The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-05-30

'You want story. do you" Capt.
Robert Laurie Boldchild, of the British
ship Balmoral. tugged at his long gray
beard and knitted his brows. He was
over from Port Townsend. where his ship
is lying. and was sought In his room at
the Butler hotel by Post-Intelligencer
reporter. You want a story, do your
he repeated. Well let me think"
Have you been in any wrecksw' was
suggested.
The captains face lighted up. ''Thai I
have" he said, "and In a wreck that was
a wreck He stretched his athletic
length on a couch. and between reflective
pufYs at pipe told the following tale OF
disaster:
There were 22s lives lost. II was In tho
dead of winter and cold in the air that
went to ones marrow. The exact date
remember well. IT was November g. 1873.
I was mate Of the British ship Lochearn
then, and We were bound from London to
New York On beautiful. clear night.
when about 800 miles of the Irish coast.
we were bearing away to the westward
under full sail. The wind was brisk md
steady.
about clock in the morning, when
all hands below were sleeping soundiy.
and even the deck watch was inclined TO
browse despite the cold. sudden hcGrsc
cry was heard. and the rushing OF feet on
deck-then a great crash and a crunch
ing tearing sound. Broadside on our bow
was large steamer with all sails set. ana
the black smoke from her tunnels hung
like deep shadow In the rigging. On her
decks were people rushing 10 and fro.
men, women and children. Many had evil
IDENTIFY been awakened from deep sleep.
The steamer had struck our bow slant
ing blow. and as il slid by with Its side
against the Lochearn's nose, the whole
side had been torn out.
Almost before the eye could take IN
these details the steamer began to fli and
settle before our eyes. She sank straight
down, her masts with their sheets OF
white going out OF sight beneath the dark
water and leaving in their places mass
of bobbing heads"
Capt Boidchild took his pipe from his
mouth and sat up THE Lochearn did
not seem to be In any immediate danger.
so I ordered out the boats and In few
minutes was among the drowning people.
We pulled them out as fast az we could
and saved eighty-six. There were rs
drowned.
81, all happened so suddenly that no time
was found TO lower boats between the time
the steamer struck and when she sank
from sight. I was told that one boat had
been lowered and was about 10 push Oft
with a full load OF people. when falling
The steamer was the vile de Havre, a
big transatlantic French mail boat, bound
from New York TO Havre. The passengers
were nearly all Americans. When are last
possible body had been recovered We look
ed around for the Ilochearn. She had
iriftad almost out OF sight. and IL WAS q
long hard pull before we again stood on
her deck The sf1ipwrccked passengers we
made comfortable for the night, and the
Aax Ira afe hen 20, he al II,
Trfemountain. of New York, which was
siguaIled while passing.
The ffochearn had a wster-tIght bfHk-
head In the bow and she stood a!a so well
that we we're In hopes Of reaching port be-
fore she sunk. We stayed sboafd week
and then had 10 take to the boats. There
were thi.ty-three men aboard making
eleven TO each Of the three boats. For
forty-eighs stormy hours were tossed
about on the ocean and then we're for
;una,ely sighted by the ship British Queen.
OF Nova Scotia. which was scu1ding along
with her lower rnsintopsasi set. we pulled
TO her and got aboard win the loss Of s1o
boats The British Queen was bound To
Antwerp. bat We managed 20 catch a pilot
boat. which landed the Lochearn's men az
Plymouth.
presents from those who had been saved
I made one more voyage as mate For
twenty years now | have been master OF
ships and have never lost a vessel
The BalmoraI. ~ watch Capt. Bold
child is now in command. Is lying at Port
Townsend waiting for the new wheat
crop. The Baimoral will take the ma Yer
part OF her cargo from the West Seattle
elevator. She Is fine vessel % 2,5lg tons
register. With amAdshp accornnoSafions
for the crsw and an elegant saloon aft.
Anot her vessel Of the same company. Nc
Vicar. Marshall Il Company. o. Liverpool.
"a rso@ at Port Townsend. II In the Faux
land. Capt. Oracle. He has been here
several times