Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1874-04-04
HEROISm A THRILLING DEED OF
RINON ESS.

HEROISm A THRILLING DEED OF !
RIN On ESS.
The Cunard steamship Algeria,
Captain Lott, on her recent trip
from New York to Liverpool, ex-
perienced gale of unusual magni-
tude and duration. Beginning ON
of the 23d, the gale con
tinued with increasing fury until the
27th ult. The sea following the
steamship threatened her destruction
and the whole situation was one OF
grave apprehension as to the posi-
Bile result. .e
son the 26th uItimo, in the midst
of the widest period of the storm,
when the officers were strapped to
the bridge and the quartermaster to
the wheel, signals of distress were
seen, and adIsinantled brig was dis
covered in a sinking condition.
Without a moments hesitation Cap
tain Lott ordered all hands on deck,
and began the difficult operation Of
wearing 2 ship, 50 as to bring her in
to communication with the ship
wrecked sailors. Signals of encour-
agement were given to cheer the
survivors on the disabled vessel, if,
indeed, the waves which were ma
king clean breach over her had
spared any of the crews.
'.After an hour passed in bringing
the steam ship within reach of the
vessel, it was decided to send ont a
lifeboat, and Captain Lott, from the
bridge addressed the steamships
crew, telling them that his doubts as
to the possibility of the lifeboat
living in such an angry sea were so
great that he would not order any
boat of, but if there were any willing
to volunteer he would permit them
to go. Instantly boats crew was
formed headed by Third officer
William Frederick Hartford, with
Boatswain William White and six
brave seamen. The boat was launch
ed with great difficulty, amid the
roaring of the wind and the raging
of the waves. In the launching OF
the boat it was thrice capsized by the
careering Of the steamer and Hart
ford /, had, his right hand nearly
drawn from his wrist, having been
caught in the tackle, but he grasped
the tiller with his left, and in a mo-
ment the boat had passed up on a
mountain wave mast high, and was
carried out of sight. All hearts
went up in prayer for the gallant
crew, for it was growing dark and
the storm seemed to gain fury at ev-
cry moment.
Gan hour was passed in breathless
expense when the liteboat came in
view again, riding like Sea-gull
over the waves. As it neared the
steamer, the anxious watchers saw
that it contained eight rescued sail
lors and two dogs. 1t was at that
moment that the peril was most i'm
minent. 1t seemed as if no hu-
manpower conld devise means by
which the poor fellows could safely
board the steamer. Ropes thrown to
them as they came down on the waves
broke like wisps of straw, and the
iron sides of the Algeri offered one
certain destruction of their frail
bar. At one. moment they were as
high as ten yards, and the next they
sunk apparently into the depths of
the sea. .....
"Man ropes were thrown out over
the steamer side, and as the hfeboat
was carried by the waves near the
ship. Captain Lott ordered them to
Jump for their lives and by a provi-
dence as marked as that by which
the steamer had heen driven out of
it's course by the gale towards the
laundering ship the distance be-
tween the steamer and the lifeboat
was so reduced that the men were
enabled to grasp the rope, and were
hauled on deck exhausted and
bruisedH .@s'a .ta ~ @ 1a
sd"One poor man alone fell between
the boat and steamer, crushed his
collar bone and several ribs having
been broken. Exhausted, he lost his
hold and sank. Down along the
side by the waves, rope after rope
was thrown around him, but failed
to raise him. Three times did he
fall back, and passed beyond the
reach of all but one man. With su-
perhuman courage that last man
William White, one of the rescuing
crew-coiling his feet around the
rigging and throwing himself down
ward, cast rope around the sinking
man and he was drawn on deck.
s-'sA meeting Of cabin passengers
was organized in the evening, by the
appointment of Mr.. w. P. Campbell
of New York, chairman, and Theo-
dore F. Morris, of New York, treas
urer. One hundred pounds were
subscribed, and on the following
evening Captain Lott, on behalf Of
the passengers, gave officer Hartford
84O, VIM. White En-, each of the
reseuing crew Is, 91O to the wound
ed man, and 92 to each of the res
cued sailors.
seThe wrecked vessel was the brig
Fodlin, (Norwegian,) and had been
dismantled by the gale thirty-six
hours before the steamer was sight
ed. The Algeria's officers and crew
subscribed Els for the men who had
lost everything, and who were even
now without shoes. The Norwegian
captain said it was the widest storm
he had ever seen, and he had no idea
that the lifeboat could live in such a
sea, and declared the conduct of the
crew heroic beyond all precedent" "
--a-i s.DOnt be smaII.,
.. ,