THE SHIP COSPATRICK.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 257, 20 March 1875, Page 2

THE SHIP COSPATRICK.

Tun papers to hand per late mails, contain details from the Agent-General, of the burning of this unfortunate ship, and the sufferingsof the still more unfortunate passengers. A narrative of themostawful horrors that can afflict humanity will be found in the following statement made by McDonald the second mate of the Cospatrick, before the Board of Trade, and is the only portion wc have room for :—

“Tuesday, 17th November, noon, lat. 37deg. lamin, south, long. 12deg. 25min. east, wind light, N.N.W., sea smooth. It was my watch on deck from 8 p.m. till midnight; everything was quiet. I was relieved by the first officer, and went to bed. I had just dropped off 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 fore hatch ; all passengers running on deck, aud the chief officer getting the force-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 endeavoring 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, setting fire to the forward boats, and obliged us to recede. I asked the captain if we should lower away the remaining boats, but was told no, but to endeavor to extinguish the fire. The passengers rushed to the two quarter boats, which were hanging in the davits over the side, and crowded them. I consider that not less than eighty, mostly women, got on and in the starboard boat, when the davits bent down with the weight, and the boat’s stern dipped under the sea. The boat filled, capsized, and all the occupants were drowned alongside, it being impossible to render any assistance. I had stationed some sailors by the port, giving strict orders not to lower away, unless by orderof the captain; but the passengers made a rush for her, and wc could not prevent them from getting in. By this time the foremast had fallen over the side, and the flames were bursting out of the after hatch, I then heard the capfain, 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, third officer, and myself were trying to turn the large 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. I ordered the port boat to be lowered, and when half down I get into her. When we got clear of the ship’s side the chief officer jumped overboard, and s warn to the boat; and we helped him in, also a female passenger. The boat was kept off the ship’s side, being overloaded—thirty-four persons being in her. The mainmast fell over the side, which must have killed a good many. The ship’s stern blew out under the poop deck. One passenger told me subsequently he saw the captain throw his wife overboard and jump after her, whilst the doctor jumped over with the captain’s boy in his arms, and that they were drowned. The mizzenmast then fell overboard. We lay by the burning ship till daylight, Some people hung to the spars alongside. We picked one man up who had been floating on a piece of plank all the time. We pulled towards spars floating at a distance, and met the starboard boat full of people, having been righted by some sailors. Not having an officer in the boat, they begged of me to take charge, which I willingly did, and as their boat was not so full I took one A. 8., one 0.5., and one male passenger along with mo. We stopped by the ship until she sank, which was on the 19th at 2 p.m, We drifted all that night, and next morning divided oars —one and a half in my boat, no rudder, two oars and rudder in the mate’s boat. vVe were without provisions or water, had neither masts nor sails, but I got a petticoat from an Irish girl, in the mate’s boat, to use as a sail. We then shaped as we thought, our course for the Cap>e of Good Hope, and kept company all the 20th and 21st, when it commenced to blow, and we got separated during the night. 1 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 0.5.: and twenty-three passengers, all males, and myself,in all thirty people. The other boat contained the chief mate; Cunningham, A. 8.; Nicol, A. 8.; Derby, A. 8.; Koseovy. A.B. ; Wood 0.5.; the butcher and twenty-five passengers, men and women, and one baby about eleven days old. Sunday, 22nd —Weather dull and heavy swell on ; thirst began to tell severely on all of us. A man named Bentley fell overboard whilst steering, aud sunk. Three men died, having first

become mad in consequence of drinking salt water ; we thew their bodies overboard. Monday 23rd—Blowing hard, and a high sea running, which kept us continually baling water out. We tore stern sheets and seats out, and made a drag, which caused the boat to lay easier, but only being fastened with strands of painter we lost it. Four more men died the some as the others, but we were that hungry that we drank the blood, and ate the liver of two of them. We lost our only oar this day by the man steering falling asleep. Tuesday, 24th —Strong gales; rigged another drag, fastened with braces and bells and clothing of the dead. Six more deaths to-day. Wednesday, 25th—Light breeze and awfully hot weather ; some more died, aud we were reduced to eight, three of these out of their minds. We all felt very bad that day.Early oil the morning of Thursday, 26th, not being daylight, a barque passed close to us running, we hailed, but got no answer, which mode us lose hope. One more died. Light fine weather. We kept sucking the blood of those that had died. Friday, 27th —Squally all round, with light showers, but 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.’s, one 0.5., myself, and passenger, who was mad, and attempted to drown himself three times. We were all fearfully bad, and had all drank sea water. We were all dozing, when, being awakened by the madman biting my feet, I saw a vessel bearing down on us. God bless her and all on board. The vessel proved to be the British ship Sceptre, of Liverpool, from Calcutta to Dundee. We were five in all taken on board, and treated with every kindness ; but two, viz., Bobert Hamilton, A. 8., and the passenger (name unknown) died, and Thomas Lewis, A. 8.; Edward Cotter, O.S. ; and myself, were brought to St. Helena and landed.