The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-08-30
WAS THE SKIPPER A JONAH
Capt. TAFT of the Gylfe Called Scut-
tier by His Crew.
Fronl "a Nelo York Star

e@SA Ny A14O ~ O"'
From the Nelo York Star.
a hardy lot of British tars, bronzed and
weather beaten, arrived from the sea yes
terday morning as shipwrecked passengers
on the steamer Persian Monarch. They
numbered twelve in all, and were the crew
of the British bark Gylfe, which, according
TO their story, is floating about somewhere
near the banks of Newfoundland in a water
logged condition. i'll charge OF her master,
Capt. TAFT. her mate, whose name Is also
TAFT, and Second Mate Robinson.
On their arrival the Gylfe's crew, headet
by Boatswain Bergquist, went direct to the
office Of the British consul-general, where
they related a story that pictures Cap.
TAFT and his mate in anything but favor
able light, and makes hero Of the second
mae.
Boatswain Bergquist, who acted as
spokesman, said that the Gylfe left Quebec
on July 5, with load Of lumber bound for
Greenock, Scotland. of the Gulf OF st.
Lawrence she sprung a leak from stralnlng
her timbers in several heavy gales, and
Capt. TAFT decided to put her into St Johns,
n. F., for survey. The men did not like
the idea of putting back to port, bat said
nothing. They felt sure, however, that the
bark could make the voyage to Greenock
OA u uiJ ~ VIZ DSei n 'S~~
Johns, where survey was made.
While there several of the crew heard
rumors that caused them to fear that the
Gyife would never reach Greenock, and
they decided not to sail in her. They &C
cordinglv deserted and went on shore.
Capt. TAFT secured the services of the police,
and, threatening TO have them arrested for
mutiny, drove them back on board the bark
again On July Is they again put to sea.
a., late nil Of thp 10Th
ali hands were called to the pumps, a second
leak having been discovered. For twenty
hours the men worked at tine pumps, keep
ing the water well under control. Whom
they attempted to work the pumps on the
following morning, however, they found
that they had been clogged up and made
useless.
All hands were now on the lookout for
what they had all along suspected-to sec
the bark scuttled.
A discussion of the situation was held by
the crew in the forecastle Immediately after
the discovery, which led to the appointment
of John Brown, the steward, as watch
over the actions of the captain and his mate,
as Brown had access to every part of the
bark and would not be suspectei /. Shortly
after noon Brown says that he followed the
captain and mate into the hold of the bark.
They descended by the forehatch, os-
tensibly to inspect the vessels hold,
but really, Brown AYERS, to scuttle
her He crept near enough to watch
the captain and mate, who went forward
on the starboard side and sounded the
planking with a hammer. Suddenly they
stopped, and Capt. TAFT handed the mate an
auger, with which he proceeded to bore q
hole through the planking below the water
line Brown hurried back to the deck and
told his shipmates what he had seen. A few
minutes later the captain, followed by the
mate, appeared on deck and walk aft in
silence An hour later the well was sounded
and rise of several feet since the morning
was found.
Shortly after the sounding the captain
and mate again went into the hold, but this
time they went down the afterhatch.
Brown was unable to follow and does not
know what occurred. That night the
water gained rapidly until the hold con-
tanned ten feet. At 10 o'clock Seaman
Lyons, who was on the lookout, sighted the
steamer Persian Monarch. Capt TAFT
hoisted the night signals of distress, and
sent Lyons forward to order the crew to
pack up their clothing and meet in the
cabin. Lyons did so and again returned to
the deck
The Persian Monarch was now quite near
and Capt TAFT ordered Boatswain Bergquist
to bring from below several cans Of para
fine and saturate the vessel from forecastle
to cabin, and even In the rigging. Seven
or eight of the crew obeyed the order aud
turned the bark into model fire ship.
As the Persian Monarch came within
halling distance the men were ordered aft
to the cabin where they found Capt. TAFT,
who told them to sign paper stating that
the Gylfe was unseaworthy. They all
signed and the captain put the paper int
his pocket, saying: NOW you boys say
that the bark's hold has Is feet of water in
when you reach the steamer. She's got ten
any how, and l want you to make 1T tf-
teen"
Second Mate Robinson, who stood by
them, roundly declared that he would not
desert the bark, but would bring her into
port alo le if necessary, adding: "The
| lumber will keep her afl0at, and I'm not
going to be party to such scheme as you
''Stay in her and go TO-" Capt TAFT
is said to have replied, leaving the cabin.
They then took the small boats and all but
the second mate embarked for the Persian
Monarch On the way the captain and
mate looked back at the bark and appeared
to lose courage, for no sooner did they
reach the steamer than the former called
| on his men to return. They declined and
went I'D the steamers ladders as fast as
possible, to the great disgust of Capt. TAFT,
who swore roundly at them and put back
to the bark accompanied by his mate. That
was the last the crew saw of the bark with
her three officers.
Boatswan Bergquest, in speaking to a
Star reporter, said: 81 fear they will have
| a job to get her into any port. How much
| insurance she had don't know, but | am
sure that was what Capt Tate was after. y
The crew will be sent to England by the
consul general, and the admiralty court will
be notified to look out for Capt. TAFT should
he arrive in any port. The Gylfo was
registered at 9S4 tons ard owned in Quebec.