THE WRECK OF THE JOHN KNOX.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8020, 6 August 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE WRECK OF THE JOHN KNOX.

HEARTRENDING SCENES.

The following despatch, dated St. John's, N.P.i appears in a Now York paper :—Ono of thoso dreadful marine disasters which too frequently happen near rockbound shores, occurred at Southwest Island one recent Sunday morning. The island lies to the westward of this place, and is situated off Channel Harbour. The male residents of the island are almost all hardy fishermen, and fre» quently put out to sea in their fishing boats even in threatening weather when the fish aro running high. Early on Sunday morning the noise of a powerful fog-horn and the sound of a steam whistle were heard. Aβ the latter uotao indicated that a strange vessel wag oil the coast, the majority of tho inhabitants left their houses and gathorod on ths beach. Bain was falling in almost impenetrable sheets, and a thick wall of fog obscured objects at a short distance. Gradually the fog became less dense, and then rockets could bo seen ascending at short but regular intervals. At once tho islanders began to burn tar barrels, and men waving lighted torches ran along tho beach. Tho flight of rockets ceased, and in their Btoad blue lights were burned continuously by the crew of the unknown vessel. It was impossible to distinguish the exact position of the stranded vessel, and ovon the most venturesome of the fishermen declared that it would be suicidal to attempt to reach tho vessel, as no boat could live in the roaring surf, which wr.a pounding upon tho beach »is though it would hammer it into fragments. When tha sound of the sea diminished, as it occasionally did, heartrending shrieks could bo heard. Rugged men cried, mothers wrung their haada, children wept, and tho mental suffering on the shore was a3 great as though the vessel was known to bo briugine dear ones to those who stood thorc powerless to help them. All that could bo dona was to pray for daylight and that tho elements would not crush the vessel until succour could be given those on board. That tho vossol could withstand the shock of tho seas which every moment were thrown up against her sides and down upon her decks was though improbable, and the worst was feared. Suddenly a tremendous crash sounded loud above tho howling of the wind, tho roar of the sea, and tho hammering of tho surf. Every man and woman on tho shore knew what that meant. Many of them had heard that awful sound before during their residence on the rockribbed island. They knew that tho vessel had sunk, and that all on board had gone to a sudden and horrifying death. As daybreak approached tho fury of the storm waned. Preparations had been made to go oat to the wreck, and dawu disclosed it about -100 yards from the shore. Floating wreckage now begun to appear, and it was learned from it that the wricked vesaol was the steamship John Knox, bound from Glasgow to Q-.ieboo with a cargo of fire* brick, manufactured iron, and assorted liquors. She Was commanded by Captain Brolly, find had a crew of -9 men. Portanately, she had no accommodation for passenger?, ana thereby the loss of lifo is probably made loss horrible than othcrwiso it might have been. Of all this crew not one lived to tell tho t;lo of suffering, hardship, and horrible agony which they mast have endured from the time tho steamer struck. The bodies of Captain Brolly and of 15 of the crew were recovered. Ono of tho bodies wa3 identified by a certificate of disoharge found in a coat pocket as being that of Johu M'Guirc, a fireman on tho illfated vessel.