The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-08-09
A WATERY CRAVE
Whole Crew Of Unknown Vessel Lost
In the Atlantic.
SINKING OF THE cafTERrHUN.
Sixty Persons Drowned Off the
Australian Coast.

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. o. The British
ship Prince Oscar, Captain Henderson,
oollided in midocean on July 13 with an
unknown sailing vessel. Both ships sank
IN less than 10 minutes. Six members OF
the crew OF the Prince Oscar and oil on
board the unknown vessel were lost The
survivors. IL In number. were rescued by
the ship Dharwar, after having been con-
fined In an open. boat, with neither food
nor water, for three days. They were
transferred to tho British steamship
Capac, from Pisaqua, and brought to this
port last night.
The disaster occurred shortly after mid
night In lat $50 s., long 2S20 w. Tho
Prince Oscar, which was bound from
Shields, which port she left May 27 for
Iquique, laden with coal, and was going
at n clipping gait on the port tack before
brisk wind, with all canvas set. It
is estimated by the crew that she was
making about 81 knots an hour, when
suddenly there loomed up, directly under
her bows, n four-mastcd vessel.
The mate asserts that the stranger had
no lights burning and after she was
sighted IL was impossible TO alter the
course Of the Prince Oscar. The iron hull
OF the latter struck the unknown full
amidships, knocking her on her beam
ends. and crashing through the woodwork
until her bow was more than half buried.
The stranger went over almost on her
beam ends, as the Prince Oscar backed
away from the rebound.
Sunk Almost Immediately.
AS the crew of the Prince Oscar stood
peering through the darkness. they saw
h. ar ial1 1v inhf
then she rapidly began to sink. They lis
tened in vain for some signs of life. but
not 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 heeled over and
plunged stern first into the depths below.
Captain Henderson Of the Prince Oscar,
who was below in his birth, rushed on
deck just in time to discover that his ship
was also sinking The pumps were then
manned, but, in less time than it takes TO
tell it, il was discovered that there was no
hope from that source. Llfeboats were
ordered cut adrift and the men We're told
TO Jump and swim for their lives. They
all went overheard, and, with the excep-
ton OF two unfortunates, reached tho
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 abo At the scene of the wreck un-
til daylight came. in an effort TO rescue
the two missing members of the Prince
Oscars crew. They found no one, how
ever, and nothing TO indicate the name,
home OF destination of their companions
In misfortune.
Finally, they left the scene and headed
they knew not exactly where. Twenty
four hours later heavy sea struck the
boat commanded by Mate Lynch and cap
sized IL. Her occupants, eight in number,
were thrown into the sea- and the already
overcrowded craft which Captain Hender-
son commanded put quickly to the rescue.
They were successful in getting four of
the men aboard. The rest were drowned.
Suffered Awful Hardships.
There were now II men in the small life
boat, with nothing TO eat, nothing 10
drink, and barely room to stretch their
weary limbs. The sun was broiling hot,
aud their hunger and thirst were almost
unbearabe Toward evening Of the sec-
ond day one of the crew discovered a
small cask of fish oil slowed away in the
little boat This was dealt out TO the sur.
vivors in small doses, and they used it to
moisten their parched lips and tongues
Most of the men were partially naked
having had no time to secure any clothes
before leaving their vessel.
For three days and nights they fioated
thus on the bosom of the South Atlantic
and just rs they were about TO abandon
hope they sighted the ship Dharwar
from London, bound TO Melbourne. They
succeeded in attracting the attention OF
those on board and were soon upon her
decks They were accorded every at
tention, and furnished with food, drink
and clothes, and four days later, in lat
1888 $, long. 37.30 W., were put aboard
the Capac bound for this port. All of the
survivors still bear evidences OF the suffer
ings they endured while aboard the small