TERRIBLE SHIPWRECK LOSS OF A STEAMER AND 170 LIVES.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 758, 3 January 1871, Page 2

TERRIBLE SHIPWRECK LOSS OF A STEAMER AND 170 LIVES.

We regret to have to record another terrible shipwreck and loss of life-jr this time on the Irish coast. The Cambria, belonging to -the Anchor Hue of steamers, running between New York and the Clyde, and commanded by Captain Caruigan, was wrecked off the coast of Donegal on the night* of October 19th. 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 first discredited when he reached Decry very late the following night. His statement is substantially as follows :—About eleven o'clock on the 19th, the Cambria, which was under canvas and steam, and proceeding at a rapid pace, struck on the Inistrahull Rock, about seven miles S.S.E. of the Heads, at the entrance of Lough Foyle, and the vessel immediately commenced to fill with water. It became at once evident that a large hole had been made in the ship. The engine firss were at once put out, the crew and passengers rushed on deck, and orders were given to launch the small boats. Four boats were accordingly let clown, 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 those who parted from him. The boat in which he secured a seat was almost immediately 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 then discovered the body of a lady dressed in black silk under the seat. He tried whether any consciousness still remained in his fellow passenger, but he soon saw that life had fled. The lady had, no doubt, been drowned during the time the boat was upset. M'Gartland spent the night from between ten and eleven o'clock in this boat, tcssed about by waves which every moment threatened to engulph him, until half-past two the next inorninsr, when he was fortunately picked up by the steamer Enterprise. Captain Gillespie put about 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 of the boat. The Cambria had left New York on Oct. 8, and had made a good passage to the entrance of the Foyle. As nearly as can be known, there were 170 or 180 souls on board, among whom were several passengers belonging to the city of Decry, Glasgow, and i Liverpool. lustrahull, where the wreck took place, is a most dangerous guarded by a lighthouse, which ought to have been se en and avoided if a good look-ou been kept on board the steamer, t had