The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-08-09
six Members Of the Crew Of the Prince
Oscar and All of nm Unkonwn
Four-Masfer Drowned.
BRITISH STEAMER WRECKED
PROBABLY SIXTY LIVES LOST OFF
THE COAST OF AUSTRALIA
Steamship Catterthun Blown ON the
Gale and Few People saved.

snip, frlnce oscar, form Liverpool, captain
Henderson. colided in midocean on July
i3 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
being confined in an open boat with neither
food nor water for three days. They were
transferred to the British steamship Capic,
from Pissaqua. and brought To this. port
tonight The names OF the lost are:
WILLIAM KNIGHT, a seaman. OF South
Shields.
OSCAR NELSON. seaman. of christiana-s
h. PETERSON, seaman, OF Denmark.
AUGUST CARTON. deck boy, of Ostend-
J. RELAP: OF Douglas, Isle OF Man.
j. ANDERSON, steward, OF Liverpool.
ENTIRE CREW of the unknown vessel
The disaster occurred shortly after mid
night in latitude $3.50. south, longitude
$40. west. The Prince Oscar. which was
bound from Shields. which port she left
May q for Iquique laden with coal. was
going at clipping gait on the port tack
before a brisk wind and with all canvas
set. 1t is estimated by the crew that she
was making about six and a half knots an
hour, when suddenly there doomed UP di-
rectly under her bows four-masted ves-
sci. The mate asserts that the stranger
had no lights burning and after she was
sighted il was impossible TO change the
course OF the Prince Oscar. The iron huh
OF the latter struck the unknown full amid
ships. knocking her almost on her beam ends
and crashing through the wood work until
her prov was more than half buried
The stranger went over almost on her
beam ends the Prince Oscar backed
away. AS the crew OF the Prince Oscar
stood peering through the darkness they
saw the stranger partially right herself
and then she rapidly began TO sink. They
listened while in vain for some signs OF
life, but not a cry for help nor a word OF
command came from the stricken vessel
In less than four minutes from the time
she was struck the stranger keeled over
and plunged stern first into the depths
below.
Captain Henderson, OF the Prince Oscar.
who was below in his BERTH rushed on deck
Just in time to discover that his ship was
also sinking. The pumps were manned, but
In less time than IL takes . tell II. IL was
discovered that there was no hope from
that source. L.feboats were ordered cut
adrift and the men were told 10 jump and
swim for their lives. They all went over
board and. with the exception Of the un-
fortunates. reached the small boats.
Captain Henderson, who was the last man
to leave the ship wcnS over in his night
garments and swan fully two miles before
he was picked up. Both boats hovered
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 member of the crew OF the stranger
who might have been fortunate enough TO
have kept aloat. They found no one. how
ever, and nothing to indicate 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 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 overcrowded craft which Captain
Henderson commanded put quickly 10 the
rescue. They were successful in getting
four of the men aboard. The rest were
drowned. There were now seventeen men
in the small lifeboat with nothing TO eat
or drink, and barely room TO stretch their
weary limbs. The sun was broiling hot and
their hunger and thirst was almost un-
bearable Toward evening OF the second
day one OF the crew discovered small
cask OF fish oil slowed away in the boat
| This was dealt out TO the survivors In
| their parched lips and tongues. Most OF the
| men were partially naked, having had no
| time TO secure any clothes before leaving
! the vessel For three days and nights they
| foated thus on the bosom of the soCth
| Atlantic and just as they were about 20
abandon hope they sighted the snip
| Dharwar, from London. bound 10 Mel
| bourne. They succeeded in attracting the
attention OF those on board and were soon
| on her decks. Four days later they were
| put aboard the capiac, bound for this port.
| All of the survivors still bear evidence of
| the sufferings they endured while aboard
the small boat
Captain Henderson, when seen tonight,
| was very reticent, preferring not 10 give the
| full details OF the disaster until he had re-
pcrted TO British Consul Cipperton. which
| officer will be asked 10 institute naval
| After some persuasion. however Captain
| Henderson said: ION the night Of July Is.
when the collision occurred. i had lust
| turned in. leaving the deck in charge OF the
| chief officer The wind was southwest and
| souaIly and there was considerable sea.
| We were going along possibly six and a half
knots an hour. with everything set. Inc
mate saw nothing of the approaching yef-
| sci until she was almost on top OF us. and
| he positively asserts that neither or her SIDE
| lights were burning She had every stitch
| OF canvas, and was jumping through the
water at a lively rate. Consequently. when
| both vessels came together the crash was
| terrific and the damage was sufficient TO
cause both TO 20 to the bottom within ten
| minutes time. Not a sound came from those
/ on board the unknown ship. and at the ex-
| piration OF ive minutes the tips or her
masts were seen sinking beneath the sur
| face OF the water.
/ Captain Henderson n well advanced In
| wears. and has followed the sea since =
| mere boy, this being his first accident