NARRATIVE OF MR. MACDONALD, SECOND OFFICER.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume X, Issue 60, 11 March 1875, Page 4

NARRATIVE OF MR. MACDONALD, SECOND OFFICER.

The ship Cospatrick (of London), Captain A. Elmslie, left Gravesend for Auckland on the 11th September, 1874, with upwards of 400 emigrants and cabin passengers, and a crew of 41 men all told. Tuesday, 17th November.—Noon, lat. 37deg. 15min. S, lon. 12deg. 25min. E. Wind light from N.N.W , Be a smooth. It was my watch on deck from 8 p.m. till midnight, everything was quiet. I was relieved by the chief officer, and went to bed. I had just dropped tff to sleep when I was awakened by the alarm of fire. Jumping out of bed I met the captain, who ordered me to go forward and see what was the matter. I ran forward and saw smoke coming out of the fore hatch, all paesengeis ruehiug on deck, and the chief officer getting the fore pump at work. We poured water down the fore scuttle, as everybody said that the fire was in the boatswain's locker, I ran aft to put the ship before the wind, and found the captain endeavour'iDg to do so, but in vain. The fire was rapidly gaining on us, flames bursting out of fore hatch, but we still continued our endeavors to extinguish it. The passengers rushed all about with loud screams for help, impeding us in our work. The ship came head to wind, which drove flames and a thick body of smoke .aft,, getting fire to the forward boats and obliging us to recede. I asked the captain if we should lower away the remaining boats,

but was told "No," but endeavor to extinguish the fire. The pnssenerers rushed to the two quarter bonis, which were hanging in the davits over the side nnd crowded them. I consider that no lees than 80, mostly women, were on and in the stnrboard boat, when the davits bent down in the weight and the boats stern dipped under the sea. The boat filled, capsized, and all the oecupauls were drowned alongside, it being impossible to render any assistance. I had Btationed some Bailors by the port boat, giving strict orders not to lower away unless by order of the captaiD, hut the passengers made a rush for her and we could not prevent them from getting in. By this lime the foremast had fallen over the side, ond the flames were bursting out of after hatch. I then heard the captain who was standing at the wheel , say to those around " Now, everybody try. for himself to save his own life," or words to that effect. His wife, son, and the doctor were standing alongside of him. The mate, boatswain, and third olficer, and myself were trying to turn the huge pinnace over to launch her, but could get no assistance, and as her bow was catching on fire, we left her. Some threw the captain's gig over the side, but I saw no more of her. 1 ordered the port boat to be lowered, and when half down I got into her. When we got clear of the ship's side, the chief officer jumped overboard, swam to the boat, and we helped him in — also a female passenger. The boat was kept off the ship's side, being overloaded — 94 persons beiag in her. The mainmast fell over the side, which must have killed a good many. The ship's stern blew out under poop deck. One passenger told me subsequently he saw the captain throw his wife overboard nnd jump afier her, whilst the doctor jumped overboard with the captain's boy in his arms, and that they were [drowned. The mizenmast then fell overboard. We lay by the burning ship till dayligut. Some people hung to the spara alongside. We picked one man up who had been floating on a pieco of plank all the time. We pulled towards some spars floating at a distance, and met the starboard boat full of people, the boat having been righted by the sailors. Not having an officer in the boat, they begged me to take charge, which I willingly did, and as their boat was not co full I took one able seaman, one ordinary seaman, and one male passenger with me. We stopped by the ship until Bhe sank, which was on the 19th, at 5 p.m. We drifted all that night, and next morniug divided oars, one and a half in my brat, no rudder; two oars, and a rudder in the mate's boat. We were without provisions or water, had neither masts nor saile, but I got a petticoat from an Irish girl in the mate's bost, to use as a sail. We then shaped, as we thought, our course for the Cape of Good Hope, and kept company all the 20lh aud 21st, when it commenced to blow, and we got separated during tho night. I whistled and shouted, but got no answer, and at daylight the boat was nowhere to be seen. My boat contained the baker, the emigrants' cook, three A.B.s, one O.S , and 23 passengers, all males, and myself, in oil 30 people. The other boat conlained tho chief mate, Cunningham, AB.; Nicol, A.B ; Derby, A.b"; JRoscovy, A.8.; Wood?, 0.5.; the butcher, and 25 passengers, men and women, and one baby about 11 days old, Sunday, 22ad— Weather dull, ar.d a heavy swell on. Thirst began to tell severely on all of us. A man named Bently fell overboard whilst steering, and sunk. Three men died, having first become mad in consequence of drinking salt waier. We threw their bodies overboard. Monday. 23rd — Blowing bard, and a high sea running, which kept us continually baling water out. We tore seats and stern sheets out, and made a drag, which caused the boat to lay easier, but it only being faslened with strands of painter, we lost it. Four men died the same as tho others, but we were that hungry and thirsty that we drank the blood and ate the liver of two of them. We lost our only our this day by the mau BteeriDg fulling asleep. Tuesday, 24th— Strong gaits, rigged another drag fastened with braces and belts of the dead. Six more deaths tc-day. Wednesday, 25th— Light breeze and awfully hot. Some more died, and we were reduced to eight, three of those out of their minds. We all felt very bad that day. Early on the morning of Thursday, 26ih, not being daylight, a barque passed close to us running, we hailed, but got no answer, which made us lose all hope. One more died. Light fine weather. We kept sucking the blood of those that had died. Friday, 27th— Squally all around, with light showers, but we never caught a drop of water. Two more died. We threw one overboard, but were too weak to lift the other. We were five, two A.B.'p, one 0.5., myßelf, and passenger, who was mad, and attempted to drown himself three times. We were all fearfully bad, and had all drunk 3ea water. We were all dozing, when, being awakened by the madman biting my feet, I saw a vessel bearing down on us. The vessel proved to l.c tho British ship British Sceptre (of Liverpool), from Calcutta to Dundee. We were (five in all) taken on board, and treated with every kindness ; but two, namely, Robert Hamilton, A.8., nnd the passenger (name unknown) died, and Thomas Lewie, A.B , Edward Colter, 0.8., and myself were brought to St. Heiena and landed. Hollowm/s Ointment and ft'/fo—Chost and

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