MIRACULOUS ESCAPE OF THE SHIP MARTIN LUTHER.
LOSS OF LIFE.
Our readers will be apprized by electric telegraph of the
arrival of the Tagus, Oriental and Peninsular Mail Company's
steam-ship, at Plymouth, on Wednesday, having in tow the
Liverpool passenger ship Martin Luther. This unfortunate ship
is the property of Duncan Gibb, Esq., of Liverpool, which
port she left on Thursday last, for Quebec, having on board
498 second cabin and steerage passengers, and a crew of about
33 hands, making in all 530 souls. She is burthened 1,291 tons,
had recently undergone a complete refit, and is commanded by
Capt Gordon, whose first voyage it is in this ship. When she
left Liverpool there was a smart breeze, which arose to a gale,
increasing in strength through Friday and Saturday, the ship
rolling fearfully in a heavy sea. On Sunday she was under
double-reefed top sails, and reefed fore sail, and at eight
o'clock p.m., through the rolling of the ship maintop-gallant
mast was carried away. Sail was reduced during the night, and
on Monday morning she was under a single close-reefed topsail,
when the weather-yardarm of the foresail getting adrift the
boatswain and seven seamen proceeded aloft to secure the sail.
While the poor fellows were so engaged the continuing and
increasing rolling of the ship caused her to carry away the
main and foretopmast and foreyard, the boatswain and four of
the seamen being carried overboard with the wreck and drowned;
the other three seamen fortunately fell on board. One of the
men drowned was a seaman, taking passage in the vessel who
volunteered to go aloft in time of danger. The efforts then
made by the captain and crew to get up jury staysails and
foresail, to keep the vessel continued to drift rapidly to
leeward, through Monday and Monday night. The consternation
of all on board may be imagined, as the proximity of a
leeshore on the French coast foretold those acquainted with
the position that, unless the storm abated, or assistance
was rendered them, the worst possible result might be
anticipated. During this time of painful suspense the conduct
of the captain, officers, and crew is spoken of in the highest
terms by all on board. Fortunately at daylight the following
(Tuesday) morning, the Tagus hove in sight and having observed
the Martin Luther's signals of distress, she bore up upon
her, and after great difficulty and risk, succeeded in taking
her in tow, and bringing her to Plymouth. As far as can be
gleamed, this narrow escape from a still more fatal catastrophe
was the result of the slack state of the rigging; in fact,
the ship appears as if she had been sent to sea in haste,
for to add to the discomfort and miseries of the passengers,
at a very early period of the gale the whole of the temporary
fixtures between decks provided for passenger accommodation
gave way, when the passengers of all ages and sexes, their
temporary luggage, bedding , cooking, utensils, and the
framework of the berths were thrown into a saddening
confusion from side to side, as the vessel rolled, added
to which the whole was drenched with salt water, which
made its way copiously below, through the seams of the
deck, from the vessel's straining. So terrified were many
of the passengers that they landed at this port,
relinquishing all idea of again leaving their native land.
The name of the boatswain drowned is John Westwood, of
Dundermline, Scotland, and that of one of the seamen,
Peter Brannagen, of Liverpool. The names of the other
three men we were unable to ascertain. Such is the opinion
of the exertions and conduct of the capt., that the
passengers have entered into a subscription to present
him with a testimonial.
