The daily gazette., 1882-11-29
A WEARMOUTH WRECK.
A STRUGGLE FoR LIFE ON a
BARREN COAST.
FIFTEEN OF TIE GREW DROWNED.
A Survivors, story--How the stsamer
Was Wrecked and the Crew Lost--pn1y
Four Men Saved

HALIFAx, N. s., Nov. 2S.--Robeit Hutch-
inson, Chief engineer OF the iil-fated steamer
yarmouth, the only officer saved, vino has
arrived In this city with the other four sur
uyors, makes statement Of the disaster I:
The steamer Wearmouth, commanded by
Evan Evans and laden with phosphate,
sailed from Montreal on the Sd instant for
London. On Sunday, the 18th, during
terrible snow storm in which those watch
ing could see very littlc ahead, the ship
grounded on sandy beach, bumped and
pitched about continually aud refused TO
stir. ier engines were kept running until
II was seen TO be useless to attempt TO get
her OF. Then the captain signalled them TO
be stopped.
At daylight of the Goth the steamer was
seeu to be fast breakin In two just forward
OF the bridge, aud before being abandoned
the forward portion broke cH aud went TO
pieces. At 10 O'Clock the stern commenced
to show signs OF parting, but the CREW stiil
stood by her, thinking It better to do so
than 10 trust their lives to the boiling waves
In their frail boats. just before IL O'Clock
the upper bridge, on which the wheel was
situated, began TO break away, and the
men began to shout ior the boats to be
taken out.
The captain, seeing that the vessel would
soon break up entirely, and IL they did not
mnke an effort to escape, send every soul TO
watery grave, gave orders to get ready the
boats, and all hands started out ON deck
The chief engineer secured life preserver
and assembled to the deck. Here he found
ali hands, except the captain and the second
mate, In the starboard lileboat. He observed
the captain trying to ,Ower the jolly boat
and went to bis assistance, followed BY the
second mate. On getting In they iound
that the boat contained three oars, two
broken anu useless and the other split.
Two mountainous breakers were safely
passed over by the light boat, but the third
caught Ii as II II were leather aud knocked
II broadside TO the sea. and O fourth
swaIuped the boat and sent its three occu-
pants out OF sight When the engineer rose
20 tie surface he could not see his com
papions, and striking out for land sue
ceeded In reaching il, terribly exhausted.
When he had attained place of safety he
observed another man (McLachland, the
boatswain1, who also gained the shore.
Both men were so exhausted by their efforts
10 reach the shore that Tor a time they were
unable to walk and lay on the ssnd to re-
gain strength to euabie them to proceed co
the nearest house, wnieh was q
mile distant. While lying there
two other sailors-Johu Townsend and
John Martin-seamen, Joined them
they too having reached the shore. The
four men having rested aud seeing that no
one else came from the steamer made their
way toward the house, reaching 1t after
painfully toiling for three hours. It was
ound to be . telegraph station, but the
operator was absent procuring supply of
provisions, and no occupant was found to
admit them. With great effort the
weakened men broke open the door and
Uuilt fire, upon which they prepared some
tea which they discovered there, together
with some bread. Alb ut 5 p. M, the cpe-
rator returned, and from him Mr. Hutchin-
son learned that the Yarmouth had struck
on Wolf Island, about 20 miles, long, and
situated a mile east of Point du Loup.
After daylight on Tuesday morning the
four men prepared to search for any other
survivors or for The bodies of those who had
pershed. Before they started Frenchman
arrived at tho house, accompanied by Que of
the steamer iireman's mates named Margo,
who, after gaining the land, had spent tho
night In the bushes. thorough search
was made through the lumber which had
been washed ashore, but they failed TO dis
cover any trace of the remaining
members of the crew. That day IL was de-
termined to proceed ana take the mail
steamer for Pictun. The men, now Increased
In number to five, reached their destination
on the following day, aud, with the assist
ance of the receiver OF wrecks, were for
wsrded by the mail steamer to Nova Scotia.
The following is rs accurate list of those
lost In the disaster as can be ascertained
Evan Evans, captain; George Thomas, first
mate; Richard Trayellock, second mate; Z.
c. Saunders, second engineer; Francis Cal
lendar, third engineer; - Lee, steward;
Joseph Woodcock Prosser, carpenter;
Thomas Derby, dopkesman: Frederick Mer-
r;ott, fireman, Jacob Mursvnbaum, George
Beer anil John Puryis iireinen; William
MayIieid and James Herris, seamen.