The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-02-02
The SINKING Of
TIE Birkenflead
By ROBERT W. SIsE.
Story of the Loss of q British Troop
ship ON the Coast of Africa.

= By ROBERT W. SISE. I
|. |. II.
In the closing days of the year 1851
the English troopship Birkenhead sailed
from Cork in perfect trim and in charge
of an able and gallant commander with
631 souls on board. Two months later
her shattered hulk lay ut the bottom of
the ocean off the African coast and Of her
human freight only 1913 remained alive.
While the disaster which interviewed was
one of the most terrible of the many
which lie at the door of old ocean, it is
one of which Englishmcn can never think
without pride, for those saved included
all the women and children on board, and
in the story of the loss Of the Birkenhead
the horror Of the disaster is obscured by
admiration for the men who chcerfully
yielded their lives to save those of the
weaker ones and when all hope was gone
faced death steadfastly and without
flinching or faltering.
It was a clear, bright morning in late
December, 1851, when the Birkenhead
steamed out of the cove of Cork and rap
idly dropped the Irish coast behind her.
Her cargo consisted Of troops destined to
relieve those at that time on the African
stations, the detachment being made up
of details from the Seventy -eighth high
landers, the Twelfth lancers and the
Forty third, Seventy-third and Ninety
first Of the line, commanded by Lieuten-
ant Colonel Seton of the Seventy-eighth
highlanders. The soldiers were nearly
all destined for long terms of service in
the colonies, and many of them had their
families with them, there being some 40
women and children on the ship.
The Birkenhead was a stanch and well
equipped vessel, and Captain Salmond,
her commander, q thorough seaman, but
from the first there were forebodings Of
disaster among her crew, for she was
what is known as an unlucky ship, one of
those unfortunate vessels with which
tothing seems to go right, and had suf-
fered a series of small mishaps almost
from the day Of her launch. Seamen al
ways fear a ship of this kind, and, singu-
larry enough, their fear seems to be justi-
fed to n certain extent, for Of the great
ocean disasters large proportion seems
to have happened to these unlucky ships.
Even in the early part of the voyage
the Birkenhead appears to have justified
her reputation, for from the time of her
sailing until she had crossed the bay of
Bscay she was buffetcd by such n sue
cession of gales as was almost unprcce-
denied for that time of the year even in
that stormy and boisterous region. She
suffered several minor accidents, but
managed to get through without putting
in for repairs. Later she ran into better
weather, and from that time OH had
smooth and pleasant voyage to st. 81
mons Bay, Cape of Good Hope, her first
port of call, where she arrived on Feb.
%, 1852.
At this point Colonel Seton found in
structions from Sir Henry Smith, the
governor of the Cape of Good Hope, re-
gardng the distribution of the troops on
board, and waiting only one day to take
on fresh provisions and water, the Biz
kcnhead started for Algoa Bay. the first
place at which she was to land q detach
ment.
1t was n beautiful evening on which
she steamed out of st. Simon's Bay. The
night was clear and still. and the surface
of the water was unrufilcd. although, as
always on that coast, there was heavy
swell running in from the seaward. The
course Of the ship lay along the shore
which could be plainly sen at distance
of about three mil IS. the lights and bea-
cons being in full view. On board the
ship oil was calm and tranquility. Only
the watch remained awake, and the big
vessel slid on over the smooth water al
most without sound except for the rhyth-
mical beat of her engines and paddles.
How the disaster happened no one will
ever know. 1t is certain that Captain
Salmond was n full mile farther inshore
than he should have been. but how the
mistake was made, through what un-
known current or error in calculation, he
never explained TO n human court mar
tial. On such q night there would seem
to be no excuse for such an error. yet it
was made, and about 2 o'clock in the
morning Of the 9th the Birkenhead
drove, without warning. upon one of the
many submerged rocks running out from
Point Danger.
Unfortunately for all on board. the
rock was one Of the farthest out from
land. detached from the rest of the reefs
and with deep water all around it. The
ship went on with such force that she
passed nearly half over il, tearing open
her bottom as she did so, and finally
brought up hanging on the rock at n point
just forward of the paddle boxes and
with her bow and stern fully supported
by the sea only when she was underrun
by a swell. AS each sea ran under her
she was raised almost clear of the rock,
and, as it passed on, dropped on it again,
as one pounds stick of kindling wood
across ones knee to break it in two. No
ship built with human hands could stand
such treatment long, and the Birkenhead
| Instantly began to fill and settle.
1t needed no seaman to tell from the
steady settling Of the vessel that she had
aot many minutes to remain above wa
ter. The white. set faces Of the ship S
officers as they moved about directing the
getting out of the boats and the desper-
ate energy with which their orders were
carried out showed that there was hope
of safety but for n few. yet men and OIL
| GERS were calm and steady as though
| on parade. There was rapid consuita-
| ton of the officers. and the soldiers and
| marines were at once put to work throw
| ing overheard the horses and camp i'm
pedimcnta and manning the hand pumps
| a.. after part of the vessel, which was
| tie only part there was any hope of keep
| ing ailout, even for Il short time.
In the meantime the sailors were work
ing ferccly getting out the boats, but
with mrager results. Two cutters and
the gig were swung out and lowered, but
the davits of the other boats were found
to be rlsted fast in their places, SO that
the boats could not be stirred from thcll
positions. These three boats then were
the only hope of safety for more than Ool
souls, hut there WAS no hesitation as Il
who should take advantage OF that hope
The second cutter, commanded by Lieu
tenant Richards, was brought alongside
aud the women and children were placed
on board Colonel Seton, with his drawn
sword in hand. stood in the ganEway an'
threatened to cut down any man trylni
to force his way into the boat, but there
was no need of this precaution, for thu