The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-02-25
"sAvE YOURSELF. BARCLAY"
The Last Words of the Brave Captain of the
Elizabeth.


SAN FRANoIsco, Feb. 23-The loss of
lives by the wrecking of the clipper ship,
Elizabeth. of North Head Saturday
night, is now estimated at nineteen,
including Capt. Henry of the local
life-saving service. Eleven persons, in
Guiding the wife and children of Capt Col
cord of the Elizabeth were saved. Charles
Barclay. first mate of tho wrecked ship,
who, with four others, succeeded in
floating ashore yesterday, says that
after the captains family had been placed
aboard the tug Reliance Saturday every
effort was redoubled to save the ship from
impending doom. Capt Colcord, says the
mate, was badly hurt during the afternoon
by being gthrown againsta capstan, and was
unable 10 move except with great pain, but
he heroically refused to be sent ashore,
and protested that he desired to stay by
the ship. The angry sea and gale were
what the helpless shin had to encounter.
and though within canon shot of port she
met her fate on the rocks on which the
combined forces OF the eleme nts threw
her.
Several tugs came mp and attempted to
succor us. but their tow lines either fell
short of our decks or were broken like
threads. We drifted to leeward all
the time. ordered life boat ready
for launching. when the ship struck the
rock and then went aft and requested the
captain TO come with us, as il was certain
death to remain by the ship any longer as
she was being pounded TO pieces The
CAPTAIN replied: Save yourself, BARCLAY,
I'm crippled and will only hamper YOU.
Barclay, continuing the story, said he
took the captain by the arm and started
to lead him forward when the heavy seas
washed the latter from his grasp Bar
clay again got hold of him and, assisted
by one OF the crew, struggled through the
tremendous seas sweeping over the deck
y sailor suddenly exclaimed that the
captain was dead. When Barclay saw
this was the case he went forward and
found thirteen OF the crew hal launched
the life boat and were eDdeavoring
to keep near the ship TO render 4
possible assistance. The high winds and
waves soon drove them out OF sight.
Barclay and eight men remained on the
vessel. The main tor gallant mai went
by the board. The mizzen mast icll with
n crash and was soon followed by
the foreiop mast The vessel was
raised high on the waves and fell
upon rocks where she broke asunder.
Barclay and four companions struggled
with the waves Tor lon. time, but were
finally carried ashore. Three OF the men
remained entangled i'm the wrcckage and
were drowned. The names OF those saved
with Barclay were L. Greenwald, Lewis
Murry, Carl leffert and G. Adler. scamen.
The life-saving crew, which had made
hard march fourteen miles across the hills,
found them being cared for by Portuguese
ranchers. The boat containing thirteen
seamen, which left the Elizabeth before
she broke up was overturned by the waves
and only four of its occupants were saved
The list of survivors so far as known com
prises Mrs. Colcord, the captains wife;
their son and daughter, Chief Mate Bar
clay, James Taken, wheelman, and six
seamen.
The drowned are:
CAPT. COLCORD.
SECOND OFFICER PENDLETON.
WILLIAM REDMOND. boatswain.
EDWARD MILES, boats vain.
CARPENTER SMITH.
Twelve seamen.
The chinese cook.
The body of Capt. Henry OF the life
saving service, who was washed overheard
from the lifeboat, has been found and
body believed TO be that of Capt. Colcord
has been picked up.