Page:Federal Reporter, 1st Series, Volume 10.djvu/573

 THE SANDRINGHAM. 561 �way from the bulk-head aft ; with the rear compartment leaking near the stern post. The defence did not call the first mate to contradict this statement. There was no diminution of water between 11 a. m. and 6 p. M. on that day. �When the wreckers first took charge, at 6 p. m. of the 6th, the ship had sunk about seven feet in the sand, though some of the ship'a crew insist in their testimony that the depth was not more than four feet. In either case, the sequel showed that it was wholly beyond the power of steam-tugs, in any number, and of any capacity, to draw the ship off the beach as she lay at the hour last named, and no expedient was left for saving her except to lighten her of part of her cargo, to pump ont the ballast tank, to reduce the amount of water in her hold, and to gradually draw her out of the sand by heaving upon the cable attached to anchors planted out in the main, whenever the tide favored. With all their exertions they did not actually move the ship for five days. When the officers and crew of the Sandringham left their ship on the evening of the sixth of November, as bas been stated, hermaster had himself despaired of being able, with the ship's crew and instrumentalities, to save her. Although he had cables, anchors, and boats for planting them, he did not attempt at any time on the 6th to save his ship by the means which the wreckers em- ployed afterwards with success. He states that the weather and the ocean swells were too severe for this. Whether or not at the time of leaving the vessel on the rocket apparatus of the life-savers, on the evening of the 6th, the master and his officers had any expectation or intention of returning at all, does not conclusively appear. It is cer- tain that the master on that night, seeking personal safety on land, abandoned the ship in the face of danger absolutely to the wreckers, and did not offer or attempt to resume authority over her until after she had been safely brought into harbor a week afterwards. �The ship, having survived the severe weather of the night of the 6th, and the weather and the sea having considerably abated by next day, Capt. McKay and his crew returned to the ship on the 7th, and resumed the occupancy of their respective quarters on board. But they gave no assistance in the wrecking operations at any stage of them, except that the engineer and firemen worked the ship's donkey- engine and winches in heaving upon the cable; and this, although the wrecking enterprise went on laboriously from the night of the 6th to the night of the 13th, when the ship was brought into harbor. V.10,no.5— 36 ��� �