The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-08-09
ROANOKE, VA, FRIDAY MORNING, AUGUST 8 1895
a COLLISION AT SEA.
The British Ship Prince Oscar CoIlides in
Mid-Ocean With an Unknown YaaaaI

The British Ship Prince Oscar Collides in
Mid-Ocean With an Unknown Vessel.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa, August S.-The
British ship Prince Oscar, from Liver
pool, Captain Henderson, collided In
mid ocean on July 18th with an un-
known sailing vessel. Both ships sank
in less than ten minutes. Six members
OF the crew OF the Prince Oscar and all
on bosrd the unknown vessel were lost.
The sur Tivors, seventeen in number,
were resoued by the ship Dharwsr after
being confined in an open boat, with
neither food nor water, for three days.
They were transferred 10 the British
steamship Cspac from Pisaqua, and
brought to this port to night.
The disaster occurred shortly after
midnight in latitude $40, south, longi-
tude $500, west. The Prince Oscar,
which was bound from Shields, which
port she left May 81 for Iquique. laden
with coal, was going at a clipping gait
on the port tack before q brisk wind
and with all canvas set. 1t Ia estimated
by the cree that she making about 6H
knots an hour, when suddenly there
loomed up directly under her bows a
four-masted vessel. The mate asserts
end after she WAS sighted It WAS impos-
siole to alter the course OF the Prince
Oscar.
The iron hull OF the latter struck the
unknown full amidships, knocking her
almost on her beam end, and crashing
through the woodwork until her prov
was more than half buried. The
stranger bent over almost on her beam
ends as the Prince Oscar backed away
from the rebound. AS the crew OF the
Prince Oscar stood peering through the
darkness they saw the stranger partially
right herself and then she rapidly be-
gan to sink.
They listened In vain for some signs
OF life, but not cry for help nor q word
OF command came from the stricken
vessel. In less than four minutes from
the time she was struck, the stranger
heeled over and plunged stern first into
the depths below. Captain Henderson,
or the Prince Oscar, who was below In
his berth, rushed on deck Just in time
to discover that his ship was also sink
ing.
The pumps were manned, but 1t was
soon discovered that there was no hope
from that source. Life boats were
ordered cut adrift, and the men were
told to jump and swim for their lives.
They nll went overheard, and with the
exception of two unfortunates. reached
the small boats.
Captain Henderson, who was the last
man to leave the ship, went over in his
night garments and swan fully two
miles before he was picked up Both
boats lowered about the scene of the
wreck until daylight came, in an effort
to rescue the two missing members of
the Prince Oscars crew and any Nom
Der Of the crew Of the stranger who
might have been fortunate enough 10
have kept afloat.
They found nothing, however, and
nothing to designate the name, home
or destination OF their companions in
misfortune. Finally they left the scene
and headed they knew not exactly
where. Twenty four hours later q
heavy sea struck tho boat commanded
by Mate Lynch and capsized 1t. The
occupants, eight In number, were
overcrowded crafs commanded by Capt.
Henderson, went quickly to tho rescue.
They were successful in getting four
OF them aboard. The rest were drowned.
There were now seventeen men in the
small lifeboat. with nothing to eat,
nothing to drink, and barely room to
stretch their weary limbs. The sun was
broiling hot, and their hunger snd thirst
WAS almost unbesrable. Toward even
Ing OF the second day one OF the crew
discovered small cask OF f1sh oil slowed
away In the little boat This was dealt
out to the survivors in small doses, and
they used IL to moisten their parohed
lips and tongues. Most Of the men were
partially naked, having had no time to
secure any clothes before leaving .sheir
vessel.
For three days and nights they hoated
thus on the bosom OF the South Atlsn-
tic, and just as they were about to aban.
don hope they sighted the ship Dhawar
from London bound to Melbourne
They succeeded in attracting the stten-
tion of those on board and were soon
upon her decks. They were accorded
every attention and furnished with
food, drink and clothes. and four days
later. in lat 1888 south long. 81 80
west were put aboard the Capac, bound
for this port.