Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-08-14
A TERRIBLE NIGHT AT SEA.

|
A TERRIBLE NIGHT AT SEA
The crew Of The German ship Margareth,
Captain Hilmer, which sailed from Ney
York with cargo Of crude oil on the 2n
of June and arrived at Bremerhaven on th
l1th Of July, had terrible experience O
the voyage and narrow escape from fire
The crew consisted of F. Wigger, first mate
p Fischer, second mate; w. Meinitz ant
Il. Luschnat, sailors, and T. Werten, 4
boy. The following story is told by First
Mate Wiggers. According TO the ship:
journal, kept by Mr.. Wiggers, the Captain
was unwell from the time of the departure
of the vessel. He complained of pains in
his bowels and was always in a very baG
temper. He could not sleepa and scarcely took
any nourishmeut. On the Sth of June he die
not come out of his cabin at all but told
the first male not to say anything about his
.lluess in the journal. On the 9th he grew
worse, but would not eat anything, only
drinking few cups Of tea On the 10th he
was out of bed, walked about in an excited
State and scolded continually. Toward
evening he was better and ate something.
On the 1lth of June his state Was very bad.
He suffered visibly the most terrible pains
in the bowels, and after he was treated
| with hot sand bags he got better. Toward
evening he took thirty drops of laud-
anun and Il coupo of cups of tea. On
the 18th hot plates and hot stones
were applied, but without effect. He
took supper with the men and again
forbade the mate to say anything about his
illness in the journal. On the 18th he went
on deck, talked much to himself said aloud
many incoherent things, and was seeking
after some of the sailors whom he believed
to be in hiding. He went early to bed and
slept all night. On the l4th of June he felt
much better and spoke sanely.
He said to the mates that bis nerves were
excited, that in hearing the least noise he
believed somebody was speaking to him and
seryations and calculations on the chart and
gave several orders. Toward evening the
wind blew harder, and the Captain ordered
the taking in of some sails in correct man
ner. When Mr.. Virgins stood on deck at
| about o'clock in the morning the Captain
| was on the after deck and was surprisingly
quiet. Suddenly he asked the first mate
what the crew wanted on the hall deck.
| The mate told him there was nobody there,
but he disputed the fact and coutended that
throw him overheard 10 appease him the
mate allied the ID ell out, the Captain counted
| them and asked ifany OF them had anything
AGAINST him. He heard them, he said, very
| often grumble and talk of throwing him
overheard. He then dismissed the meI-
| who. of course had all denied his state
ment-aud went to bed. Mr.. Wiggers
| turned in at eight O'Clock, but shortly after
| nine o'clock he was aroused by the report
of shot and cry. Jumping out OF his
cabin, he met the boy Wer,ien, who told
him that the captain had called him and
then fired at him. Mate Wiggers ran to the
CAPTAINS cabin, but when he opened the
door the captain pointed revolver at him
saving that he would fire at any one trying
| to come in MIR. Wiggers closed the door
! Int reopened it at once carefully and saw
hroken glass lying about. The captain was
| i, his bedroom, where the mate could sec
Gra and out Of which thick smoke was com
;mr He returned quickly, alarmed the
or.w took couple Of mats asshields against
the revolver bullets and went again to the
cabin.
lust coming out of the bedroom, where tint
flames were bursting from sofa corner
The captain did not see the mate, but Wen
to the lamp of the cabin, and, with his revol
yer, smashed the glass and the cylinder, ant
would have broken the glass globe contain
inc the petroleum if Mr.. Wiggers had no
;nterfered. and, after much wrestling
thrown him on the bed. Here, however
he made use of his weapon and pointed th
revolver at him. The mate ducked hl
head and the bullet passed over it. II
FASTENED to his own cabin, the captain TO
lowing and threatening him with the revo
ver The mate seized chair and threw
;n,o his face. At the same time the cal tai
fred again. Wisgers made for the sec III
cabin. where he and the second mate, COY
erred with bed sheet, had scarcely reache
the door when the captain fired at him, too
In the meantime Mr.. Wiggers took ms
and went to the fire, followed by saIlo
He never saw the captain again, ana,
fact did not think of him in that momem
the fire demanding his fullest attentio
Suddenly somebody cried to him ths
the captain had tried to shoot the ma
at the wheel. The first mate hurrle
on deck, where sailor told him .n'
the CAPTAIN had snapped off the revolver, "hel
upon the man at the wheel ran away. oo.us
the wheel Mr. Wiggers could see hotnins u!
. cantain Surprising him. however. to be IN
/! cshin he shut the captains door and posted M
hefors il with orders not to allow the captain
come out again. He Went TO the hre anu iou
= ,bat Il was nearly extinguished He tn
searched for the captain. who could nowhere
% found The captain must have gone ovefooal
and finger marks ofblood on the railing connrm' nn;
a in the morning this belief. The ship was gol
at the rate of eight miles an hour, the nignt wa
:. dark and rescue quite out oil the question.
| minute inspection showed lhat Tue eap's
! had nut bundles Of American matches betwe
the straw of the bottles and then ignited It.
one drawer several packages were burning "nl
81 were thrown overheard at once. Later on tn
ST fuuud piece OF sail cloth still burning.
ch
= Our new store will be ready on or aoe
N September lst. Until that time all
D. 1,oads will he closed out at aud below c.