The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1882-05-20
The Loss or the Douro.
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a knife, was the cry. Not one OF the men had
one. At last a boy passenger produced one from
his pocket, and the ropes were severed a wave
washed us from the ship, and confused voices
cried for the rowlocks. They were all tied to-
gether, and it took some time to dIsentangle
them and to cut the cords with the small kulte.
Then the oars were got from under US with diff
Guilty. We found next that We had not a single
seaman with us, only SIX or seven stokers aud
firemen. Not one knew how to handle an oar
properly. No one was able to take command,
One man suggested that We should put back to
the ship for some one who could do this. An
other, a coiored man. said TOO, L" Let's go back.
She'll not sink yet. I've got all my property on
board" The sea was so heavy We could not see
the other boats. Then they pulled, some one
way, some another. When L told one man he
was rowing the wrong way, he cursed me and
told me to ho.d my tongue. The Consul
from Pernambuco tried to maintain order, but he
too was told to shut up, and he gave up speak
ing in despair, but rowed, L believe. At last
all were pulling, at any rate, i'll the same direc-
ton. Where are we golng?' shouted another col
ored man. Il see a ship with lights, | cried
sitting high on some oars or boards, l could see
her-'and she has a light at her masthead 4
man again bade me hold my tongue. We made
tor these lights, however, till some man said
They're distress Signals-she is sinking too.
There's II second vessel, but she's all dark, one
said next. Presently we saw rockets 90 up from
the ship with lights. Then there was an explo-
sion, We heard cries and shrieks, and We saw her
sink.
"A little later We stw the Douro go down
stern foremost. Still We had some distance to
row, but felt sure the third vessel would pick US
up. Are your father and mother here ! /
ASKED the two boys. Yes All! thank God.
4 womnn's hand grasped mine. Have you any
one lett ON hOard?' Nc, thank God WheL
We got near enough the men shouted for II line
to De thrown out to us. Go ana try to pick up
some of those drowning men,, cried the captain
from the third steamers deck. We've got NO
men aud children aboard shouted the men
back. Then the captain babe US come ON, ana
a line was flung out and grasped. Sit still, the
men cried to us, mot one OF you move. When,
however, we got with difficulty close alongside,
Il rope ladder happened to be close to me. /
| could not resist climbing 1t, and dropped the
little bag in which 1 had some few valuables, IL
order to do so more firmly. l did not see 1t
again, but j felt the time was too valuable to
trouble about anything but lite, and had l hello
on to it l might have lost my hold. Near the
2 top men pulled me on board, strong arms at last
i placed me gently on deck, and they bade me so
/ down into the cabin, so l was the first to reach
r safely the Hidalgo.
n The party OF which l made one was the frs,
to leave Corunna. 1t consisted of six, and We re-
present three of the seven boats which lefttho
Z Douro. We have compared notes, and they
t have given me their accounts. The second to
t arrive was a small one, badly damaged as TO her
J.. bows. but containing about twenty-five people
Il The p ug was out, aud could not be found one
Y baling bucket was useless, and the other scarcely
better. Here again no knife or Ratchet was a,
( hand till u passenger found one. Then all,
women, as we'll as men, had to bale for their
t lives, using hats, boots and shoes. They saw
l. our boat, and cried for help, but we were IN too
great disorder and difficulty to get to them.
4 I" The third OF the boats was Il ltebOat, and II
d was the last OF all 10 arrive at the Hidaign. In
this were two seamen and the doctor. Whilst
irving to take in more a heavy swell separated
: then from the Douro, so they waited till she
{ sank III hopes of picking up straggiers. They
: rescued five passengers who had jumped into
t the sea, or had been washed OFF a few minutes
; before the Douro foundered. Two of our party
were amongst these, and they were the last
: saved rom the steamer having been fighting
. with the waves about half AN hour.
The captain of the HidaIgo waited about til
@ long after daybreIk, bul nothing was visible o.
the two sunken steamers save a lew planks
We we're about thirty miles from Corunna,
which port We reached soon after ten o'clock.