Year: 1877

THE Loss OF TIIR ROCKAWAY-ARRIvAL
OF THE WYAEoKE HERE-STATEMENT OF
CAPTAIN CoucH-HE CLAIMS THAT He Is
NOT TO BIAME.-Thc steamship Wyanokc
arrived here from Now York yesterday.
Captain Couch, the master, makes the fol-
lowing statement relative to the loss OF the
Rockaway:


Believing that the various reports OF the
loss of the new excursiOn-boat Rockaway
may mislead the public, they not being cor
rect statements OF the facts, / desire through
the medium OF the press to give brief re-
cital OF the voyage from Norfolk, Va, to
New York. The Rockaway was launched
on Saturday last at s P. NJ, and given into
nv charge at 1870 without a pound OF bal
last on board. She was therefore only
watpr-borne by her 'midship section. We
left with her in tow at about O'Clock,
the weather being moderate. We passed
Cape Henry at about II O'Clock, with
four to five-knot breeze from the southeast,
weather still moderate, with every appear
ance Of continuing 80. Passed Winter
Quarter Shoal Lightship at about 1880 A. NJ.
Sunday weather, wind still mode
rate, about a tive-knot breeze, still from
southeast. About noon, when opposite
Delaware Breakwater, there was no marked
change in the weather, wind still moderate,
and sailing vessels in sight had their royals
set. At 5 P. M. the wind bad hauled to
about east, the weather unsettled, but with
no appearance of any immediate change
there was about an eight-knot breeze blow.
ing at the time. Night coming ON, deemed
it prudent to take out second haWser
to avoid any trouble that might occur by
any sudden change during the night, and
stopped the ship for this purpose. Up to
this time there had been no parting OF haw-
sers, or trouble OF any kind, and neither
had the Rockaway labored excessively, noI
given any evidence to us OF stralnlng. The
sea was not rough, but with an easterly
wind there was the usual casterly swell.
When we took out the second hawser the
captain of the Rockaway reported that she
was straining, and that her hog-frame had
parted, and he suggested, or advised
going back to the Breakwater. The posi-
ton OF the ship was then about II miles
off the Jersey coast, and 10 miles from
the Delaware BreakWater; the wind east
and increasing slightly; weather thick
and under these circumstances I deemed /!
more prudent to tow her along easily on 10Y
course to New York than to attempt to rur
into the Breakwater In the dark, in thick
weather, and with a steamer in tow, with
the certainty before me Of finding the bar
Dor crowded with vessels. After securing
the second hawser we proceeded on oul
course to New York. No signal Of distress
or warning of any kind was given until
about A. NJ. Monday; neither did the
Rockaway labor excessively, nor was the
sea unusually rough. At this time there
was a good whele-sail breeze about east,
when we were hailed by the Rockaway
and notified that she was straining or break
ing two. l Immediately stopped my ship,
and sent boat under the command OF the


first officer to her, when he found her hog.
frame had parted, and the ship broken in
two amidships. AS there was no hope OF
saving her we took OF the captain and
crew, and when abandoned she was decks
to water. I submit these facts without
comment to the public, and leave them to
any intelligent shipmaster. or shiEeowner to
decide whether the loss OF the Rockaway Is
to be attributed to bad management and
want OF good judgment on the part OF the
captain Of the Wyanoke, or the unsea'
worthiness of the RockaWay.