The Democratic advocate., 1882-02-18
Loss of the Bahama.

Loss OF the Banana.
Late on Wednesday afternoon a dispatch
was received at the office of A. f. Outerbrdge
4 Co.. New York, saying that the Bahama
was lost: 1t was known that Mr.. John S.
Scott. member of the firm, was a passenger,
but before the clerks could recover from their
astonishment Mr.. Scott walked into the office,
looking somewhat weatherbeaten. Congratu-
lations were showered upon him, and then he
gave an account in detail of the loss of the
steamship, the loss of twenty lives, and the
escape of thirteen persons in a small boat
The steamship Bahama was in the New
York and Porto Rico service of the steamship
company. She sailed on the 18th inst from
st. Johns Porto Rico, with u full cargo of
molaSses. coffee, aud satin wood under deck.
No cargo was carried on deck. In the first
cabin were two passengers, and in the second
cabin two She had fine weather and light
winds until Thursday following. when the
captain observations showed that she was
S26 miles from Porto Rico, and 515 from New
York
At O'Clock in the evening the wind began
to increase and the sea to rise. BY midnight
the wind was a gale and the barometer was
falling At > o'clock on the morning of Fri
day the steamship was struck by a heavy
Squall from west-northwest, and all sail had
to be taken in. The squall lasted about n
quarter of au hour, and was accompanied by
lightning, heavy thunder and rain, Soon at
terward the wind shifted to South-southwest,
and heavy cross sea was running. In avery
short time it was blowing hurricane, and
immense quantities of water were shipped.
II was with great difficulty that the steamship
was managed, and with the engine going at
full speed CAPT. Astwood could not get her
head TO the sea. The head sails We're set to
drive her off before the sea. and just as the
expedient was succeeding a tremendous wave
was shipped. Ii struck ON the Starboard side,
forward of the main rigging. The bulwark,
which was Of wood. was carried away, and
the deck was ripped up. Two liteboats also
were carried away, and the deck houses were
smashed. The hole in the deck was a large
one. and through il the water swept. filling
the frc-room and the bunkers. The fires
were put out. and the steamship became un-
manageable. She rolled heavily. and the
seas swept her decks frequently. Gradually
the starboard side settled. and she wen; over
Gu her beam ends.
II was apparent that the steamship would
90 down. aud the captain ordered the two
crews 10 get the two port liteboats ready for
launching. That was at halfpast three on
FRIDAY morning. In twenty minutes the
steamship began to sink rapidly. and the cap
tain ordered the boats lowered. In regard 20
the abandonment Of the steamship the ac.
counts differ. Mr.. Scott, in his account in
the office. said that the captain boarded the
large Htcboat with sixteen or seventeen others,
while First Otlicer Williams aud Second on
Ger Ross took the small liiehoai with eleven
persons on board. This le3 three or four
men on the sinking steamer. The captains
boat got away first When the small beat
was getting away from the steamship Mr..
Scott. who was in her, saw the captain boai
swamped Nothing conid he done 20 save
any of those that were thrpwu ont, aud the
small beat rowcd away
About an hour aiicrward bark was seen
heading shout in the course Of the steamship,
bat a. i vas not daylight the bark could not
see the small baat. Ms. Scott thinks that II i
barely possible thnt the bark ucut near the
steamship, bHi some of those Who were with
him think that the steamship went down be-
fore the bark reached her Mr.. Scott said
also that shsn the captain boat was swamPcd
tWu or thrce persons were sren swimming
hack TO thc steamship. hat those iH ths small
boat could not tell whether or not they sRc-
ceeded ia getting oa bosr,l. There were
three of the crew. be- said. who refused tn
leave the steamship, PrcierrIng % take their
chances hy remain5uE, bs.canse ihv twu hsais
were heavily loaded
fsHtMEE tHe ftsiEle WEEN sWMffNa fftr k4tANiAfn
gave the officers ihe bearings. and those in
;hp small loat tired 60 ioliow bis instructions
The sea continued rongh. and great quantities
of water Nrrr shipped In she hoai. hni the
cree Kept her clear hy continual baillng.
TIE boat was only ahs,gi fiftecn tetf in length
with thiriocn persons ia her. They bad bad
tilue % enllcrs a fcw cans 81 provisions amd
sous fresh uaier IN tins bat n n very short
iiue the prQxisioas we're soaked wiih saii
wafsy and the fgrsh watsF was spoilrd. Each
vsve tossed the hoai fruw side 20 SIDE. end
ihc men aiA aot have Sime "a arrange things
properly. Af daylight small sail MAS scs,
and the isaas aas put before tha eiad.
S.ssa after noon un Fritay sull- Tiggssi shsg.
sas sightel. Fron her movements IL uss
supposed that she aas Steering iuNartls sbe
distance io lsrwari. amt i uas also nusiesd
that ihose ahsari 81 her bad not ssen thf
boai. !; was thea feared abr would pass hy,
hat each ussu isaEnn to shoai a. the hop x his
veice. aud 10 q shcys tipae Il Sas apfarsni tia,
the affcnlioa Il the ship captain bad hs.sh
attracted. IL xms nes aa nass fph sn get to
the ship. because The era vas running hseh sHj
the wind Was blowing siroag e4soush sn saslke
i dangerous Is poli aEzinst iisl tbe hsAas's
head Eas pus against the - aad wind, aud
after pulling half mile. reached the ship,
The ship Wss the tiirnmorae. FROM Calcss-
"a. eighfy-iuu DAYS pat- Every kindness Nss
shown to the shipsrvekeA men. The Glemmo,
rag reached New Nofk Wednesday afsrFunoa
and vas anchored Of the Raticry. Then ghr
thsrfcrn rescued men came sshoFc. aad quar-
fs-s-s .s.--zss F.1gs,F Sc sHss f.~su