TERRIBLE SUFFERINGS AT SEA.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1062, 18 April 1882, Page 4

TERRIBLE SUFFERINGS AT SEA.

Four of the survivors of the steamer Bath City, one of the City Line between Bristol and New’ York, the loss of which vessel has already been reported, were sufficiently recovered from, the frost-bitten injuries which they sustained through exposure in an open boat, to enable them to leave the hospital at Liverpool recently, and return to their own homes at Bristol. The Bristol Mercury and Daily Dust, giving further particulars of the wreck as gathered from the survivors, says : — “ The men’s description of the three days after the capsizing of the smaller boat and drowning of half its eight occupants is simply heartrending. The rescue of the remainder of the crew of the jolly-boat almost brought the gunwale of the lifeboat down to the water, aud two men had to be kept night and day baling out. The firemen suffered the worst from the severity of the weather, as they were so ill-clad. The cook, whose death preceded the others in the larger boat, was called upon to take a spell at the oar, and on his being shaken with a view to arouse him, he was found to be quite dead. A short prayer having been said, the body was pitched into the sea, and as the poor fellows dropped off one after another, solemn prayers were offered for the preservation of the survivors. When the M. J. I'oley was sighted and came to the rescue, hope had almost been abandoned. The whole of the survivors speak in the highest terms of gratitude of the treatment they received on board the rescuing vessel. With the exception of Captain Ivey, the temporary excitement caused by the sight of the American barque enabled the castaways to clamber up her side, but once aboard, and attempting to walk along the deck, every one found their feet useless, and had to be carried below. The rescued crew were unanimous, also, in their expression of attachment and respect for their own officers, who they described as gallant seamen and true gentlemen.