Terrible Sufferings of a Glasgow Crew - On Sunday morning the Norwegian barque Cato, from Wilmington, United States, arrived at Bristol, having on board the crew of the Goolwa, which was abandoned at sea on January 5th, in a sinking condition. The crew were brought to the Seamen's Home, Queen Street. The Goolwa, a vessel of 770 tons register, is owned by a firm in Glasgow. She left Penarth on December 23rd, bound for San Francisco with a cargo of pig iron and coke.
The crew consisted of 17 all told, under Captain Cornwall, who was accompanied by his son, a lad of 13. Very stormy weather was experienced in Channel, and the vessel when approaching the Bay of Biscay sprang two leaks, which the crew was unable to repair. Two pumps on board were brought into use, but the quantity of water in the hold gradually increased, although the pumping continued night and day. The gale, which lasted several days, became more severe, and the captain was obliged to " heave to. " The heavy sea rolled over the decks, and disaster followed on disaster. The mizzenmast and the covers of the chain lockers were carried away, and volumes of water poured down into the hold. The bulwarks were smashed in and the topsail carried away twice. One of the boats went overboard, and the remaining two were smashed to pieces by the fury of the gale. The chief officer was disabled by being thrown from the poop down to the main deck, and received such injuries that he has been laid up since.
Meanwhile all hands worked continuously at the pumps, though with the greatest difficulty, owing to the heavy sea, which repeatedly swept the men from their posts. The crew, although unable to cope with the water in the hold, did not relax their efforts, in order to keep the water-logged vessel afloat as long as possible.
After some days, however, one of the pumps gave way, and the crew were left dependent upon the second, which was also defective in its working. On January 4th, some ships being in sight, Captain Cornwall hoisted the flag of distress, but it appeared to be unnoticed. During the night a number of rockets with blue lights were burnt, but no help arrived.
On the following morning the Cato came up and took off the crew - the sinking barque being abandoned in N. lat. 49-34, long. 10 W. During the pumping operations, which lasted for ten days, the crew had a terrible experience owing to the heavy sea, and, when rescued, all except of five of the men were disabled. They received very good treatment on the Cato, and have since been cared for. The men will have their fares home paid by the Shipwrecked Mariners' Society. - [214]
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