SINKING AN ENGLISH STEAMER.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1343, 18 November 1872, Page 3

SINKING AN ENGLISH STEAMER.

Mr M'Naugfcton, the chief engineer of the steamship Jesmond, furnishes a thrilling narrative of the sinking of an English steamer by Spaniards at sea. The steamer was on her voyage home, freighted from Odessa, and had reached within 35 miles ■■ of Gibraltar. The steamer was going at reduced speed when Mr M'Naughton left the engine-room for his berth. He was aroused by a tremendous concussion, which pitched him out of his bunk. The cabin was filled with smoke, steam, and sulphur, and he could scarcely grope his way out. On reaching the deck he caught a partial view, through the volume of thick smoke now belching forth from the *• steamer, of what appeared to be andther Vessel of much larger tonnage. The crews were shouting in English and Spanish. The stranger had run right into the Jesmond, striking her amidships, and at the same time bnrying her own sharp bows half way into the English vessel. A glance showed Mr M'Naughton that the fires had been put out on board his vessel, and that she was sinking fast. He heard the order given by the stranger to reverse the engines, and as it was being obeyed lie caught hold of a rope hanging from the bowsprit, and swung himself on board the Spaniard, as his own vessel sank like a stone, with only a fewripples to markwhere but a few minutes before was one of the fastest sailing steamers in the Mediterranean trade. It was several minutes before a muster was made of the sunken steamer's crew. They then discovered that the captain and steward were missing. They were observed clinging to lome pieces of the wreck about three hundred yards or w astern, while the steamer was itill increasing the distance. The Spaniards would not render any assistance, but continued coolly smoking their cigarettes, and would not take any notice of tho circumstances of the shipwrecked crew. Indignant at the inhuman conduct of the Spanish captain and mate, the engineer of the wrecked steamer rushed down into the engineFor continuation of News, see ith page.)