The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-21


for three days, and which delayed many
vessels entering or passing out OF the port,
feaves behind it n record which includes
three serious collisions, one OF Thorn in
volvng the loss Of two lives.
The saldest OF all the accidents is that
which befel the pilot boat Charlotte
Webb, No. 5, which now lies at the bot
tom Of the ocean. The Webb showed her
staunchness and the bravery OF her pilots
and crew several weeks ago in the fearful |
hurricane of llatleras, which proved fatal
10 the steamship Conserva 1t was she
which picked mp aud brought TO this port
.,ne OF the Inflated crafts liieboats. She |
lit her anchorageat Clifton, l.. L. ut noon
Saturday, with four pilots, steward and
crew of five men. The pilots had invited
Mr.. Green, OF Brooklyn, friend Of Capt
Malcolm, to join them on their cruise.
Even at that time the fog was very dense,
hut The pilots could get about the channels
with their eyes shut, and SO the mist did
not deter them from going straight for the
ocean in search Of inward bound steamers.
As the Webb put to sea she passed the fog
bound fleet OF liners which had huddlcd
together about the bar and near quaran-
tine. waiting for the fog TO rise. The pilot
boat rather driited than sailed, for much
motion was dangerous for anything ahoat
in such fog. BY nightiall the Charlotte
Webb was sailing about near the Sandy
Hook lightship, but rs there was no
indications that any vessel would get
through the log. Capt. Malcolm decided
that they would sail 10 the eastward and
try TO get out OF the bank Sail was clappcd
on and the stout little boat went forward
with will. At $50 o'clock the pilots had
their supper and were feeling rather COM
Portable save for the still heavy fog. At a
while after | o'clock the boat was about
eight miles eastward OF the light ship, lay
ing to because IL seemed almost impossible
20 get out OF the fog.
She had all her lights burning and at
intervals the watch used flash lights rs
signals Tho sound Of big steamers en-
gincs was heard at brief intervals, but II
seemed TO be some distance 10 the east.
ward. and the boat was headed In that
direction. The throbbing came very much
nearer, however, and the Webb's crow hid
not only used their lights but also their
fog horn 10 warn of the approaching YES
eel. II was impossible 10 the last moment
10 tell how near or In what direction tho
ship was coming At ll.i0 according 10
John Anderson statement, Capt. MALCOLM
was on deck with Charles Fitzgerald the
boat keeper aud thrco Of the seamcn.
Like some huge mountain form app
pcarcd through the mist ON the Mcbb's
starboard side aud though great cry OF
warning went up from the pilot boat, the
prov OF the incoming steamship swcrycd.
The splash OF the waters n Il was thrown
from the bow OF the big ship could be
heard distinctly ~ though she was going
ut full speed. In q minute the crash came.
The iron prov oi the French steamer Nor
mandie struck the Webb about seven icot
forward OF the fore rigging aud ground
through her like an ada into n plank.
Capt. Malcolm, il n raid by his friends.
was standing near the place OF collision
.-as,i hc was hurled by the force OF the i'm.
pact over the low bulwarks into the sea.
In the excitement OF the moment no
thought was given 10 save him. II was
one OF those occasions when every mans
nature claims self help. The boat WIS
bobbing ominously forward, pitching her
stricken bow under the water. The men
who had been below decks, scrambled up
and tried To climb alofi, all the while cali
ing for help. The Normandio was not
checked Immediately though her engines
were reversed aud boats were lowered.
But before the rcscurcrs got To the spot
where the collision occurred, within thuo
minutes after Il had taken place, She
Webb had sunk aud the men were striy-
ing ~ keep themselves aloit by means OF
the Vfcckago. When the men were taken
out oi the water, some little timc after the
boat had sunk, II was found that Charles
Fitzgerald, the boat keeper, was missing
~ we'll ~ Captain Malcolm. Both were
drowned.
These were survivors Pilots. James
Hcincs, Robert Hammer, Jr, Alexander
Scott; steward, Ansel Freeman, scnmcn,
Dagbcri Olsen, Samuel Larsen, John An.
derson and T. ID. Bradley. Capt Malcolm's
guest, Mr.. Green, was also saved.
Tho Normandic was not injured parti.
Gle, not even showing q dent la her plates
According 10 Anderson the rescued
sailors were no sooner taken on board the
lrnchman than her captain aud chief
officer approached them, aud instead Of
giving them every assistance in their
power began swearing at them. "bcCausc
ANNN lNN NffN W lNNlf WY hwy hNll
up this billinggatc until several OF the
passengers on the steamer inicficrcd aud
Insisted that the men should be treated
more like human beings. "Thoy ought
90 be- DID glad they are alive" the French
captain II said b. have remarked. II wa
some time after this that they wcru taken
below and gwen facilities for drying thciI
clothing. "lhe ffcnchmcn," said An
dcr1n, seemed mad because We had dc
lnycd them. They expressed no sorrow
i1r the loss Of life orior the accident Thcl
bNOrr at M asthough We wcrc 90 blame.
The Normandic put back and east ancho
near the Hook. and gt daybrcak sighted IA,
E,ruria put the ill-ircatcd men aboard u
her apd continued her voyage. There
however, their fearful experience OF th
night caused general sympathy. The,
were very kindly treated, dry clothiRi
being generously provided. the passenger
subscribing S6j 10 fund for the Webb
Hoamcn. This amount was divided pr
rata among the five Hcamon. They wen
brought " this city, whence they went 4
their homes.
John Hcinos was found at No. t26 Van
dcrbilt avenue Brooklyn, last night, nm
said that lac aud bis fellows ON ihe pilo
boat had heard the steamers whistles 70
nearly half an hour aud sent up two roCk
cts aud two torches.
cit was black NJ night, said he, "an
We did not have q breath Of air.. W
feared from the loud whisiliug that bi
boat was too near for safety. We were %
the point OF sending up another rock,