward compartment
was full of water. he forward Dulkhead was also
the cargo in the hope of Tightening the vessel AT the
how and to strengthen the bulkhead, so that the
vessel would not fill amidships After getting the
cargo ont forward. we stopped Up thc hoieS Win
canvas and plugs, ana started all OF the pumps to
clear the first compartment OF water The weather
WAS intensely cold, but the men did not waVer II
their efforts to save the vessel At daylight on the
following morning we started the engines ahead
slowly and in a few hours were in open water
Wa headed tho vessel toward the land about
thousaud miles distant. hoping to he able 10 reach
IT, All day long We steamed 10 the westward, max
inc only slow progress. In the night the plugs and
canvas were washed away and the compartment
immediately filled again. The pumps were Kept
constantly in operation but our chances Tor safely
were diminishing rapidly, as the weather became
more threatening and in few hours a furious gale
was blowing. About noon we sighted the steam
shin Mary Louise and SGT signals of distress. which
were promptly responded to. Captain Gibbs, OI
that vessel, promised to stand by us until we
reached port His vessel remained close to US until
midnight. when the Rae ana seas became more Vio
lent. We found that the forward bulkhead had
given way and the water leaking INTO other
parts of the vessel. The pumps were Kept con-
stautly at work until We found that the snip was
sinking 80 fast that she would not remain ailOdt
much longer. We then sent up signals OF distress
and CAPTAIN Gibbs came to our rescue. "A danger
ously heavy sea running and the weather was
trcacherons We lowered our boats and abandoned
the IenpOT. and after getting on board OF the Mary
Louise were made comfortable in every way"
The RenpOr iron vessel. built III six COM
paTncnts and with double bottom. she was
known rs a wateT-ballast vessel. she had three
masts and was schO0ner-rlgged. She was built at
Sunderland, England, IN 1874, ana was owned by
II. Ropner. OF West llartiepoOl. Her length was
2fO feet beam 81 feet, depth OF hold - feet, and
1924 gross tonnage. Her name was the reverse of
tie owners name. She valued at about
100000. and her cargo was valued at T21,OUO,
has made several trips to this port as a transient
freight vessel.