, 1891-12-02
THE WRECK OF THE mosEILE.
fJama;ca Glsaaer, 16 Nov.)

SNWSSC
The S. S. Yuoatan which left Colon at $50
Oh Saturday evening last, arrived here early
Tuesday morning, our representative being the
first to board her. Through the courtesy OF
the purser an Introduction was efe tied
with the only passenger, who was also q pas.
senger on the ill-fated Moselle, at the time OF
her running ashore. This gentleman, who
was very afahle and communicative, in answer
to a question as to ~oauseof the disaster replied
"All that / can say is that the whole affair
ia wrapped in mystery" adding that upon
a calm review of the whole case, it would
seem as il the vessel had been placed i'll such
a position ~designedly. He stated that on
Thursday morning the passengers were arous-
cd about 400 by the humping and scraping
of the ship on the reef. The majority of them
rushed on deck in a state of the widest panic
and were Just in time to hear the Captain give
orders to the officers to launch the boats and
embark the passengers. The water surround-
ing the steamer was particularly deep and this
gave great difficulty in transferring the peo-
pie, some of whom were completely paralysed
and helpless from fear. Taking into consider
alton the circumstances, however, this was
rapidly and effectively accomplished without
a single mishap. Some OF the boats at
once made for the land, and as the weather
was pretty calm, no excessive inconvenience
was experienced, After about an hour had
elapsed, the wind, which had been gradually
increasing in volume, commenced TO blow
with terrific violence and rendered any fur
Their communication with the ship completely
impractioable. Had the like weather prevail
ed at the time the ship struck it would be
safe to saw that not a single life would nave
been saved. for no boat ever built could have
O,1ru.ra1 tho purU of tho UQvng aid IN fact
they could not have been lowered without
smashing themselves to pieces against the
sides.
This gentleman said at the time the vessel
struck she was undoubtedly many miles out
of her course and that this fact was apparent
ly quite unknown to the chief Officer. Upon
landing on the shore from the boats the latter
gentleman informed him that they were then
about 80 miles from Colon and was consider
ably astonished when he learned from some
natives who had come down to the beach, aud
could scarcely credit the fact, that they were
then only about nine miles distant from that
town. The ship struck within a comparative
ly short distance of Colon, and the only 40
counting tor her striking at such place was
that there must have been an unusually strong
current for which no allowance had been
made, In conclusion, he spoke highly OF the
manly and heroic conduct of the officers,
whose behaviour throughout the whole ofthe
trying circumstances was calm and methods
cal.
Pilot Bryant, who was also on board the
Moselle at the time, on being questioned, said
he could offer no solution of the mystery at
tending the loss Of the vessel. BE could not
understand it and it completely puzzled him
to think that she should have struck atsuch
aplace. sS go ISL
!. Referring to the tragic death Of Captain
RowseIl, Pilot Bryant said it va suntr&s't that
the Captain had committed itsuicidesIdHe
STOOD by the ship till the last, buttfwisent his
responsibility was over, he tired bis utmost to
save himself and attempts were made from
the shore but without any hope of success. 2
Mr.. Bryant and the chief officer were the
last to leave the vessel with the exception of
Capt, Rowsell and they waited 1.-THE boat for
him, for some time. However q heavy sea
the cable and the violence OF the els