The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-09-07
ABANDOXED ArsEl.
The Tough Time swedish ship Had
kOugh Weather.


NEw YORK, September 6.-0n the steam.
ship Macedonia, which arrived at this port
yesterday from Gibraltar, were all that the
winds aud waves had spared Of the crew OF
the Swedish ship David. The story OF the
loss Of the David and the suasrings other
crew was told to Tribune reporter by the
first mate OF the ill-fated ship, the only oua
Of her officers who survives. He said: eve
left Batavia on May IL with cargo consist.
ing largely CT coffee. S'e were bound for
New York and bad fair weather until we
reached the Cape of Good Hope. The
captain, Mr.. stromberg, had his wife and
two children on board and maid. by.
wife, who is cousin Of the captain, was
also on board. The children were six and
eight years old respectively. We reached
the Cape III the latter part OF June and
encountered heavy seas and high winds.
The ship labored SO that che started some
OF her seams and We put into st. Helena
for repairs We left there July %. On
August Is terrible storm struck us. II came
US from thosoutheast and was accompanied
by tremendous seas. 1t was horrible day,
but nothing compared to the day which
followed it. The wind veered 10 the north.
east and blew hurricane. 1t came in
fierce squalls and the se A ran in great noun
tains OF feaming water. II was $50 j. ii.
when the wind changed 10 the northeast,
and the vessel was at once thrown on her
beam ends. We had shortened sail, but
the gusts split all OF those we had up. One
blast sent the maintopmast by the board
apd broke. the goose-neck on the main.
yard,
VIOLENCE OF TUE s1oRM.
at length q tremendous sea broke over
the stern and swept everything that was
loose from The decks. The pinnacle was
broken and JOUR sPokes were knocked out
OF the wheel. The second mate had his
legs broken but continued on deck. The
condition Of women and children at this
time was pitiable. We on deck did all
that men could do, for we were fighting for
our lives. Sea arer sea swept over the
ship and knocked her around like play
thing. The braces and brace. chains were
carried away, and yards were all
adriIt and the ship was unmansge:
able. A sea etaashed the bulwarks on the
starboard quarter and broke the wheel
into fragments. The captain, the second
mate, to sailors and myself were washed
overheard by the same wave, was
Whirled about like a chip, and then found
myself thrown violently on to the deck
again along With ana pi the salloTS. The
captain, the second mate and the other
sailor who had been swept overheard we
never saw ogain. Al that day and night
we labored. Men lashed to thepumps tried
10 keep the ship free OF water, for she was
leaking badly. We threw overheard part
OF the cargo to tighten the vessel, and nailed
canvass over the large seam which had
opened in the deck. The pumps became
Choked, but we cleared them and kept
them going through the night. The next
day the pumps phoked again. At IL
o'clock We sighted schooner, We still
hoped to save the ship, and did not signal
the schooner. Thon We found that the
stern post wa started and all tue sealps in
the luarter.decE. We threw over.
board two anchors and some chains.
The storm and the sea increased In VIC.
lence, and at . clock in the afternoon we
sighted brig. A consultation was held,
and We decided to signal her. So we ran
up signal OF distress, In the meantime
we glw steamer which proved to be the
Macedonian. She sent her life boat 70 our
assistance and we got aboard with con.
siderable difficulty. All night the steamer
lay by the David, and the next morning
tried 10 tow her. But 1t was found to be
impossible, and she Sas hnally aban-
doned,"