The Port Gibson reveille. [volume] (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1890-current, 1895-08-15

PHILADELPHIA, PA.-The British
ship Prince Oscar, from sLiverpool,
Capt. Henderson, collided in midocean
on July 18th with an unknown sailing
vessel. Both ships sank in less than
ten minutes. Six members of the crew
Of the Prince Oscar and all on board
the unknown vessel were lost. The
survivors, seventeen in number, were
rescued by the ship Dharwar, after be-
ing confined in an open boat, with
neither food nor water, for three days.
They were transferred to the British
steamship Capac, from Pissaqua, and
brought to this port tonight. The
names of the lost are: William knight,
seaman Of South Shiels; Z. Peterson,
seaman, Of Denmark; Oscar Nelson,
seaman, of Chrisiiana; August Carton,
deck boy, Of Ostend; I. Relap, OF
Douglas, Isle-of-Man; /. Anderson,
steward, Of Liverpool. The entire
crew of the unknown vessel.
The disaster occurred shortly after
midnight in latitude 80 south, longi.
tude % 20 west. The Prince Oscar,
which was bound from Shields, which
port she left May 9th, for Iquique,
laden with coal, was going at clipping
gait on the port tack before a brisk
wind and with all canvas set. IL IL
estimated by the crew that she wai
making about six and half knots az
hour, when suddenly there loomed uI
directly under her bows a foremasteo
vessel. The mate asserts that the
stranger had no lights burning, and
after she was sighted it was impossible
to change the course of the Prince
Oscar. The iron hull of the latter
struck the unknown full amidships,
knocking her almost on her beam ends
and crashing through the woodwork
until her prov was more than hall
buried.
The stranger went over almost on
her beam ends as the Prince Oscar
backed away.
As the crew Of the Prince Oscar
stood peering through the derkness
they saw the stranger partially right
herself and then she began to sink.
They listened awhile in vain for some
signs of life, but not a cry for help nor
a word of command came from tho
stricken vessel. In less than four min
utes from the time she was struck the
stranger plunged stern first into the
depths below.
Capt. Henderson, of the Prince Os-
oo, .r.rhoI Ill fw~r, Ito
just in time to discover that his ship
was also sinking. The pumps we're Of
no avail, and lifeboats were ordered,
the men all taking to them with the
exception of the unfortunates. Capt,
Henderson was the last man to leave
the ship.
Finally they left the wreck and
headed they knew not exactly where.
Twenty-four hours later a heavy sea
struck the boat commanded by Mate
Lynch and capsized it. The occupants,
eight in number, were thrown into the
sea, and the already oyercrowded craft
which Capt. Henderson commanded.
put quickly to the rescue. They were
successful in getting four of the men
the rest we're drowned.
Seventeen men we're successful In
getting into the small lifeboats, with
to eat or drink and barely
room to stretch their weary limbs.
The sun was broiling hot, and their
hunger and thirst were almost unbear
able. Toward evening Of the second
day one of'the crew discovered q small
cnsk Of fish oil slowed away in the
boat. This was dealt out to the survi
vors in small doses, and they used it to
QOisten their parched lips and tongues
Most Of the men we're partially naked.
having had no time to secure any
slothes before leaving the vessel.
After floating thus three days anc
Ehvee nights, and just as they were
about to abandon hope, they sighted
The ship Dharwar, from London, bounc
10 Melbourne. They succeeded in at
tractiDg attention on board and were
soon ON her decks. Fonr days later
hey were put aboard the Capac, bound
'or fhin mort