Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-01-13

Twenty Lives Lost An the china
krn.

A San Francisco special says: The
steamship Rio Janeiro. from China and
Japan, brings the particulars OF the
wreck Of the British steamer Nortigern,
with the loss OF twenty lives, IN ty-
phoon in the China sea. The survivors
reached Hong Kong on December Sth'
Chief. Officer Moreck told the following
story OF the disaster:
The Vortigern left Sowray Bay Tor
Hong Kong on November 9Th with car.
90 Of sugar, the crew and passengers oil
told being fifty-one. Wehad fine weather
until the 18th, when we encountered n
heavy gale. On the lith the violence OF
the gale increased, and the sea broke
continually over the vessel, washing one
of the boats away. The storm, although
a great one. did not at that time cause
any apprehension of danger in the minds
of either officers or crew. When day
broke on the 10th, however, the
gale had become terrific. Another boat
was smashed, heavy seas were shipped,
and the doors of the stoke-hole were
stove in and the stoke-hOle gradually
filled with water On the 18th, despite
all endeavors, the water rose so high IN
the sioke hole that the fire was put out.
On the night Of the 18th the wind and
sea increased, everything on deck was
smashed. and ladders and deck-fttlng
were washed away. On the morning OF
the 18th it was apparent that there was
no chance of saving the ship, although
all hands were employed in pumping
water from the stoke-hole, and orders
were given TO get ready the two boats
which still remained
While this was being done the waves
were still breaking oyer the vessel, and
some Of the crew and passengers were
washed overheard, and, although some
of them were saved. about twenty per-
ished. The remainder Of the passengers
and crew got into boats. and the vessel
sank at > p. NJ, about fifty miles north
west Of North Dancer Reef. For three
days prior to the sinking OF the vessel
we had been unable to get at the fresh
water passage door, the tanks having he
come filled with poisonous gas. All we
had in the boats was some tins OF BIS
cults and some dirty water. / broke oil
a corner of one OF the tins, and while we
were in the boats served out the water IN
this once daily to each person, an allow
ance OF ubouta tablespoonful.
One of the boats had sail and the
other we towed after this one. The
nearest place where We could get any
help was the Cochin China coast, about
go miles away, and for this we set sail.
After getting into the boats the wind
and sea moderated somewhat, although
waves occasionally broke over the boats,
drenrhlng us to the skin. After two
DAYS voyage we sighted Cape Verella,
and on getting into the harbor, close at
hand, We found steamer taking in
water We pulled alongside and took
a hearty drink OF the first water
we had tasted for nearly five days. Here
we went on board the bark NicOya. The
captain was ashore, but the chief officer
gave us q most hearty reception and sup
piled us not only with food, but with
clothing, both of which We stood greatly
in need of. We stayed on board until the
"a, aud then we landed and were given
transportation to Nihatreng, where the
French steamer Arethusa took us to
Saigon, whence we were brought to
Hong Kong.