Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-13
MORE STORIES or WRECK.
News Received Of the Loss OF the Britt
Steamer Fairfield

News Received Of the Loas OF the British
Steamer Fairfield
LONDON, Nov. Histories OF wreck and dis
aster caused by the storm continue to be re-
ceived. News has just reached this city Of the
loss at sea of the British steamer Fairfield The
steamer was bound from the TYNE for Genoaand
was caught in the hurricane on Wednesday last
in latitude Al north, longitude west, just
as she was on the outer edge of the Bay of Bis
cay. This stornl-tossed section of the Atlantic
is known for the violence of the gales which
frequently pass over It. Every gale coming
from the north or from any point of the COM
pass back from North to southwest has clear
sweep for thousands of miles, and the seas,
when agitated by storms, in this section of the
ocean run with almost phenomenal violence.
The Fairfield, although comparatively small
steamer. was a stanch iron vessel. She was
built Only a few years ago.
The gale however, proved toe much for her.
and the continual hboring in the tremendous
seas is supposed to have started some of the
rivets holding her plates together. The water
entered the ship and all the pumps were
started. Every examination made of the well
showed that. though the pumps were working
to their greatest capacity, the water in the
hold was slowly but surely gaining. Finally it
rose SO high that the engine fires were oxtin-
guisbed and then the vessel was helpless. The
water now rapidly began to I'LL the holds and
the steamer began to settle far below her
bearings.
WONDERFUL ESCAPE OF THOSE ON BOARD.
At this juncture it was decided to abandon
her. Orders had previously been given for
the boats to be made ready and water and pro-
visions had been placed in them. Nothing
now remained to be done but to get the boats
clear of the sinking steamer. This was task
that called for the exercise of considerable
ingenuity. WatcrlogSed as the steamer was
she had swung into the trough of the sea, and
therefore her rolling rendered the task an ex-
tremely diticultone. as there was continual dam
ger of the boats, as they hung suspended by their
falls from the davits, either being dashed 10
piecas against the side ofthe steamer asshe rolled
upward or filled with water and capsized as she
rolled the other way. After many attempts all
the boats were got away safely and shaped their
course for the nearest land. After they had
been ai1oat for many hours they were picked
up by passing vessels and fortunately there is
not the loss OF single life to chronicle in con-
nection with the loss of the Fairfield.
ON THE IRISH COAST.
DUBLIN, Nov. 13.-Ihe gale continues to
scatter wrecks along the coast of Ireland and
there has been in consequence considerable loss
OF life
Ike British barque Gylfe, Capt Wilson, 9S4
tons, from Quebec on October l for Liverpool,
loaded with timber. has been wrecked at Court,
Oh Maschery bay, near Kinsale, Cork.
The Gyife Lad Leen experiencing very heavy
weather for some time past and was much bat
tered and strained, her sails were little more
than shreds and it was impossible for her to
make Roadway i'll the efforts made 70 beat of
the coast. Swept fore and aft by heavy seas,
thrown several times upon her beam ends, the
doomed barque. slowly driven toward the
shore at last began firing distress rockets and
hoistcd her ensign with the jack down.
Such was the force of the wind however the
blood red RAJ" blew away like a cobwcb. A
tarpaulin was then lashed to the weather rig
ging and efforts were made to get out sea
drag; the lead showed ten fathoms of water
with rocky bottom. Then the barque let
go her starboard wind hook, but though
it brought her up for the moment sudden
heavy surge snapped the chain and the
Gylfe began to fall off again. Then the port
anchor was let 60 and orders we're given to
clear away the long boat. The latter. however,
owing to the seas which had broken on board
the barque. had suffered severely and two men
were washed overheard while vainly trying to
hoist it aboard.
By this time the distress of the Gylfe had
been noticed by the coast guard and reinforce
ments were tele2raphed for to KinsaIe and
other places. The rocket apparatus WAS hur-
ried to the spot, and just as 1t was being got
into position the Gylfe struck with
crash that caused her to SILVER from
stem to stern and which threw her fore
mast forward with snap causing the stick to
&c by the board and carrying the jibboon and
bowsprit with it. Before this wrechage could
be cut away the barques main topmast. unable
70 stand the Juggling OF the running rigging
and standing rigging connecting it with the
wreck, carried away Just above the head of tine
mainnast aud killed a seaman in falling
The position in which. the Gylte's survivors
were then placed was one of extreme danger.
There was no chance Of the vessel holding to-
gether for any length Of time and the first shot
nf fhn clnv, fa1l l..
Happily the second attempt of the coast guards
men was more successful and the life lines fell
right across the barque's deck. The captain
and the remainder of his crew then hauled the
hawser on board and secured it to the mizzen-
mast head below the cross trees, and soon after
the brooches buoy was hauled on board This
was not accomplished however. without an
other able seaman and IN apprentice being
guardsmen finally managed to rescue four sea-
able seamen being washed overheard while
being hauled ashore dead in the breech IS
buoy. Thus only the captain and four seamen
were rescued out of this unlucky crew of thir-
in the breeches buoy upon leaving Quebec at
tempted to leave the ship. saying that he knew
that something would happen to the Gylfe if
her crew. He WAS SO ridiculed by his comrades
and others that, under a press of liquor. the
fatalist seaman was prevailed upon TO remain
on board. with the result already stated.