The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-01-29
BRAVE MEN FROM THE pOLYNESIAN
To the Rescue Of the Starving Sailors
on Fast Sinking Vessel.
The French BrIgantine MathiIde's
Long Fight with Stormy Seas.
Decks AWash and Crew Exhausted
when Succor Came at Last.
Especial to the Press.l

lOpCCidi w thO IAOoo.i
HALIFAX, January 2S.-The Allan line
steamer Polynesian, Capt Whyte, arrived at
o'clock this morning with the mails from
Liverpool, making one of the best passages
of ocean going vessels to this port since the
gales commenced. She experienced strong
westerly gales with tremendous seas which
washed her decks on many occasions, but
some trl6ing damage about the decks was
the only injuries Coming southerly
course, she encountered no ice. LAST night
the weather was cold with a strong breeze
blowing and the vessel was considerably
iced up.
On January % at 8.15 a. m, in latitude 49o,
40. N longitude $40 "a w, the Polynesian
spoke French steamer Of transatlantic
line, and yesterday at 7.2o a. m, in latitude
43o N, longitude $50 o. w, she passed the
company's steamer Partisan for Liverpool.
A stirring incident occurred on Sunday
morning. when.. through the bravery Of
men, a gallant and heroic rescue was made
Of the crew OF a sinking vessel, which had
been sighted at a. m, flying signals of dis
tress. The Polynesian bore down on her
and asked what they required. The reply
came that the pumps were choked and the
be taken off. A boat was Immediately
launched and although there was strong
southwest breeze, Chief Officer Fairfull,
with a crew Of six, boarded the boat and
headed for the vessel. As they drew near,
they saw her rails were under water. Her
masts were standing. but the main boom was
gone and the sails were in shreds, with the
exception Of the lower topsail, while all the
head gear was hanging over her bow. The
vessel proved tobe the brigantine Mathilde
nf atnfn frnrs Aar int ham fnG
Pierre. Officer Fairfull and his men board
ed her and found the crew In an exhausted
condition The pumps being ch0ked and
the vessel fast making water, the crew
could not keep her afoat and they wanted to
be taken off, which was done, and Capt.
Boudran and the crew, seven in all, were
placed safely on the P0lynesian.
The Mathilde, which is vessel Of 1913
tons, had terrible experience. She left
Martinique December 5. in ballast, for St
She bore up for ST. Pierre, but encountered a
tremendous southwest gale and was unable
to make the port These gales continued
without abatement for week, accompanied
by tremendous seas, which washed over the
decks and at times threatened to destroy the
vessel. The weather moderated slightly on
the 11th and an effort was made to reach St.
Johns, but another gale commenced with
violent seas. and the effort was unsuccessful
The seas were breading over her and one Of
these carried away the water casks. The
waves rushed down into the cabin and then
to the captains room. damaging his clothing
and other effects. With the water casks
gone, and with but small amount of pro-
visions remaining, the situation was any
thing but bright. Two days later the Ma
heavy ice, closely packed, in which the ves-
sci received severe shock and soon COM
menced to make more water. They got out
of the ice the next morning, when they made
land. but binding snowstorm prevented
them from reaching port. Tremendous gales
were being experienced and the vessel stood
off, but on the 10th she again made land, but
the wind was so strong that they could
was hove to until the 2lst.
"AnotherIeffort was then made to get to st
Pierre, but was again unsuccessful. and
on the 23d the crew came and told the cap
tain tbat the vessel was unseaworthy. She
had been making water r&pidly, winch goss
among the sand ballast and choked the
pumps. The cabin was filed with water,
and there was every possibility of the vessel
sinking before many hours. Finding they
could not reach the land, the captain decided
to stand out in the track of some passing
vessel so that they might be picked up.
awaiting the arrival of some vessel, when
the Polynesian hove in sight. Their suffer-
Ing during the time can be readily imagined.
They had no water, and had run so short of
provisions that they had only few biscuits
The terrible gales and heavy
seas had been accompanied by extremely
cold weather, and some of the crew had their
hands and feet frozen, while some were light
ly clad and in nowise clothed to stand such
weather. With the loss of sleep and being
1renched by the water pouring in on them, |
they were in an exhausted condition when |
rescued. Two of the men were colored, and |
presented pitiable appearance. Both had |
their feet frozen, while one of them had his |
hand bandaged from cut received. Their |
clothes were old and patched. and were |
sufficient to cover them. Instruc- |
1t Quebec, and they will likely be sent home.
The Polynesian sailed for Portland tonight. |