THE LOSS OF THE CAMBRIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 996, 31 December 1870, Page 11

THE LOSS OF THE CAMBRIA.

(Daily News, October 22.)

It is onr melancholy duty to record ano ther terrible shipwreck and loss of life — thia time on the Irish coast. The Cambria, belonging to the Anchor Line of steamers, and commanded by Captain Carnigan, was wrecked off the coast of Donegal on Wednesday night. All the souls on board have, it is feared, perished, with the exception of one man, a steerage passenger, named John M'Gartland. His account of the occurrence was at fist discredited when he reacbed Derry very late on Thursday night. His statement, it is since known, is unfortunately too true. It is substantially as follows :—: — About eleven o'clock on Wednesday night the Cambria, vfhioh was under canvas and steam, and proceeding at a rapid pace, struck on the Inistrahnll rook, about Beven miles S.S.E. of the Heads, at the entrance of Lough Foyle, and the vessel immediately commenced to fill frith water. It became at once evident that a large hole had been made in the ship. The engine fires were ac once put out, the crew and passengers rushed on deck, and orders were given to launch the small boats. Four boats were accordingly let down, into one of which M'Gartland got along with about fifteen other passengers. The boats quickly drifted from the wreck, and M'Gartland cannot say what became of thoße which parted from him. The boat in which he secured a seat was almost immedia ely capsized, and after regaining consciousness he found himself grasping the gunwale of the boat, which by this time had righted. He succeeded in getting into the boat, and he then discovered the body of a lady dresaed in black silk under the seat. He tried whether anyconsciousuess still remained in his fellow passenger, but he soon saw that life had fled. The lady had no doubt been drovened during the time the boat was upset. M'Gartland spent the night from between ten and eleven o'clock in the open boat, tossed about by waves which every moment threatened to engnlph him, until half-past two yesterday morning, when he was fortunately picked up by the Enterprise. Captain Gillespie put abonfc his vessel and sailed round the scene of the disaster for some time, and Mr Bradley, his mate, at great personal risk, succeeded in rescuing the survivor from the boat The Cambria had left New York on the 9ch inst., and bad made a good passage to the entrance of the Foyle. As nearly as can be known, there were 170 or 180 soula

on board, among whom were several passengers belonging to the City of Derry. Inniatrabull, where the wreck took place, is a most dangerous rock of the coast, and is carefully guarded by a lighthouse.

Our Belfast correspondent, writing last night, says the only particulars whioh can be received regarding the loss of the ill-fated vessel are as follows:— Tne Cambria left New York on the Bth iast. Everything went on in a most satisfactory manner until the vessel approached the west coast of Ireland ; she was perfectly manageable, and the weather was fine until Friday and Saturday ; but on nearing rhe Itish coas she was caught in a furious gale, and struck on Innistrahuil rook, which stands about nine miks from the mainland. Th life-boats were imme diately lowered, in ore of which was the surviving man, John M'Gartland. who had been twelve months in America, and was returning to his native home in the county of Tyrone. Having been in a heavy sea for some time with twelve others, including one female passenger, the boat capsized, and all were washed into the sea, and he succeeded in again getting into the boat after which he lost all consciousness, but afterwards found himself in the boat with the woman, who was then dead. M'Gartland said he was nearly two days sailing about in the salt water. Of the orew and passengers, amounting in all to nearly 200 persons all told, he is the only survivor whe has yet been discovered.