New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-19
SANK LIKE A BODY OF LEAD.
SURVIVORS TELL HOW THE DRUMMOND
CASTLE WENT DOWN
EARLY REPORTS OF THE TERRIBLE LOSS OF LIFE
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES IN HER COURSE.

CALM But HAY NIGHT.
London, June 1S.--A dispatch from Brest says
that the two sailors belonging to the sunken
steamer Drummond Castle who were rescued at
lie dc Molene state that the Drummond Castle
struck about II D. M June H. The captain and
third officer were on the bridge at the time
drzzling rain prevailed and 1t was quite hazy.
No lights were seen. Soundings had been taken
two hours before the ship struck.
A dispatch from the Ushant Lighthouse at 13O
p. m says that the man Marquardt. who was
saved from the wreck Of the steamer Drummond
Castle and picked up a Ushant. states that there
was time to launch boats after the ship
struck This being the case he thinks that there
is little hope OF finding any survivors except him
self and the two sailors who were picked up at
lie de Molene at which place twenty-five bodies
have been washed ashore.
1t is learned that among the hrst-class passen-
gers on board the Drummond Castle was young
American named Hughes, who boarded the ship
at Durham. Natal. His place of residence In
America is not known.
Southampton, June 1S.--Captain Tanquery Of
the French schooner Hrondelle. which arrived
here from Bordeaux this morning reports that at
s o'clock yesterday morning he passed Ushant. off
which place the British steamer Drummond
Castle was sunk at midnight on June 16 The
sea at the time the Hirondelle passed Ushant wae
running very high. and there had been heavy
rain and thick fog In such weather, the cap
tain says IT would have been very easy matter
for a vessel to get out OF her course. Captain
Tanquery says that there was no trace OF wreck
age to be
THE TALE OF THE SURVIVORS,
Brest June lS-A representative OF the United
procc tint with
members OF the crew Of the sunken steamer
Drummond Castle who picked UP at lie de
Molene one Of the men is seaman named
Godbot. belonging in Yarmouth and the other
is Wood. a native of London who the
quartermaster OF the Drummond Castle.
The men agree in the statement that the night
OF June ii, when the steamer was lost. WAS n
fine. calm night, though there was slight fog
Captain Pierce was on the bridge at the time the
ship struck and Lieutenant Brown was forward
The adult passengers were all on deck. and only
the children Were sleeping. Suddenly there was
heard beneath the vessel a prolonged scraping
and this followed by a ghastly silence. The
fore part OF the ship began 10 sink Immediately
The captain at first believed the settling OF the
snip by the head to be caused merely by the
filling Of one OF the forward compartments. but
nevertheless ordered the boats lowered Therc
filled rapidly and sank like a huge body Of lead.
The survivors said that they could not remem-
/ ber exactly what dii happen when The ship
went down. GOdbolt succeeded in gfasping Il
/ door panel and plank. and Wood aiso caugnt
4 loose plank ~ IL was washed past him. FOR
long time aft-r the ship sank dcsiairlng
/ shreks filled the air mingled Hiih cries FOR h"lp
/ & which response was impossible TIE CRIES
/ gradually ceased. and there vas a grcwsome 81
| ltLce. Each man believed himself 10 be the sole
/ survivor II the Inflated ship and felt IN con-
! 81 II t.i heI off he
/ under him. Ultimately WOOD saw Godbolt tnl
swan L. him The two men remained together
thereafter. and were tossoi by the waves fot
| ten hours. frequently being torn by the force 81
the waves from their rough plank and panel
raft. which they would fortunately succeed In
reeahing
At o'clock on the morning y June Il some
| fishermen In boats copied them ard res ued
them landing them at lie Conquct
Besides the passenger Marquaidt. who wa
/ picked up at Ushant. Il Is not prooablc tnAt a
single u the passengers was saved Ih"S
! were for the most part women AMI children. IN
/ Guiding tho family 81 a tea planter eighteen IL
! number who returning home rom south
/ Africa
Tho keeper II the Ushant Eighth us" witnessed
! the disaster When h. first saw th" vessel he
! was surprised that large steamer shoHli enter
/ IN. sinuous and rocky Frpnlveur Passag" when
! separate Ihc Ushai. from the Molenr groups ~
| isands l. is hlr belief that the ship entered
! the passage by mistake. instead 81 keeping Ia
| the open sea through an error In raVlsatIln
MORE MAY HAVE BEEN SAVED.
It was rurnored here to-day. despite the state
,nonts that the steamer ned and sank 50 quick
IL that there WAS no time t. swing out ana lower
away The boats that one and probably more
boats filled with passengers suc' e"drd IN ge'uns
away from th- laundering steamer me UutH
81 the report could not b. determined, but stI"hu-
Gus eforts are being made To trace the boats II
| 50 be- II they got away.
All the ii shcrincn Of II" he M"ltne ana 'shah.
are out in their boats searching for survivors 81
the disaster and the bodies ~ he victims Ih'y
| have alrcady found ten rorpscs Among 'he
drowned picked up BY the fishermen MAS y"n I'M
! mother II, whose arms was locked. IN an en-
| brace that even death had not unloosen"i the
body ~ her lit'l" chlld .,.
The survivors gay that when the sudden shocK
of the ship's striking was felt the Captain shout
| ed to that part Of the crew who were on deck
INV boys don't lose your courage. Keep cool
II is said among maritime men here that II the
! statement is true that no soundngs were TAX n
for two hours before the ship struck. the steamer
! must certainly have been long distance on hei
| course or else tho reckoning was wrong. Ola
sailors say that navigation In the vicinity OF the
| islands is dangerous. owing 10 the currents anc
counter-currents. and that the lead ana snarp
lookout are absolutely essential when approach
| ing them Had the light on Eshant been seen.
| and II probably not. owing 10 the FOG. the
ships course could have been shaped from that
1t IL believed that the true cause or the disaster
| will never be known.
As soon as the steamer struck the passenger
rushed to the upper deck. and here were enacted
some terrible scenes. Strong men forgot their
manhood and struggled with each other for pos
session Of the few lifebuoya that We're fastened
about the deck.
According to the statements Of the survivors
the women were the most sci possessed persons
on board. With the steamer settling rapidly
under them and with death staring them In the
face the mothers did not forget their children
but rushed below to awaken them and to make
futile efforts to save them.
THE OFFICIAL CABLE VOCABULARY.
Budapest. June Is-The International Telegraph
Convention. now sitting here has taken up th'
question OF the compulsory OF the officia
vocabulary for code messages. The resolution. Of
inc New York Chamber OF Commerce and othe