New-York tribune., 1885-02-23
THE LOSS OF THE ERINNA.
A STORY OF LABOR AT THE PUMPS.
TWO OF THE CREW WASHED OVERHEARD TUs
VESSEL TAKING FIRE.

VESSEL TAKING FIRE.
IBr TELEGRAPH To TnE TRTBUSK.l
BALTIMORE. Feb 22.-The British steamship
DeerhOund, Captain A. L. Atkinson arrived at
Henderson's Wharf this afternoon IN ballast for +.
b. Crawford g. Co., having board the captain
and crew of the bark Erinna. which was
abandoned February IN Latitude
44o TO- north and longitude 25s 58
west, and was subsequently burned to the waters
edge. Two of the crew lost. Captain
c. ID. Smith, of tho abandoned bark, to-day gave
the following account of bis voyage and of the dis
aster:
a. ~, by Long Island Sound. for Ant
werp with 71s3 barrels of refined
petroleum. The wind almost
a gale from the west. The barometer registered
29.4 at IL a. m. The pilot left rs of Sandy Point,
and at D. m. we passed out by Montauk Point
light, the wind still blowing heavily from the
west with rising barometer. On January s and
10 fair weather prevailed. On the Goth the baroa-
eter began to fall and the wind boxed the compass
finally setting into a gale from the southwest.
shifting to northwest 1t was accompanied by
squalls, and continued to blow heavy gale with
high seas. snow and hail up to the 25th. On the
Goth and 9th there were heavy gales and noun
famous seas from the west-noTthwest. On the
morning of the 2sth, when the ship
was steering badly, l observed that tho
rudder-head was working if it had been
sprung While running under two lower topsuls,
| concluded that it would be more prudent to heays
the ship to to the windward. | took in the fore
lower topsai and when chance presented Itself L
brought her to the wiud the port
tack. After rounding to- and whle setting
the sorm-spanker, she shipped a heavy sea
abaft the main rigging throwing her on her
beam ends wishing every movable thing from the
decks. smashing the glass Of the cabin windows and
the Skylights and filing the cabin with water The
supply of small stores was spoiled, two boats wers
carried away. the skeds were broken aud the pilot
house was washed from the deck and tho rails from
the poop house were carried away. The waterway
on the starboard side of the poop and
one main deck boom broken. The
starboard side was torn of the main channel. The
chain plates wee twisted and six bolts in the
main rggings and backStays were smashed. -Four
men. Daniel Reardon. second mate, of New-York;
Andrew Ilcideinan of Finland Peter Dermett, Of
sweden, and p. Lanson. of Finland. were
washed overheard. Reardon and Hei!e-
man were drowned. Dermett clung
70 the rigging and escaped with an injured arm.
Lan,on was throwp against the rail by rising
wave and succeeded in calnbering on deck. fls
right leg was manned. After the sea she htd
the wreck from the main deck. The pump shafts
were badly bent and two spars were broken. lh"res
was two feet Of water II H. her e,iIo. hosd, - !
busy repairing them. On January 20, at ; p. m,
the gale carried away the fore lower topsaii. AZ
a. m. OF the next day / found that the rudter
trunk had been twisted of about half way mp the
easing | secured it with chains TO pre-
| vent the 'tillcr shipping. but saw thas
the braces were working oil the ship. On the next
day at A a. IN. wore the ship on the starboird
! tack and put ont drag. The weather mpderate
| but the seas continued TO be Ecavy: On January
! 81 the wind and sea lncreascd. All HANDS became
| sick and SORE bat continued TO man the pumps:
| They could not keep the bark; while she shipped
| water on her deck. The labor andexposure TO whoa
| the men were subjected both day and night weak
ened Them terribly and they showed signs of wear
ing ont completely.
. On February ., at a. M, sighted a steamers
light which | subsequently learned 10 be that Of
the Dcerhound. bound for this port. The
steamer answered our eguals and bore
down on us. asked the captain
away. He replied that he would stay by US until
daylight and would then send assistance. On Feb
ruary 3. at II a m, the steamer sent life boat
The mate and eight seaman with few Of thcir
effects were first taken of After an hours
absence the boat returned and took OH
the steward carpenter, one seaman and myself,
thirteen in all
ing out at the fore cOmpanionway | could not
account Tor il except that IN me hurry 10 ge,
away some one had LETT hghted lamp on one one. Oh
motion of the ship. The floor OF the cabin being
saturated with the oil which had leaked from the
barrels in the poop, the flames spread rapidly
When last seen the bark was still burning aud the
huge mass of fame which was ted By the petroleum
presented sight never saw equalled.
he Erinna was Owned Sy .aptaInn smith Isncna ana
were Captain c. d. Smith, of Maitland: First Mate
David Williams, ST. johns, \: b., James Harrison
steward Tacoma, y. HI III. Schu't% carpenter
Germany, and ten men,