The Sun

THE LOSS OF THE HIBERNIA.

Thrilling Scenes—Painful Incidents—Heart-rending Events.

Our English files contain a full account of the loss of the steamer Hibernia. Two miles from the Irish coast, heretofore announced briefly by the cable. Certain passengers, who escaped in the Captain's boat, say that at 2 o'clock on the morning of Tuesday, the 8th ult., they were awakened by a crash. Some went to the cabin, and the Captain met them, and assured them there was no danger. In confidence in him they went to bed. As the Captain did not appear at breakfast, however, suspicion was awakened, and shortly afterward he told them to get ready to go into the lifeboats. The crew meanwhile were working at the pumps. The gale kept on increasing, and the water in the ship gradually rose. When first informed of the danger in which they were placed the passengers evinced some excitement. They felt distressed, and those who could wept; but as the day wore on the excitement gradually subsided, and during the night of Tuesday, it had altogether disappeared. All were perfectly quiet that night, and one or two even slept. They all had confidence in Capt. Munro—he was so collected, and managed so well. He frequently came into the cabin and spoke cheering words to everybody. About 4 o'clock on the Wednesday morning it was determined that the boats should be launched. Owing to the high sea this work was accomplished with some difficulty, but fortunately they were all got down at last. Previous to launching No. 1 boat the captain came to the cabin and told the ladies to come on deck. The water was then ankle deep in the saloon. All the lady cabin passengers went to the front of the vessel. There was no hurrying and crushing. The boats were filled in the most orderly way, each when it had received its complement shoving off to give place to the next boat. One old woman refused at first to leave the ship, being determined not to leave her husband, but she was put on board of the lightest by force. He screamed loudly while being lowered down into the boat. When the last passenger had been got off, Capt. Munro, with the chief engineer, came out in the last boat. The passengers describe the casting of lots in the Captain's boat in being drawn to get on the water under the encouragement of the Captain. At 10 o'clock Wednesday night there was a great cry of "A sail, a sail!" The Captain ordered lights to be put out, and told all the passengers to cheer for their lives. A light was hoisted, and an answer was returned in a few minutes from the Star of Hope.

MR. COATS'S STATEMENT

Mr. Coats, San Francisco, and his mother, Mrs. Coats, who were cabin passengers in the Hibernia, and arrived in the Star of Hope, left the Waverly Station last night for Jersey City. Mr. Coats furnished the following statement:

On Tuesday, the 8th, we had a very heavy sea running. When it was found that there was no hope of saving the vessel, five boats were launched, and filled with the passengers and crew, under the superintendence of the Captain, who throughout displayed the greatest coolness and bravery. The whole of the passengers fully believe that had it not been for the coolness and bravery of the captain, who was the last to leave the ship, they would have lost their lives. The five boats had only left the ship about fifteen minutes when she went down, stern foremost. I was in the captain's boat, in which there were in all thirty-three persons. Shortly after the ship went down, we saw the first mate's boat suddenly capsize, but could render no assistance, as our boat was in a sinking condition and overloaded at the time. It was an awful sight to see some of those who had been in the mate's boat struggling in the water, and others clinging to the boat's keel, and yet be unable to render any assistance. I think that after a time the boat was righted, and a few of the passengers succeeded in getting in, but I could not see how many. We kept company with the other boats, and after drifting about for about fourteen hours, a heavy sea running at the time, the seamen constantly bailing, we were picked up by the Star of Hope; and I cannot give too much praise to Capt. Tait and the other officers of the ship for their very great courtesy and kindness. The Star of Hope also picked up the boatswain's boat, in which there were nineteen persons, making, I think, a total saved of 52 persons. I have strong hopes as to the safety of the passengers of the other boats in good order. The Star of Hope made for Aberdeen, but could not land there, the owners of steam tugs there declining to take them into the harbor, though the sea was calm and the wind down. We accordingly left for Leith, and found there the hospitality which was denied at Aberdeen. Mr. Henderson, one of the owners of the Aberdeen, who had come from Glasgow to Aberdeen, sailed after us, but was too late to take us into Aberdeen. My mother and I feel truly thankful for our miraculous escape, though my mother, from the severe shock, is completely paralyzed. I joined with the other rescued passengers in retaining an address to Capt. Munro, thanking him for his heroic exertions in our behalf.