The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-29
She Broke in Two After striking and
All but One of Her Crew of
Thirty-Five Were Drowned.
SEVERAL STEAMERS MISSING
LITTLE DOUBT THAT ONE WENT
DOWN WITH ALL HANDS.
Separate Losses of Three, Five and
Nine Men-Disaster Near Taunton
Much Damage Ashore.

LONDON, Dec %. - Yesterdays gale
one of the severest known in recent years.
and it continues in unabated force. The
coast of Wales has borne the chief brunt
of the storm, and disasters to shipping
have been numerous. The channel was
severely swept, and the Anglo-French lines
suspended service early in the afternoon.
The actual loss of life so far reported is
in the neghborhood of sixty. but many
unconfirmed reports of additional casualties
are at hand, and there is little hope they
will prove untrue One of the Anglo-Irish
steamers is missing with large passenger
list. A large steamer is reported as prob
ably lost, with all hands, off Plymouth. but
her identity is not known.
The damage ashore has been hardly less
noteworthy than on the coast, but fortu-
nately unaccompanied. so far as known,
by loss of life. Telegraph and telephone
wires are down in all directions, and COM
munication with many points where the
storm is worst is cut off.
The British coasting bark Pegasus, which
sailed from Queenstown on the 26th inst.
for Sharpness, grounded off Lavernock
Point but she subsequently was float
ed and towed to a place of safety A
story that she had foundered circu-
lated by rescued sailor. who was landed
at Cardiff, but this was proved untrue.
When she grounded her boats were made
ready for lowering and the falls of of
them were carried away, precipitating five
men into the water. They were all drowned
with the exception of the sailor landed at
Cardiff This man was picked up by
tug.
The British bark Queen of Cambria, from
Tocopilla, Aug. 30, for Falmouth, while be-
ing towed into Falmouth parted her tow
line, and the force of the gale blew her
across the bows of the British bark Crow.
of India, which arrived at Falmouth Dec.
q from San Francisco. The latter vessel
suffered damage to her head and the Queen
of Cambria was cut down to the waters
edge. She has been beached and Is leak
ing.
THIRTY-FOUR DROWNED.
Reports arriving from all the coasts an
nounce damage done by the storm. Vessels
in numbers are seeking shelter in the har-
bors, and a number Of minor wrecks have
been announced. dispatch from Holy
head says the British bark Primrose Hill,
from Liverpool Dec. %, for Vancouver
drifted up the channel under bare poles
and went ashore on the Penecos rocks,
three miles off Southstack not far from
Holyhead. She broke In two and went to
pieces in few minutes. One man out of
the crew of thirty-five was saved by the
coast guardsmen.
Some time before she struck the Primrose
Hill dropped her anchor. but mountainous
seas were running. No sooner had the ILL
fated ship touched the rocks than the three
aftermasts went overheard and she broke
in twain, leaving only the foremast stand
ing. Three minutes later this. went also.
The vessel was soon smashed up. The
steamer Hibernia stood by throughout but
was powerless to aid The Holyhead steam
lifeboat made three vain attempts to reach
the Primrose Hill. The latter's crew was
huddled on the poop when a huge sea
dashed over the vessel, washing all away
save one sailor, who was finally hurried
against the rocks. suffering terrible in
juries.
The Spanish steamer Enecuri, from Bill
bao, Nov. %, which had sought shelter at
Portland Roads, was driven ashore The
Weymouth life-saving force made several
abortive attempts to rescue the crew, of
whom twenty-five finally managed to reach
the breakwater. Five are still on board,
and as the steamer shows signs of breaking
up it is probable they will be lost
The British steamer Penpol, from Sslina,
Nov. %. for Dublin, is ashore on the sands
between Aberavon and Briton Ferry. Her
crew is safe.
Drftf <<ss-
arrived at Bristol, Dec. 25 from New York,
reports that she had boisterous pas
sage and On Dee. is. in latitude so degrees
north and longitude 30 degrees west she
labored and strained heavily, shipped guam
titles of water and had rails and stanchions
broken
A terrible accident took place near Taun-
ton. The breakwater at Watchet harbor
yielded to the force of the gale and became
a wreck. permitting a tremendous sea to
have full play against the shipping I'm the
harbor. Several vessels broke adrift; two
foundered. and five others were driven into
a hopeless tangle in a corner between
pier and a wharf. where they lay grinding
each other. Their masts and bulwarks
speedily went overheard, and their hulls
were greatly battered. The damage will
reach many thousands Of pounds.
The Austrian bark Capricorn was driven
ashore near Bude, Cornwall Nine OF the
crew were drowned. one was saved and
four are still on board, with little likelihood
of being rescued. as they are unable to avail
themselves of the rocket apparatus. Two
other vessels ashore the Cornwall
coast.
Several were stove in at Ilfracombe har-
Dor. The bark Ragna was wrecked OF Tre-
vine. near cardin, three CT her crew being