The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-11-03
The Cowardly Act Of the Captain Of
Schooner Toward His
Grew.
Making on With Four Mem ii :
Boat That Would Hold
Sixteen.
Graphic Aooount Of the slnkinr u the
spanish sesamship vlsoaya on
Rarne9at Light

Nxw Yolx. Nov. 2-Ths list Of thoeo
saved from the spanish steamer viscaya
and the American schooner HArRrAves,
which sunk each other By collision OF Barn-
egat now foots up forty-two, leaving sixty
seven mistinQ. Second Nats Walker, Of
the SCHOONER. who was rescued altar terrt-
ble suffering after being hours in the
water, tails the following story Of the collis-
Ion and the Subsequent events:
II had Just oame ON deck few minutes
before seven On Thursday evening. / sAw
the vizcaya Ave miles OF. Her green light
shone on the port side. did not feel in
the least uneasy. Our lights were burning
and must have been plainly visible to those
ON board the spaniard. We wore sailing q
the rate Of eight knots an hour and nsared
the Spanish chip rapidly. We burned our
6are light to show him sail-
ing ship was near, but hs held On
his way. began thinking Ne miahs
strike him or he ~ II one Of 10 did noe
altar our course. ! Was in charge Of the
deck. Finally called the captain. When
he came on deck he looked q Tho cloud of
canvas ON the Spanish steamship, thsn o.
our sails, all Of which were set. We can
clear him. guess,' he said, and ws held On
our way. watched the vessel drawing
near, and finally ventured to remark: 4
think We will strike them, captain Yes.
by We will. Hard-a-port. Hard-a-
port he shouted, but it was too late.
Like race horse our vessel darted for
ward. We struck the Vixcaya amidshipa,
The HarRraves tore great hole in tho
Spaniard's side. Then the vescls swung
slowly about until almost aide BY side, A
chorus Of agonizing cries burst forth. Mem
and women darted hither and thither ON
the steamship and jumped down On on!
as their own.
Gas Captain Allen heard the panic-striek-
en- people dropping. ON our. deck be shouted
to me, Walker, keep them back. Lst'a
save our own crew first. 10 boats, men, %
ings Of the long boat and jumped IN. Ths
first mate and three at our crew fol-
lowed. Meanwhile was fighting the gang
Of 6paniards bent on getting I'd our boats.
Suddenly looked around and cav Allen
shove Of With four oompanions. The boat
jumped % @ into the . rigging HR''I and % shouted. |.
Captain. you arc not going 70 desert your
second mate, are you? For Gods eske
como back He shouted something II
reply. ! saw him waving his hands In fare.
we'll and knew the coward had made od,
leaving the rest Of the crew to perish."
Walker then told In dramatic way Of
the struggles for life Of the remaining ten
men Ct the Hargraves' crew and the crowd
of Spaniards from the Vizcaya. Walker
threw q gang plank overheard and fol-
lowed it. A large number Of persons clung
to it and it was capsized again and again,
each time losing some of its freight OF hu-
man life. Finally the number was reduced
to five. They lost strength gradually and
leaving Walker alone. Time after time hs
was washed overheard. but struggled back.
He Was fast losing consciousness when he
saw Barnseat light. and tried to paddle to-
ward it, but drifted ont to sea. Many ves-
sells passed, but too far to see his signals.
At dawn he fell in with Spaniard, who had
this they were picked mp by ting.