Huntsville gazette., 1886-01-02
A SEASON OF PERIL,

wall--Twenty-Two Vessels Wrecked and
Fifty-Three Lives Lost--He eroic Conduct
in Efforts to Save Human Life.
New YORK, December 25.-The Pacific
Mail Steamer City of Para arrived here
yesterday, having on board parts of the
crews OF five of the vessels lost at Aspin-
wall in the terrible norther that swept
that port beginning on December I'd, and
causing the loss of twenty-five vessels
and at least ffty-three lives.
In talking about thedisastrous effects OF
the gale, Captain Oxholm, of the Bark
Douglas Castle, said that he arrived in
port on November 9th with coal. He had
been waiting for an opportunity to dis
charge his cargo, and on the forenoon Of
Decem Der I'd was on shore talking with
his consignees about getting lighter
alongside. The weather was beautiful,
and the water perfectly calm.
There was nothing in the air
or sky, or about the barometers,
to indicate anything but continuance of
fair weather, but at noon those who hap
POhOO w UO lOOhlHS OuL W Sed SAW
curious wave with sheet of foam be-
hind it, making into the harbor at ter
rifle speed, although there was not a
cloud to be seen. At once there was a
stir on the decks Of the steamers lying at
the piers, and evidences Of an attempt to
get up steam were apprrent. The cap
tains Of sailing vessels who were on
shore were obliged to stay there. The
officers on board as the vessels keeled be-
fore the blast, hastened to clear
away the anchor and make things snug
in hopes of riding out what seemed to
the strangers there to be sudden
squall that would soon blow itself out.
Within half an hour the sky was over
cast and the rain drove down before the
wind so that none could face it, while the
bowling of the blast made communica-
ton between officers and men possible
only by means of signs. The harbor was
full of huge rollers as far out as Point
Chagres. When the ships began to go
ashore the people on the shore turned
their attention to saving the men from the
ships, but little or nothing could be done.
No life-boats could be launched, and none
launched from the ships could hope to
make landing ip safety. Nevertheless
some of the men who tried to swim
ashore were picked out Of the breakers
and saved.
Captain Bentzen of the bark Holden
said that at ten O'Clock at night he was
standing on his forecastle watching lit
tie schooner half ships length away. A
boat from a three-masted schooner had
come alongside with four men, who
boarded her and undertook to help the
master clear his vessel. The men in her
were at the pump, and the men from the
boat found that the discharge ports in her
bows were open, giving the waves clean
sweep through her hold. Still her Cap
tain refused to go into the big schooner's
long-boat with his men, and the four men
went away. They came alongside the
Holden which seemed to be in pretty
good shape, and were taken on board. A
few minutes later, the little lumber
hooker keeled over and lay helpless on the
rocks, with her weather-rail out of water
occasionally The crew clung to it for
time, but one by one they dropped off and
were lost. About four O'Clock on the
morning of the Sd the Holden went
ashore.
81 told the men," said Captain Bentzen,
"that we would die if we stayed, and that
we had a chance for our lives if we took
to the water. Mr.. Jacobsen, the mate,
went first, and fortunately landed in safe
ty. l had been washed from the fore
castle, and had my head split open, so
that l was weak from loss of blood, but l
determined to try it with the rest. l let
myself over the side, but 1 was too weak
to swim and sank to the bottom.
II seemed long time that / was
under water, but 1 felt big wave
lift me up and hurry me along. Then it
left me on the rocks. The coral was as
sharp as knives. You can see the scars
on my hands and arms here where | was
cut, but my legs were cut worse. was
utterly helpless, but called for my mate,
and he saved me. All of my crew were
saved, but in such a condition as you
never saw. My trousers had been cut
away, so that only the waistband re-
mained. My coat was in sheds. Some
Of the men were almost naked. | had one
shoe on. | got pair Of trousers from a
black man, and then an officer from the
Canal Company, Frenchman, came
along, took us all to hotel, fed US, gave
us clothing and made US comfortable. He
would take no pay.
sThe heroism of the sailors in port was
particularly shown in the efforts to rescue
Captain Lindego of the British ship Lin
ton, with his wife and two children. One
of the children was girl of three years
and the other a babe in arms. The Cap
tain of the French steamer Fournel, see-
ing their danger, got a lifeboat manned
with volunteers, his chief officer going in
command. The boat was swamped, but
all hands were saved except the mate
Captain Oxh0im of the Douglas Castle
vas among those trying to rescue the
women. The boat was cleared out and
sent again with a fresh crew, the
chief engineer of the Fournel taking
charge. She was rolled over by the
breakers, and the engineer was lost. The
third trial was successful and the woman
and her baby were brought safe ashore,
but the Captain and his little girl, and all
of his crew, were lost. The bodies of the
mate and the engineer were recovered,
and with the body of an American, who
lost his life while trying to save others,
were buried with military honors."
Captain Oxholm said that over sixty
lives were lost, and twenty-five vessels
were wrecked. s'You can tell how COM
pletely my ship was wrecked" he added.
...She was sold at auction for S13, and
her cargo of 92l tons of coal brought
a