Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-09-18
They Rob Vessels and Murder the
Crews Under the Guise
OF Wreckers.
Incidents Recalled by the Wreck OF
EldOradO on the Bahama
Reefs.
Governors of the Islands Con-
nive at Bold Robbery and
Share in Profits.

and has been got off, reached Newport in
tow of the steamer New York. One steam
pump was cont nually at work keeping the
water from the hold. The Eldorado will
| be thoroughly repaired, The framework
| Of the vessel is unlniured.
| The Eldorado went ashore off the BAHIA
ma banks on August Z. The black Bahia
ma wreckers attempted to steal the cargo
of the Eldorado, but were kept aC bay by
the crew. On August II, 800 of the wreck
ers, armed with knives, succeeded In board
ing the vessel but were driven off by the
crew of the revenue cutter McLane.
"The story of the atrocious actions of the
Bahama wreckers, as told in dispatch to
the New York World, is no doubt true, "
said Capt. Bertrand H. Herbert, of the
Merritt wrecking organization. eve
have had the same kind of experience with
them more times than once, and whenever
called on to do work in the Bahamas we
always go prepared for just such encount-
ers as are reported here.
"The facts related are only repetition
of our experience in the case of the Nor
wegian fruiter Italia, which went aground
off Watkins Island about year ago.
This little island is about two hundred
miles from Nassau, and is the reputed
landing-place of Christopher Columbus. 1t
is near San Salvador. She was commanded
by Capt Hansen and had a cargo of fruit.
Her value was $50, 900 exclusive of cargo.
She was schooner rugged, 1876 feet long, %
feet beam, Il feet depth of hold, registered
896 tons and was double decked. She was
u new vessel, of elegant inish, and was
built in September, 1888, at Newcastle.
Immediately after the mishap Capt.
Hansen called on the sub-governor, an
ordinary, uneducated black, with the pre-
vailing thievish propenslties of the ma
tives and placed the vessel in his charge.
He then FASTENED to New York and en-
gagged assistance to save her. Capt. Fred
r. Sharp, who is our general agent, was
despatched at once to the scene of the dis
aster. He went on the |. j. Merritt and
took with him mixed crew Of thirty-6ve
intrepid fellows who were used to the kind
~ work before them.
There is only one governor for the Eng
fish colony, and he resides at Nassau
Each Of the smaller islands is governed by
a sub-governor, who might be selected as
well for his lack of principle and his loot
ing tendencies as anything else. He is
hand in glove with the native wreckers,
if one may be permitted to use such
term in relation to unclothed robbers.
Capt. Hansen had no sooner left his YES
sci than 800 or 400 of the native wreCkers
who are nothing less than pirates, and
worse than the Rimini variety swarmed
ouer the decks and took possession of the
vessel. The crew was driven off on pain
of death and tumultuous scene Of looting
followed. They seemed to be bent on de-
struction and of the most unwarranted
sort When Capt. Sharp arrived he found
the vessel on fire and the decks, what there
was left of them, swarmed with horde OF
almost naked savages. Most of them only
wore breech. clout, while others were in
addition protected by an old straw hat.
All were armed with long, glittering
knives, ready for use, and there would
have been bloody battle had an attempt
at fight been made. Their little boats
studded the waters about the doomed yes
sci and the pirates were busy carrying
away whatever they considered of value.
The Merritt steamed up alongside, and
stream of steam and water was turned on
the thieves. There were threats and curses
and howls of pain, but the hot steam was
too much for their black skins and they
beat IA precipitate retreat, running pell-
nell over the sides of the vessel and
plunging into the water. In their frantic
struggles to get out of the reach of the
steam, which even followed them into the
water many boats were overturned but
those who could not get seat in the boats
swan to land.
deep curses and imprecations, and
threats of revenge were uttered by the
baked natives. who have come to look up
on any vessel which comes upon their
shore as their legimate plumber, and to
prevent surprise armed guards were kept
on the outlook night and day. No
time was to be lost for the vessel was well
a fire, and there was a heroic battle of two
days to subdue those flames. Night and
day the fight against the fire went on, and
the poor fellows who manned the hose
were ready to drop down from exhaustion
before il was subdued. The flames con-
quered, tour of inspection followed which
revealed the most wantom destruction or
property. The fends had cut off the
mast, even with the decks, burned the
cabin wrenched off all the braces all over
the vessel, cut off the steam hoists, dis
mantled the engines, even gouging out the
brass name plates on which the name OF
the maker of the engine was inscribed.
They took off the pet cocks from the
steam wrenches, stole the brass casing off
the engine cylinder, ripped up the decks
in some places and burned them in Others.
Even the steering wheel was destroyed and
the pinnacle and compass were stolen In
a word, the vessel was completely Quilted,
The pirates had stolen what to them would
not bring more than coup e of hundred
dollars, but it cost the owners of the ship
$4,000 to restore the damaged portions,
well, Capt, Sharp finally got her in
condition for towing and took her 10
Nassau where she was sufficiently repair
ed, and then she was lowed to New York,
where the work of rehabilitation vas be-
gun. The vessel is now in first class con-
dition and is known as the Ely Thompson.
who is Captain Sharp?' He one of
the oldest wreckers in the country in
point of service. He was brought up with
the company, under direct teaching of
Capt |. J Merritt, and is looked on as
the most daring, intrepid and at the
same time the most leyelheaded man in
the'business. He knows the sort Of an.
imai he has to deal with in these islands
Ask him and he viii tell you they are
treacherous, deceitful, cowardly. except
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