SERIOUS DISASTERS AT SEA.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1221, 1 February 1878, Page 3

SERIOUS DISASTERS AT SEA.

London papers of December 10th contain the following particulars of some prominent disasters which occurred during the early part of that month 108 S Of THE STEAMER HTJROK.

The company of the U,S. war steamer Huron, wrecked on the American coast, consisted of 16 officers, 15 marines, and 107 sailors, fireman, &c., making an aggregate of 138 men. Of this number only 34 were saved, including four officers, the remaining 104 being drowned in the surf. Among those lost was Commander George P. Ryan, of Boston, who was in command of the vessel when she went ashore. In addition to those who were lost from the Huron, five others perished after the wreck. The vessel was under after-sail to steady her, and was steaming along with nothing occurring to excite any apprehensions of danger. There was nothing wrong with the machinery or the sails. The master, W. S. French, had command of the deck. The vessel had sighted, passed, and lost sight of Currituck Light, and orders were given to keep a bright look-out for Body’s Island Light. When the vessel struck, all hands impulsively rushed on deck. Captain Ryan and lus officers acted with promptness and despatch, and the crew responded to all orders with alacrity. The surf was terrific. after the vessel struck one of the boats was lowered, but it was soon swamped. The vessel swerved broadside to the which made a clean breach over her, sweeping the decks, carrying away the bulwarks, rails, and bridge, and sweeping the boats clean from the davits. The first thought of every one was to save the vessel, but the terrific surf fairly engulphed her, and nothing could be done which was of the slightest use. Mnny of the seamen and officers were washed overboard, while others were killed by pieces of the wreck falling upon them. Captain Ryan and Lieutenant Simmons were last seen together. A sea struck the vessel, washing both away, and they were seen no more. The vessel broke up fast. She had run ashore at dead i-.,w water, and ns the tide rose the suri became still more furious. Signals of distress were hoisted, but it was so dark and thick that they were not seen. All who got ashore were washed there by the surf. When daylight came the wreck was discovered to be

about 300 yards from the shore. The cause of the disaster is attributed to the variation of the compass and the strong current setting inshore, which made the vessel further to the southward than her compass course indicated. Captain Skinner, the pilot who took the Huron to sea, found by actual observation that her compass made a defalcation to the westward, of at least one point when ho left her. SINKING OP THE STEAMER MIZPAH. The Mizpah, screw steamer, was off Bcachy Head. It is the opinion that the vessel which came into collision with her did not sink, hut became lost to view and unable to again fall in with the Mizpah after the collision in consequence of the fog which prevailed. The dead bodies of five more of the crew of the Mizpah were recovered on the following Friday, making six altogether. Two were found on the beach at Crowlink, another at Cuchmere, a fourth at the same spot, and another atßirling gap. It appears that only one boat was launched from the Mizpah, and this contained the six men whose bodies have been recovered, together with William Page, the steward and only survivor. The captain refused to leave the ship and went down in her with five of the crew left on board, making thirteen all told, no tidings having been received that any of the men were picked up by fishing vessels. William Page states that he heard the mate say that the vessel that they were in collision carried no lights whatever. Page saw nothing of the vessel that came into collision with them, and does not know whether she was a steamer or a sailing vessel. WRECK OP THE EUROPEAN. The large English steamer European sailed from Algoa Bay early in November, with twenty-nine passengers, the mails, and a cargo consisting of 2000 bags of wool, and a large number of diamonds and ostrich feathers. She left Madeira at 6 a.m. on the morning of the 30bh, and was due at Southampton on Thursday morning. On Wednesday night, during thick and heavy weather, she struck on rocks off Dshant, and soon went down in deep water. The ship’s boats were launched immediately the nature of the accident became apparent, and all on board were safely landed at Brest, either on the same night or early the next morning. The first telegram received at Southampton yesterday was one from her Majesty’s Consul at Brest, reporting that twenty-nine of the crew and ten passengers had landed there, and the remainder were expected to arrive shortly in four boats. Subsequently the second officer of the European telegraphed that he had landed at Porsporder, with twenty-three passengers and mails. These two telegrams accounted for thirty-three passengers saved, and as it was known that when the European arrived at Madeira she had twenty-nine passengers on board from the Cape, it was very naturally inferred that she must have shipped four at that island. A later telegram from Captain R. W. Kerr, the commander of the ship, reported that all lives were saved, as also were the mails. The ship is regarded as a total loss, but steps are being taken to save the cargo, which is valued at £120,000, and is insured chiefly in London. The diamonds she carried were stowed in the mail room, and, it is believed, have been saved with the mails. The European was originally built for a Marseilles company, and was called the Europe. She was a three-masted screw steamer of 2272 [tons gross, 1466 net, and was built in the Clyde in 1869. She was valued at over £40,000, and was insured principally in London.