Ship Martin Luther Escapes Shipwreck
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.Close