Seventeen of the survivors of the Douroís crew were landed at Gravesend on Monday afternoon from the steamship Oporto, which brought them from Corunna. Some of them left at once by train, and reached Southampton the same night. Interviews with several of the men yesterday elicited some interesting particulars resulting to the occurrences after the collision, but none of the men were on deck at the time and therefore could give no account of the disaster itself. The men all agree in testifying to the kind treatment they received at Corunna and also on board the Oporto. George Lewis, barman, related his experience as follows: -- About ten minutes to 11 on the night of the collision I was standing at the bar when I heard someone on the quarterdeck cry out twice, " Go astern." Immediately this was said the second time the Douro was struck, as I afterwards found, just forward of the main-mast on the starboard side. I ran on deck and saw the captain, and he was met by the chief officer at the spot of the collision. The captain said to the chief officer, " What have you done? " The captain had been in his cabin about a quarter of an hour. The chief officer replied, " She ran right into us, Sir." The boatswain came on the spot immediately, and cried out, " Bring spars and sails along." I knelt down and looked over the shipís side, and at the moment the sea sunk down the spot where the collision had occurred, and I saw the Douro was cut right down as far as I could see, deeper at the waterís edge than above. The off-side of the gig-boat was also smashed in. I then went below to close the bar and rout out all the people I could. I came on deck again and heard orders given to get out the boats, which were nearly all swung inwards. I belonged to the port after lifeboat, and finding that we could not untie the lashings, I ran below for some knives. I then saw the purser also below looking for knives. I opened the door of the cupboard where the knives were kept and gave the purser a handful, also taking a handful myself to give some to anyone whom I heard asking for knives on my way. On reaching the deck I went and cut the forward guy of the port after lifeboat, that she might swung out. The chief officer was personally superintending the getting out of this boat. The ship was rolling very heavily at the time, and as the boat was swung out she swung in again two or three times. All belonging to that boat were lending a hand. We lowered her down a little below the taffrail, and the boat hung there a minute or two, but we soon succeeded in lowering her a little more. I lowered the foremost fall of the boat, and immediately people began getting into the boat, the captain and chief officer calling out " Ladies first." The boat was well down to the water when she began knocking against the side of the ship. The captain said, " here is one more lady, take her and you can clear off." There were over 30 in that boat. A little confusion occurred for a moment in finding the clutches for the oars, but soon all was right. The boat remained alongside for a short time, when she drifted away ; it was impossible to keep close by on account of the heavy seas and the Douroís movement -- she had her foretopsail set and was sailing away. Three or four minutes after the collision the engines were stopped. I had heard the captain cry down the skylight " Stop the engines." We gradually lost sight of the Douro, and did not distinctly see her go down. We saw a steamer near. This was, I suppose, the Spanish vessel. There was then only one steamer to be seen by her lights, for which we made and found her to be the Hidalgo, on board which we were taken. Lady Becher was in our boat. We were the first to reach the Hidalgo. Ours was the last boat lowered on the port side of the Douro. On landing at Corunna, amid cheers from the ships in harbour, the crew were taken to the British Consulís, and afterwards told off to the different hotels as receiving houses. We were all treated with the greatest possible kindness, and on Monday were supplied with necessary clothing. On Wednesday night some of us were taken on board the steamship Oporto, Captain Johnson, and left the same night for London, were we arrived on Monday afternoon and came on to Southampton by train. We received great kindness on board the Oporto from Captain Johnson, and all his officers and crew.

Read the next news report The Douro Disaster - Friday, April 14, 1882

Go back to the News Report Menu