The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-08-28
PERII,S OF THE SEA.
A Waterl0gged Bark Drifting
Helplessly on the Atlantic.
The Captain and Three Men Stand
by th) Vessel to the Last

The steamship Zaandam reached New York
city few days since after tunultuous
passage of fifteen days from Amsterdam,
with eight OF the crew of the British bark
Brimiga, Captain Getzler, which she en-
countere1 on the 2rth about 200 miles east of
Halifax. The bark's main and mizzcnmasts
were gone, and the exposed work of her deck
had been washed away, and she had seven
feet of water in her hold. She was going
laborously northward under jibs, foresails
and foretopgallant sail bent on jury mast
made of a foretop royal yard dashed to the
stump of the mainmast.
Captain Potter, of the Zaandam, sent out
boat to the bark and inquired if she wanted
any help. Captain Geitzler said he had three
injured saamen that he wanted taken off, and
that he was short of provisions. The three
men were helped into the boat and were rowed
to the Xaandam and carried on board The
boat then returned to the bark laden with pro
visions Five more of her men said they
wanted to be trans erred to the steamship, aud
they were rowed tblther. Captain Geitzler
said he proposed to stick by his ship and steer
her into Halifax or into Davy Jones' locker.
whether anybody stayed aboard with him or
not. First Mate Henderbark, Second Mate
Olsen and the steward declared that they
would stand by their skipper. Captain Pot
jer offered TO tow the bark in, but the offer
was declined, and the Zaandam Steamed
away from the battered, broken, water
logged and crewless vessel
According to the story OF the eight men
who left the bark she had had very hard lines
indeed. She left Westbury, Nova Scotia,
with a cargo of spruce lumber for LIVERPOOL
A shifting east-northeast wind sprang up on
the afternoon of August out of clear sky
1t became so violent at 1 o'clock that the
mainsail and spanker had to be lowered, ard
the maintop- gallant sail and inner jib taken
perfect gale at o'clock, when
the bark drove along the
port tack under two lower topsails only.
The seas We're then dashng over her starboaid
rail- and geysers of spray spouted up under
her bows All hands were called at II
o'clock at night to get the bark on the star
board tack. She was nearly on her beam
ends, and the sailors coasted down the slant
of her deck whenever they lost hold of sup
porting ropes or PROJECTING de, kwork
obey the captains command to
put the helm hard up, but he could
not manage it. The wheel wrenched
his left arm violently, and threw him head
long on the deck He was carried into the
cabin and Andrew Hakem took his place,
only to be struck down by the wheel. His
left leg was badly hurt and his head YVES cut
Two seaman then took the helm, and the
bark was gradually brought about on thu de-
sired tack The gale died away suddenly,
and all hands Were ordered to the pumps to
get rid of some of the four feet of water that
had rushed over and into her while she was
leaning to starboard with her yard arms
nearly dipping into the sea. She then had
only her maintopsail set. Another gale
sprang out of the southeast as
quickly as the first hal subsidized. it blew
| the maintopsail clean from the bolt ropes,
sending it skyward like a big aquatic bird.
The foretopmast staysail was Immediately
set, and went flying after the maintopSail.
| \ moment later the bark was on her beam
ends, with her yard arms i'll the sea. She
was SO far gone that it was impossible to
right her, and the skipper ordered the miz-
zen rigging cut away, This was done
with difficulty, and the mizzenmast
crashed over the starboard rail. The
manma,t was sent after the milzen
| before she began to get on her feet She
arose gradually and fell off before the wind
| While she was down the seas washed oil the
! galley, smashed the wheel to flinders burst
! off the forecastle door, broke all the pump
| gear, and tore away the lower and upper top
sail yards, which dangled by the canvas
The crew went to work pitching over all the
| lumber on deck that had not been carried
! away and rigging the jury mast. At \. NJ.
/ the wind eaSed M and hauled to the west
! wGrl. Seaman Charles Petersen, who hal
/ been at work twcnty-four hours became OK
! hausted while on the foretopmaSt and fell to
the deck, breaking one arm badly cutting the
other, and receiving several ugly scalp
/ wounds.
From the 10th to the 10Th the bark made
no Roadway During this time the men slept
ON tie deck, as everything below was water.
! soaked. The steward, all OF whose utensils
were washed away cooked the food on pieces
| of thin iron rudely fashioned into pans. The
fare was salt beef and baked dough, all the
hard biscuit having been rendered useless by
the water. Captain Geitller called the men
aft on Monday last and addre,sed them thus:
1--WE have been sailing eight days and not
! gaining an inch propose that we do one
! of two things; make sal! for st Thomas or
hang around until we get a chance to bc
taken off by Il passing steamer"
The men had talk among themselves an
announced that they We're in favor of getting
northward in the track of steamships They
fell in with the Xaandam. After the captain
had got provisions he was reluctant t
leave his vessel He persuaded the frs
and second mate and the steward to remain
with HIM. but the men said they feared they
would never 20 to sea again if they did not
! cave. The men think there is little chance
! OF the captain and his three volunteers get
ting into Halifax alive on the water-lo2ged