New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-11-29

HOW FIFTEEN MEN LOST THEIR LIVES.
A GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION OF THE LOSS OF TUE
STEAMER wEARMoUTH IN ST. LAWRENCE BAY
THE STORY OF THE FIVE SURVIVORS.
HALIFAX, n. s., Nov. 2S.-Robert Hutchln-
SON chief engineer Of the Inflated steamer Wearmou'h
the only officer savedl who has arrived In this CITY win
the other survivors, makes the following statement OF
the Disaster:
The steamer Wearmouth, commanded by Evan Evahs'
and laden with phosphate sailed from Montreal ON Fri
day. the Sd inst, for London, Eng On Sunday the lsh
Cape RozIer passed. stiff gale was blowing carry
in the night the wind and continuing to increase Ill
violence. A heavy snowstorm set in. At 1880, the
captain and three being deck the signal connect
ing the captain the bridge with the engineer rang out
"stop" few seconds later the bell sounded again,
Full speed asten" Before the order could be carried
ont the steamer struck with terrible shock The en-
gines reversed but it was OF no avail Inc
Ship which had grounded on sandy
beach, bumped ana pitched about continually
and refused 10 STIR all the boats were swung IN
their davits ready to be lowered at moments notice
and the crew took shelter in the houses above deck
At about a. III. the engineer found the water begin
ming to show itself in the sokehoe. All this time the
ship was sirainng and cracking feariuiiy
aud tho boilers themselves were tossing about IN
their seats. Two hours later tremendous wave carried
away the galley and compelled the twenty men on board
to retreat to the sail room Between o'clock ana day
light the matches off by the gale and carried
away The wretched could SEQ the fierce sea as IL
poured in and out OF the hold carrying of quantities OF
the cargo.
At daylight the steamer was be breaking in
two Just forward Of bridge and before being aban
doned the forward portion broke Off and went to pieces
At 10 O'Clock the stern began TO show signs or noang'
but the crew still stood by her, fearing 10 risk their vcs
in the boats. just before o'clock the upper bridge on
when the wheel situated began TO break away ana
pieces beg to those in the sail lroom erneath
4 oil fhe tn he taxi
captain gave orders make them ready The CHEZ en-
gineer secured fe-preserver and descended TO the
deck Here he found all hands, except the captain and
the second mate, IN the starboard lifeboat
The after-part OF the vessel the only remaining por-
tion was by this time almost broken apart and the two
sections threatened leave each other The captain,
who WAS afraid the Ioyboat would be crushed, cried
out to shove her off, The next moment the three men
were being tossed about by the raging sea. Two huge
breakers safely passed by the light boat but the
third caught it II it feather aud nocked II
broadside TO the sea, and fourth swamped the boat
and sent its three occupants ont. OF sight. The
engineer succeeded in reaching land, and
there he found McLachland, the boatswain.
While they wer+ lying the sand two other men-John
Townsend and John Martin. seamen, Joined them Inc
graph station, mile distant, and the operator being
absent broke open the door When me operator re-
turned IL was that the WearnOuth had struck
Oh Wolf Island, about twenty miles long, and situated
| about Il mile east of Point Du Loup
In the morning McLachland tOid the engineer what
had beaen te ifeDOat containing the greater number
OF the men, After the captain had leit cue snip one
man cut painter and tackle OF the lIeboat with an
| axe and caused the boat 20 swing on
| hoard and strike the bUatchOcks. The result
was that It capslzed and threw seventeen occupants
into the wafer rne terrible to witness
| seventeen men tumbing about in tne water, making
frantic buC iutIle eOrs to right the boat. Each one
tried TO ch hoid or his nearest canl0n, ana tne
| result was that nearly all persn& MclAchland.
| Townsend and Martin kep5 clear OF the others ana
| finally reached the shore.
| Later i'm The day Frenchman arrived at the house,
accompane- by OF the steamers tremen, Maltese
| named MagrO who made the dfth man saved The fot
lowing as accurate list OF those lost In the disaster
1 as can be obtained: Evan Evans, captain; George
Thomas first mate; Richard Trayel0ck, second mate;
| f. f. Saunders, second engineer; Francis SalleDder
| third engineer; Lee, steward; Joseph WOodcock
| Frederick Merriott, fireman; Jacob Morsennousen
| George ami John PuIvls, hremen; William May
| field and James Harris, seamen.