The San Francisco call., 1899-03-13

HALIFAX, N. S., March lZ.-1ne new
Allan line steamship Castilian, from
Portland, Me, for Halifax, went ashore
at Gannet Rock light, near Yarmouth,
this morning at low tide in a dense fog,
her compass being deranged.
The steamship began leaking imme-
diately after she struck, but the best
discipline prevailed among the passen-
gers. They returned to their bertns
and were called out again to don me-
preservers, which many were wearing
when they reached Yarmouth on tugs
at SIS o'clock this evening. Ihe pas
sengers and the crew all saved thelr
baggage. The steamship went on at
low tide, which will be in her favor
The place of the disaster is few mlles
from where tie Moravia of the Allan
line was lost some years ago.
The Castilian arrived at Hahfax
from Liverpool ten days ago on her
maiden voyage and went to Portland
to load cargo for return. one is 82OO tons
net register, being the largest Allan
line steamer a1oat. The ship is IN
charge of Captain Barrett and ottlcers
formerly Of the steamer Partisan, the
entire crew of the Partisan having
been transferred to the new boat. Inc
steamer was due to embark mails and
passengers here for Liverpool.
The first and second holds are full OF
water The steamer is aground aft to
the engine room and there is SIX leet
of water in the engine room. Ihere
is six fathoms OF water unoer ner al
The captain, three mates, the steward,
engineers and some of the crew remain
on board and three tugs are stanolng
by. The steamer was fifteen miles out
of her course with a fresh southwest
wind which would increase the cur
rent. The weather has renamed MOD
crate all day, but if the wind changes
there is no hope of the steamer
ever coming off There is fair pros
pect of salvage of the cargo.
The A1larl's agent at Hal1fax mas
chartered the steamers Delta and City
of Ghent to go to the scene OF the
wreck Tomorrow. The use OF the GOV
ernment lighthouse steamer, Aberdeen,
has also been applied for. The passen-
gers and crew will leave Yarmouth to-
morrow morning to take the mail
steamer Vancouver for England. They
speak in the highe.. terms OF the dls-
cipline maintained after the snip
struck. She had been moving slowly,
with sharp outlook in the haze. The
officers wanted to give a wide berth to
Cape Sable, which they feared they
might be nearing. Nothing of whistle
or buoy was heard or seen and no sign
of land until the shock, which was so
light that many passengers thought 1t
was a heavy wave.
The engines were reversed, but When
II was found the steamer held fast the
boats were got ready and the sleeping
passengers awakened and told to pack
I'D in case it should be necessary to
send them ashore
Splendid GOODNESS was displayed oy
the whole crew Rockets were fired at
intervals. and at daylight the first Of
ficer and purser went ashore in small
boat to Tusket. They drove nine miles
TO Yarmouth for assistance. During
this time the passengers were waiting
for help. The sea began to run high,
and the rolling of the ship became un-
pleasant. Lord Archibald Douglas,
returning Jesuit missionary, conducted
an impressive service on the deck in the
forenoon.
In the afternoon e boats were
launched and the passengers and crew
taken off in them Shortly after the
whistles of the tugs were heard and
at 5 o'clock all hands but the captain.
engineers and some of e crew were
safely taken off and conveyed to Var
mouth.
Opinions in Yarmouth differ as to
floating the ship. The cL noes are ia
yorable if the weather continues mod
crate The work of discharging the
cargo commences tomorrow. A large
number OF sheep in the forward holds
have been found drowned. and the
swelling of grain hae thrown up the
dining saloon deck. -,
PORTLAND, Me, March 12.-The