The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-12-31
ON HOLYHEAD BREAKWATER
Vessel Driven Ashore by an
Awful Storm
THAT RACED IN THE IRISH SEA.
Several Sailors Were Killed by Masts
and Rigging Falling on
Them.

LONDON, Dec. 30.-Severe weather has
prevailed throughout Great Britain since
Saturday, the heavy gale being accom-
panied by hail and snow, rendering navi-
CATION difficult ard dangerous.
All vessels that could do so made for
havens of shelter. Some of them, how
ever, did not succeed in reaching port, but
were wrecked almost within sight of
safety.
This was the case of the British bark
Osseo, Captain BOggs. which sailed from
Taltal August Is for Ardrossan. Shs made
the long voyage safely until this morning.
when she was wrecked on the Holyhead
breakwater and every soul on board of
her, twenty-four in all, were drowned.
The ship was caught in the gale in the
Irish Sea. The captain evidently thought
to run to Holyhead and wait for the storm
to abate.
Shortly before $3.50 o'clock this morning
the keeper of the lighthouse at the sea-
ward end of the long breakwater sa1 a
bark come outlof the gloom with her lights
burning brightly and under close storm
canvas. The wind was blowing a lively
gale and terrific sea was running before
IL. The bark, however, was making as
good weather of it as possible. and was ap-
parently being handled in a most careful
manner.
How the accident occurred is not exactly
known, but 1t is snTmised al extrAordi-
nary high sea lifted her when she was
quite close to the breakwater and dashed
her upon it. She struck amidships and
Immediately began to break up, the sea
pounding at her furiously the moment she
became stationary.
The NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. as soon as he
realized what had occurred, fred rocket
to call the coast guardsmen and lifeboat
men. In the meantime the bark had
broken into halves. the mainmast going by
the board. ln its fall, it struck several of
the crew who were on the deck, killing
them in stsntly. Others OF the crew had
clamored into the fore and mizzen rigging
to escape being washed overheard by the
huge combers that were making a clean
sweep over the wreck.
The coast guardsmen were the first to
reach the scene and were followed soon
after by the lifeboat men. Above the
bowling OF the gale could be heard the
cries Of the men on the bark for assist
ance. The coast guards got a line aboard
the wreck and it was caught by one of tha
crew. Before he could make it fast the
fore and mIZzen masts were whipped OF
close to the deck, and every body In these
riggings fell with them into the sea and
were drowned.
The sailor who had caught the line was
crushed to death under one of the falling
masts. After the masts had gone by the
board all was silence on the wreck, and
those on the breakwater knew that all
hands on the bark had perished.
In short time nothing was visible sea-
ward but broken spars and a rsf1s Of
rigging attached to them. During the day
nine bodies were recovered.
The identity of the bark was learned
from some of her papers that were washed
ashore. The Osseo was commanded by
Captain r. Boggs. She was steel vessel
of 1899 tons and was built In 1889 at Lon
donderry. from which port she hailed.
Her dimensions were: Length 245 feet
inches, beam SO feet inches and depth of
hold q feet inches. B. b. McCorkle was
her owner.