Loss of the Londonian.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1404, 26 January 1899, Page 16

Loss of the Londonian.

THRILLING STORY OF THE SEA. A Reuter’s telegram dated Baltimore, December 3, says : The steamer Vedamore, of the Johnston line, arrived here this morning, having on board the survivors rescued from the lost Wilson liner Londonian. The survivor’s report that the Londonian’s cargo shifted on Nov. 23 in a violent gale which almost capsized the vessel. The gale continuing, the Londonian finally rested on her beam end, with a tremendous sea breaking over her. In the condition, the efforts of the crew to right her being of no avail, she drjfted for two days at the mercy of the winds and waves. At five o’clock on the morning of the 25th her signals of distress were seen by the Vedamore, which at once proceeded to her assistance. “DON’T LEAVE US.” In reply to the question whether he wished to abandon his ship, Captain Lee intimated that he desired to be taken in tow. Captain Bartlett, of the Vedamore, saw, however, that this was impossible, and refused to attempt it, as it would have endangered the safety of his own vessel. Captain Lee then signalled asking the Vedamore to stand by in order to render such assistance as might be necessary. A little later he again signalled, saying that he would abandon the Londonian, and at noon, in the teeth of a stiff gale, Mr Hobbs, one of the Vedamore officers, with a volunteer crew launched a boat ana attempted to reach the Londonian. Tlio effort, which proved unsuccessful, was most gallantly persisted in for three hours. Captain Bartlett then steamed to windward and tried to fire rockets with lines, but this means had also to be abandoned, .after numerous ineffectual attempts had been made. Night fell, and in spite of the darkness several other fruitless efforts were made to effect a rescue. When it became too dark to do more Captain Bartlett signalled, “Will stand by until morning.” Captain Lee signalled back, “For God’s sake don’t leave us.” BOATS CAPSIZED. As night advanced the wind increased, blowing very hard until the morning, when the attempts to rescue the crew of the disabled vessel were renewed. For hours lifebuoys with lines attached to them were floated towards the Londonian, whose crew finally secured one of them, by means of which a heavier line was stretched between the two ships. One of the Vedamore’s boats was then improvised as a life car, and was successfully hauled to the Londonian and back, twenty-two half-frozen and exhausted men being thus brought on board the Vedamore. As the boat was

returning to the Londonian one sea Capsized it, and another completely demolished it, and the communication which had been established with so much difficulty was broken. The Vedamore’s chief officer, Mr Doran, and another volunteer crew, offered to make another attempt. A boat was manned, and proceeded in terrific seas in the direction of the helpless liAcr; but after two hours of heroic effort was unable to get closer than about sixty yards, and was forced to return. The boat on regaining the Vedamore was smashed to pieces against her side, and her gallant crew were rescued by bejng hauled up with lines.

Another night of anxiety and imminent peril was passed by those who still remained on board tne Londonian. In the morning they succeeded in launching a boat, and twenty-three of them by this means reached the Vodamore, but their boat was also lost by being smashed against the ship’s side. All that day was spent in unavailing' efforts to again establish communication. The galo constantly increased, and all attempts to save the others on board tho Londonian proved futile.

RECOGNITION OF A HERO. After nightfall the Vedamore continued to cruise in the vicinity, and when daybreak again appeared the Londonian had vanished. The Vedamore then proceeded on her voyage. When she first sighteM the Londonian she was in lat. 48deg. 30min., long. 15deg. lOmin. Captain Bartlett’s friends here have given him a well-deserved ovation. People stopped him in the street to shake hands with him, and the Captain of tho Castalea, gripping him by the hand, exclaimed, “Bartlett, you are a true Briton and a credit to the flag.” The survivors speak in the highest praise of the treatment they received from Captain Bartlett and his officers. A dispatch received by the Boston agents for the Londonian from Baltimore states that Captain Lee and twenty-four of the crew, including the first and third officers and the first and third engineers, were lost. The saved comprise twentytwo cattlemen, including their foreman, and twenty-three of the crew.