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Strawn Farry Creex.—a brief notice of the lus of this i fistil vessel was inserted in our dastimnaber which also announced the arrest of the Captain and crew. ‘The following report of subsequent proceedings had in this very vaginal sad painful case, are copied from the Pictou Chronicle of the Hth inst. — Mant six o'clock on Saturday evening, on the receipt of the telegraphic eyepatch above alluded to, Cie captain and crew were arrested, and by order of the Custos were given into te vustedlys of the Shosilly with orders to detain them in sais keeping until Monday, for Latter examination. This morning about eleven o'clock, the Court met, there being a full attendance of the Justice of Pictou, New Ghesson, and A bion Mi nhs depositions of Messrs. Lydiard, Wilkins, and Jinco, were taken at considerate length. The substance of Mr. Lydiard’s evidence we may give briefly as follows :— The Steamer left Charlottetown between 11 and 2 o'clock, Friday. Shortly after pring clear of Point Prim, the boat shipped a sea which broke open the gangways, and did some other slit damage. With this exception they had proceeded very comfortably for nearly five hours, at which time they wer near Pictou Island, when the tiller rope broke and the boat immediately breached to, and shipped another boa. Some of the passengers immediately did hold and assisted the mate and others to splice it. It was made fast by knotting it, but had to be untied agin and fastened further aft in consequence of the knot having been placed too far forward to admit the proper working of the wheel. An attempt was nude to get her before the wind with the jib, but she would not work, owing to her peculiar build. After the tiller rope was reqaired the vessel was again got un der way on her course, but she appeared to go very slowly ; the passengers were not aware of the cause, neither were they aware of any dan ger for some time afterwards. On inquiry they were informed that the engineers were at able to get up steam, and hearing it hid that there was a want of fuel, some of them went to work carrying down a quantity of wool that was lying on the forward part of the deck.— They did nuccess in getting up the stem at little more briskly, but only for a short time, when the engines exised working altogether, the fires having been put out by the water.— Previous to the engines stopping finally, the captain, who appeared to be on duty most of the time at the wheel, gave it in charge to the, inte, ‘the yensel diving this time, and before the passengers generally wet fize of the real danger, continuust gradually to settle, and broached to frequently. When all became aware of the danger, C prey ord to the mate to run the boat ashore of Pictou Island: the mate said it could not be done, on account of a reef that was near the shore. Various attempts were mdre to get the steamer wader way before the wind, but all Ruled. At length the pas sengers all began to work at baling, all en deavored by their example to aroure the crew to det with energy. A few of the crew worked well, but generally speaking, they could not be set to work, except only one short intervals, ceasing as sour as the passengers’ backs were turned. ‘The crew appeared to be in an unde sciplined condition, the captain having no command over them. The passengers expressed their firm belief that had the crew worked as they should have’done, and aided the efforts of the passengers, the weasel could have been kept afloat until daylight by bang. A great der of confusion prevailed during the whole time. It was proposed by a passen er to Mr. ‘Turner, the clerk, to hoist a signal freat, but it was not attended to. After the fleet boat was lowered, four or five of the crew got into it and remained there, towing astern, at least an hour and half before leaving the steamer. ‘The boats could have been kept there without any difficulty, until the steamer broke up, had the boats remained by the vessel, in all Taman probability every soul might have been saved. it was believed that the Captain was willing and anxious to have put the ladies into the boats, and as many more persons as the boats might carry, and, after getting into the boat, on being hailed from the steamer, he retumned an answer to that effect.The boats were distinctly seen when they went adrift, and no efforts appeared to be made by the parties in them to reach the steamer, although re portedly requested no to do. They quietly drifted away—had their para out, but appa rently use them only for the purpose of key ing the boats steady with her head to the wind, Mr. Pineo and Mr. Lydiard used every en treaty to induce those in the boats to sit up alongside the steamer and take the ladies with them, at the same time assuring them that none but the ladies would be allowed to enter the boats, unless they desired it, and that if more could be taken, lots would be drawn to determine why should remain. . To this propo sal, as to every other, they refused to give any answer. All the male passengers could have got into the boats, but refused to do so until they could put the ladies in before them. On perceiving that the boats were leaving the sten mer, Mr. Lydiard cried out to the amen'in the boats you are then leaving us :—Iecamiot, curse. I hope you may live to repent of your guilt. But if died in his providence should we serve my life, which I feel assured he will, will meet you again,” . After being deserted by the boats, the persona on the wreck once more commenced baling, but found their labors to no effect. ‘They wot alight upon the wheel house and commenced ringing the bell, in hopes that it might possi by be heard by someone who might be able and willing to render assistance. The greater, number now assembled together on the upper deck, conscious that no efforts of their own I could avail them, and endeavored to await their fate with fortitude. The steamer at length settled down, with a list to leeward s until more than the one half of the main deck ‘was under water, ‘Tho men were seen floating from the side of the wreck on pieces of plank. Dr. McKenzie and another ‘passenger wors| washed overboard, but succeeded in catch in hold of ropes that were thrown to them, an got on deck again, ‘The upper works of the steamer at length began to give away, some thing breaking with the surge of each wave, until about one o'clock, (and it might be e n hour and a half or three quarters after the boats leaving the vessel,) she was struck by a wave, gave a tremendous lurch, and appeared to part in the middle, precipitating all the passengers into the sea, except Mr. Piice and Mr. Parker who were all aft on the upper deck, and succeeded in holding on, that part of the vessel having become detrahed from the wreck and floated off. Mrs. Marshall was shortly after thrown by a wave on this deck, now converted into a raft; and Mr. Wilkins, Mr. Lydiard, the two boys, and one of the deck hands, atlas succeeded in getting upon it. None of the reat were seon afterwards except Mr. Cameron, Whose providential escape has been elsewhere referred to, and it is supposed they all perished. ‘The whole of the upper deck abaft the paddle hoses remained in one piece, and was large enous to have tated as the passengers lett hshims by the boats. It was composed of thin spruce planks, carefully fastened together, covered with tarred and painted canvas, firmly tacked on, and with a hand railing or banister running around three sides of it. From the moment of getting upon the wall, so firm did it wrong, that they all felt confident of their ultimat escape, and finally after eight hours of exposure to the storm and cold, they were cast ashore on the north side of Merigomish Takund, some twelve or fifteen miles from the avene of their disaster. ‘The above report we are obliged to give alto gether from memory, as the Court was so scrawded during the investigation, that we found it impossible to take notes of the evidence as given in detail. * The examination of Messrs. Lydiard, Wilkins and Pince, ovespied the whole day until after nine o’back in the evening, when the court adjourned it ten ovelock on ‘Tuesday, to take the deposition of the other witnesses. The exact number of persons on board the steamer is not known. ‘The crew numbered thirteen, but the number of passengers was not ascertained, as the clerk had not collected the fares, until which time no register of their mnals would be taken.It is thought, how ever, that ten lives are lost. ‘Their names, as ‘far as we can ascertain, were Doctor McKenzie of the army, who was on his way to Bermuda, Misers Arabella and Alice Dewolf, daughters of the late’ Elisha Dewolf, Reg., of Wolfville, Mrs. Kay, of the East River, Hugh OT fara, eook, and ‘TN. Hammel of Charlotte. There was another finale whose name is not known, the steward of the boat, and two others, names also unknown. The names of the parties who escaped in the fmals are: W. R. Rayon, Captain ; Patrick Treanor, Mate; James D. Turner, Clerk or Agent; Joan Christie, First Engineer ; James Webster, Second Engineer ; William McKennit Samnen; William Mills, Fireman ; John Don ally, Fireman ; and Hector McKinnon, Steerage passenger, Mr. Peter Cameron of the East River, a pas senger got on board the wheel house, and drifted ashoye at or near Little Harbor. ‘The persons who escaped on the upper deck are, Henry G. Pingo, Jr., of Pigewash, Martin J. Wilkins, Exsq., of Pictou, Edward L. Lydiard, of Char tottetown, Mr. Parker, of Muscuodoboit, Mrs. Marshall, James Wadham, a deck fnend, and two boys belonging to the boat named Edward theles, sid Edmund
Newspaper Details
Fredericton Head Quarters
Fredericton, New Brunswick, CA
Wed, Oct 19, 1853
Page 2
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Clipped by
Janet C.
