Carlisle Patriot 01 June 1844 01 June 1844 Collisions at Sea

01 June 1844 Collisions at Sea

Within the last two or three days letters have been received, communicating the loss of a schooner, with nearly all on board, and two other vessels, under circumstances of a most melancholy character.        The unfortunate schooner was named the Catherine, from London. She sailed from Gravesend in the early part of the week before last, with a miscellaneous cargo, intending to proceed to Liverpool. The crew it is reported, consisted of the master, Mr. ROBARTS, a mate and five seamen. Mrs. ROBARTS (the master's wife) was also on board. All appears to have gone on pleasantly until Sunday night week, when the vessel arrived off St. Catherine's Dock, Isle of Wight.        At about a quarter to twelve o'clock the crew, observing a large vessel in full sail bearing down upon her, immediately shouted out to her to alter her course. The schooner was also carrying all sail, and was going through the water at about six knots an hour. The crew, not receiving any answer, became alarmed. They put their helm to, and again cried out to the unknown vessel; but, still no reply being made, it was evident the men belonging to her neglected their duty to keep a good look-out; the consequence was, that in a few moments  a most fearful collision took place. The shock is described to have been terrific. The whole broadside of the schooner, it is said, was smashed completely in, and the sea rushing into the hold of the vessel, she almost immediately went down, carrying with her the master, Mr. ROBARTS, his wife, Mrs. ROBARTS, and four seamen, who were not seen after, and there is not a shadow of a doubt but that they all perished.        The remainder, two seamen, saved themselves by leaping overboard while the vessel was sinking, and after swimming about for some time, luckily got hold of the schooner's boat, which had floated off the wreck as she was going down. They got into it, and after floating about for nearly four hours, were picked up by the Spanish brig Nuevo Ramoncito, which, on the following day, landed them safely at Cowes.        The vessel which ran down the schooner has since been ascertained to be the brig Louisa, from Girgenti for Dunkirk. On Monday she put into Portsmouth, when the master forthwith apprised the agent of Lloyd's of the melancholy occurrence, and further, that after the collision, every effort was made on their part to save the crew, but they feared every soul was lost with the vessel, for they could not discover any of them after. The night, they say, was very dark, and they did not perceive the unfortunate schooner until their vessel was close upon her, when it was impossible for them to prevent them coming in contact.        On the same night two vessels floundered under similar circumstances off the coast of France. They were the eclipse of Blankenese, on her voyage from Harwick to Altona, and the Catherina, John PATTERSON, Master, bound to the same port, from Cardiff in Wales. The violence from the collision was so great, that within a very few moments both vessels went down in deep water. The crews were all saved, and were landed at Dover on the following day.

 

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