New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-26
THI WRECK OF THE LILY.
,.ppyAL OF THE SURVIVORS OF THE CREW
AT HALIFAX.
nrAIIs OF THE LOSS OF THE BRITISH WAX
,HIp WITH SEVEN OF HER MhN-A AEp'h
THAT PROVED A DEATH-TRAP

~~AIIS OF THE LOSS OF THE pi'AAiSii "'
.y,p WITH SEVEN OF HER MEN-A LEDGE
THAT PROVED DEATH-rRAP.
Halifax. N. s., Sept. 25.-Her Maiesty's steamer
r-orald arrived here to-day with the survivors
- the wrecked warship Lily. First Lieutenant
u.,;,t gives the following story of the disaster:
The Lily went ashore on September 16 at
.,.loc, in the afternoon at place called Point
srmopr. Forteau Bay, on the coast of Labrador
e. was bound into Forteau Bay for her mails
A, the time thick fog prevailed, and suddenly,
without the least warning, the ship struck the
rocks with considerable force. Breakers could
then be heard about the ship. The officers did
NOT know exactly what they had struck The
shin began to pound heavily and make water
fapidly and three of the boats were lowered and
started for the shore, but owing to the heavy
surf they capsizd when close in, throwing the
occupants all into the water. All managed to
swim ashore but two. They were drowned one
of the sailors then swan ashore with line, and
,bv this means hawser was got to land
Between the ship and the beach, a
ledge of sharp rocks intervened, WIN
very deep water between the rocks and the shore,
bnd over this ledge, which turned out to be a
perfect death-trap, hawser was passed. four
of the crew attempted TO climb ashore by means
of this rope but before they could succeed, the
moor fellows were lifted by the heavy swell which
was running and dashed TO death on the rocks
beneath.
Finding it impossible to land safely by this
means a cradle was arranged on the hawser. The
first man TO be sent from the ship In 1t was
West Indian, named Seatey, who acted as musician
ON board He met the fate as the four
others. his dead body being found in the cradle
the next day.
The Emerald happened to be lying in Forteau
Bay, which is about five miles from Point Armour
and in answer to distress signals sent number
of her men 10 assist at the wreck. With their
help the remainder of those board managed to
reach shore safely about o'clock the next morn
fng
Shortly after the upsetting of the DoatS, when
H. was seen how unsafe it to land, the cutter,
with the ships papers, money, etc, was sent out
10 sea in charge of an officer, and renamed there
all night. landing safely in Forteau Bay the next
dav When the fog lifted on Tuesday it was
found that the Lily had struck a reef ABOUT
hundred yards from shore. On the ounuay pe,
fore there had been heavy oIOw' anu tls 1 cauiod
, very heavy swell to roll in, which soon poundeu
the bottom )It of the ship with the heip OF IIe
Emeralds men, the wreck was stripped oil an
her spars, sails and rigging, nothing Delng Nlt
but the lower mast All the small arms were
saved On the Thursday following the Dominion
rteamer La Canadienne came along, and 1t was Dy
her that the news sent TO Bonne bay, 10 DC
cabled to the Admiral at Halifax.
When the Emerald left the scene last saturday
the Lily was lying on her starbOard side, with her
netting under water. Her bottom is completely
battered out and the water is up to the upper
decks Her three heavy guns were le1J on Doaru'
it being impossible to land them: ,.,.
OF those lost six were bluejackets, including one
coored man, and one was marine. Inc VesSels
crew numbered O6.