The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-03-06
ASHOREIN THEBREAKERS
THE BARK MELCHIOR vIDULICH
WRECKED OFF PORT ROYAL.

The Vessel a Total Loss - The officers
and Crew Take to the Boats and Are
Picked I'd by the Pilot Boat Mary
Odell-The Vessel Loaded With Phos-
phate and Bound for Savannah.
Capt W. J. Thompson, of the pilot boat
Odell, at Port Royal yesterday, reports
that Sunday afternoon about 2 o'clock,
while three miles to the eastward of Mar
tins Industry hghtship, he sighted a bark
which appeared to be bound in to Port
ROYAL, and shortly after saw her 60 ashore.
He Immediately went to the assistance of
the vessel and found that she was on the
southeast Port Royal breakers.
Owing to Heavy sea he could not get near
enough to her to put out his boat but he
signalled the bark to put out her boat over
the lee side, which was done, and the Odell
went as near the breakers as possible and
picked up the boat and eleven men. The
vessel proved to be the bark Melchior vi
dulich bound to Savannah.
RESCUE OF THE CREW.
After getting all aboard the Odell took
them into Port Royal, as it was impossible
TO get out again, owing to heavy sea on the
bar. The sea, when the pilot boat left. was
breaking over the bark, and her crew re-
ported six feet of water in her hold when
they took to the boat. They saved nothing
but what they had on.
Capt. Thompson carried the crew to the
town of Port Royal, and made arrange
ments is have them cared for.
At the time the bark went ashore the
wind was from the east northeast, blowing
heavy with a high sea and raining, and it
is probable that had not the pilot boat been
in sight, all hands on board would have
been lost, as the vessel must have filed on
the high tide.
The bark Meichior Vidulich is an Aus
TRAN vessel, commanded by Capt. Tornes,
and sailed from Hull, England, Jan. Z, for
this port.
THE CoNsIGNEEs NOTIFIED.
Capt. Tornesi telegraphed Messrs. M. S.
Cosulich q Co., the consignees Of the vessel,
the news of the disaster to his vessel aud
Mr.. Cosuhch Immediately took the train
for Port ROYAL yesterday morning and has
not returned. The Propeller Tow Boat
Company being advised of the vessels peri
lous position, sent the tug Cambria
to her assistance. The Cambria ar
rived there yesterday about 2 o'clock
and found the bark abandoned and full of
water. The Cambria being unable to do
anything, left her
The bark had a cargo of 600 tons Of English
dissolved bone, consigned to the Savannah
Guano Company, Of this city. The cargo
was valued at Sc 600, and was fully covered
by insurance in foreign companies.
The vessel was built at Lussino, Austria,
in 1881, and is 461 tons burtheG. She was
owned by Messrs Matteo, Tonetti & Co.,
and was insured in Austrian clubs. She
has been here on but one vOy age before this
one.
FURTHER PARTICULARS OF THE WRECK.
The following additional information in
regard to the loss of the bark and the rescue
of her crew was received last night by a
tug from below:
OK BOARD PILOT Boar MARY ODEII. !
AT SEA, March 8.
The barkentine is a total loss, her bottom and
all her spars are entirely gone together with
her cargo She has rolled over and over from
the s. f. breakers to the S. w. breakers. She
was on her starboard side with her bottom out
when came out.
The Captain and crew were to have left
Port Royal for Savannah this morning. The
Captain saved his chronometers and sextants,
but nothing else.
1t was very lucky that the tide was ebbing
when the vessel went ashore, and that she was
broadside to the sea and made lee to get her
boat out. Had it been otherwise it would have
been impossible to have saved the crew | got
the Odeil IN as near as | could to pick up the
boat 1t was very close work, but it had to be
done TO save the men. We are all right and will
be up as soon as we get vessel.
w j. THOMPSON.
From the accounts of the wreck it APP
pears that had it not been for the efforts of
Capt. Thompson the crew of the vessel
would have been lost. This is the third
rescue of imperilled seamen made by Capt
Thompson, and he was recently presented
with handsome testimonial by the British
government for rescuing the crew of Brit
ish vessel