Brighouse & Rastrick Gazette. — 1883-12-29 (Brighouse, West Yorkshire, England)

FEARFUL SCENES ON A BURNING SHIP. The chief engineer of the ill-fated Spanish steamer San Augustin, which was burned recently in the Bay of Biscay, describes most terrible scenes. He says the vessel caught fire in the clean-linen room on the afternoon of December 16. In the evening they sighted a brig, and the fire being beyond control, after a coneartation on the bridge, Captain Juan despatched. three boats. After being away an hour and a half, one boat returned, unable to reach the brig owing to the high sea. One man, who was terribly crushed in getting aboard, died in great agony the next day. They had three boats remaining, one of which was destroyed by the fire. At 11 o'clock the same night they sighted two steamers. The captain ordered the other two beats to be lowered and all the married Dien to get into them.. The chief officer in charge took a lamp and they could be seen until close on the steamer. On Monday morning while Captain Juan was on the bridge, the mainmast fell, crushing him and cutting his right foot off about the ankle. The second officer, seeing the accident, went into his caLin and shot himself through the head. Others cal red the captain into the smokerourn, where his wounds were dressed. About the same time four seamen fell into the hold and were burnt to death' their cries being heart, riding. In the terror whirls this produced one fireman stabbed himself through the heart with s dagger and two others threw themselves overboard. At daybreak the steamer Governor was sighted and two boats were sent, but kept too far oe to be of much service. One sailor managed to reach one beat, but another was lost in the attempt. In the afternoon another steamer was sighted and writ a boat, which came much closer, and by throwing a life-line succu,.ded in saving fire or six of the crew. Captain Juan swung himself overboard with a life-buoy, and tried to swim to the boat. Finding that the life-buoy and • jacket impeded him, he threw them off, and struck out, but the heavy sea and his weakness from loss of blood proved too much for him; he threw up his arms and sank. One passenger, about the same time, with six of the crew, jumped overboard with life-buoys, but all were least. The third officer then jumped overboard and attempted to reach the boat, but soon sank. The boats then left the steamer' and those on board passed a terrible night. On the hot iron deck their boots were nearly burnt off their feet; some were nearly blind with heat, and suffered greatly from want of food; they then gave up all hopes ofrescue. The vessel was a complete wreck; the foremast and funnel had fallen, and a great portion of the deck had scared in. Next morning they sighted the Grantully, bound to West Hartlepool. The chief officer came off in the lifeboat at great risk, there being a very high sea. After five hours' exertion he got all the survivors safely on board. They were all nearly blind and greatly exhausted. Captain Cotton of the steamer John Williamion, who succeeded in rescuing six of the crew of the San Augustin, reports that when he sighted the latter vessel, he bore down upon her and steamed close peat to leeward. He saw no signs of life, but on getting round to the weather side he heard some person crying out in the water. He presently saw a man in the water, who appeared to be very much exhausted. Mr. Taylor, chief officer of the John Williamson, having a rope attached to him jumped overboard, swam towards the man, and (got him on board. He said he had been a long time in the water and there were same persons still on board the burning steamer. Captain Cotton /teamed round the steamer, and attempted to get a rocket on board, but failed on account of the gale which prevailed. Ile lay by till 3 o'clock in the afternoon, when some volunteers left the vessel in a lifeboat. On the boat getting as ras possible to the burning vessel, they threw a lif :Amy on to a ladder hanging on the steamer's side, an I succeeded in rescuing the number stated. Six or seven other men were seen on board, and Captain Cotton kept his steamer as clobe as possible alongside, but the gale increasing, and being obliged to keep his ship bead to sea, he lost eightof the burning steamer at midnight. Among the six persons saved by the John Williamson are the second engineer of the Spanish vessel, who states that the fire broke out in the cabin, spreading with such rapidity that the , engines were cempelled to be stopped. There was a great panic on board Something fell upon the captain's leg, cutting it off. He was in such a distressed state mind that at his request a weight was tied round ' ais waist and he was thrown into the sea. The second nate shot himself, slid several others stabbed themselves to death, v/1.40 others jumped into the sea and were drowned. On the lifblarat returnipg the, John and a11:444114 Iffes occupants had got on 'card**, huge is. stenelt ant ',smashed the boat.. ' • A, submersed foresaot *gni Angolan has DOM fonucl during ezoavatkes fOr building pihwom in Washing. ton- The stratum was found to underlie the quitter, nary pave& of the district. M. Jourdan, the Consul-General for Portfigal at Constantumple, has committed suicide by stabbing himself with &dagger in the region of the heart. Thinness understands that Sir Evelyn Wiring haft telegraphed to may that be desires to semi to England to eagealt with the Gkivernment.ort -the subject of, Egrpttan affairs. It having bees decided to mime the salary attachsd to *gigot of ConsuleGeneral in Egypt frunao,oo to £4.00$ Jew, the 47ggerOsiffce has ocasgged in the ad"- sibialgaga, ahtenaed tactile vstuatian of the gamin at we in Wgium, Fortogni, ' sad Dasassek. By salmon coincidence, two out of the this. apothems who will this gaffer in order.that ts=l"switiffrCritlielielmeti his VotatmastYr . eats Oredemesoes In the office 'am 50105.