A MYSTERY OF THE SEA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5651, 27 December 1879, Page 7

A MYSTERY OF THE SEA.

Ry the arrival a 1; Liverpool of the Spanish steamer Puerto Kicn information has been received nf a ilis i»tro->s collision, which resulted in the sinking of a large United .States schooner ami the l<>«s of all of her crew. The disaster oceured in Cherniprake Bay. between the atiove na:ned steaini-r and an unknown schoon- r It appears that the Puerto Kicn, with a valuable cargo, principally of grain, left Baltimore about mid.day on Sept. IG, bound for Liverpool. About eight p.in. sh*' was sixty miles off Pa'timor-, the night being fine, when the lights ..f a schooner wore seen, and shortly afterwards she came across the bows of the steamer. The latter was uoing at a good speed at the time, and struck the other vessel close by the bow with such force that she was entirely cut in two, ami sank in three minuto3 afterwards. The engines of the steamer were immediately stopped, but the rate at which she was going carried her a distance of a quarter of a mile from the scene of the disaster before a boat coulil be lo A cred. Immediately the collision took place, the pitiful shrieks of the persons on board the schooner rent the air. whilst one voiee was heard distinctly calling out for a boat to be sent to thetn. With remarkable promptitude a brat wns lowered from the steamer, and pulled to the scene of the mishap, f, 1lowed immediately by a second boat, for the purpose of picking up atiy of the crew, but although the boats cruiyed around tor folly ail hour, not a single living persoii could be seen on the spot which but h few minutes before rang with the despairing cri*s of drowning men, being then as silent as the grave. tfoth of the masts of the vessel were lying on the wa'er, aud bore evidence <>f the force of the collision, which had the effect of tearing them completely out of the unfortunate schooner. The water arounil was remarkably clear of wreckage, and notliiug could be picked up which e >nld give any clue as to the identity of the vessel. The boats, after their futile search, returned to the steamer, which was found to have been only damaged in her rigging, the foretopmast having been broken, and a sail catried away. The steamnr anchored and remained there until daylight, when she proceeded bii-k to Baltimore, but on arrival there she was ordered to continue h»?r voygae to l.ivvrp >01. Evdn at Baltimore the nam« of the vessel could not be ascertained while the st-amer was there, but when seen before the collision she appeared to bo a large UtiUed .States built schooner, probabiy about 400 tons. She had two masts, and at the time of the disaster she wis proceeding at a smart pice under full canvas. Several persons weie seen on deck, but the number • f the crew was of course not known to those on board the steamer, th'»u»h it was conjectured that she would have at least six or ei-iit hail Is.