Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-02-22
THEIR AWFUL DEATH
Vessel Burned at Sea and III
 on Board Lost.
IN SIGHT OF ANOTHER SHIP.
It's Officers Would H ve Gone to the Rescue
 but the Crew Were Oowardly.

They Refuse to Answer the PiteOus App
 peaIs of a Man and Woman Who Stood
 on the Bow of the Burning Vessel
 When the Fire Had Eaten Away the
 BOwsprIt They Fell With 1t Into the
 Storm-Lashed Sea and Their Bodies
 Could Not be Found.
 NEW YORK, Feb. 22.-The tale of fire at sea. with two persons perishing in the flames while the cowardly crew of another vessel refused to give assistance, was the story that Second Officer William E. Jordan, of the British steamship Egyptian Monarch told on arriving here. The in- human crew belonged to the Egyptian Monarch, and are what are known as ''scabs," picked up in Liverpool. When the time came to show their manhood, the men declined to hear the dying cries of shipwrecked mariner or the despair ing walls of a woman, both standing on the threshold of horrible death, with no alternative save that of the manner of dying. They had one chance, but it was terrible one. On one side was the deep sea, on the other a fiery fuanace, the flames of which had already scorched them. The waves claimed the man and woman, and as they sank their last cry was one for rescue.
 The Egyptian Monarch, Captain Irwin, was bound east on the morning of Janu- ary 16. Second Officer Jordan had the watch from midnight until a. m. Shortly after taking his position on the bridge, the officer noticed a flare on the horizon half a point over the port bow. He thought nothing ot 1t, believing that it was sailing vessel using . flash light to warn the steamship to keep clear of her.
 Five minutes later there was a terrific explosion. He looked through his glass and saw a big sailing ship one mass of flame. To call Captain Irwin was the work of but a second, and the latter gave orders to pipe all hadds on deck and have the ships boats in readiness to be lowered.
 The burning ship was under full sail, running before the wind. Huge waves were washing over the Egyptian Monarch as she steamed along in the direction of the flaming vessel. After run of several miles the Monarch rounded up under the lee of the sailing vessel.
 On her bowsprit could be seen the figure of a big man clinging, while woman was crouched on the spirit point with her arms clasped about the neck of her companion. The couple called loudly for help and their voices reached the men on the steamship, who stood terrified at the awful sight,
 When the order was given to lower and man the boats not one of the crew stirred. There was a repetition of the order. For a minute the men talked together, some gruffly saying that they would not vent dre out, while others walked as far from the boats as possible. But three of the crew responded, and as they stepped over to lower the boat a cry from the man and woman on the burning vessel was plainly heard.
 Three-men were not enough to take the lifeboat over to the burning vessel Chief Officer Bingham, Second Officer Jordan and the third officer volunteered, but no boat was lowered, for Jack of proper manning.
 The sea washed over the side of the steamer, and to keep her close to the burning ship, Captain Irwin was com pelled to place oil bags on either bow, When the second officer saw that he would not be needed he returned to the bridge and saw the man and woman on the ship still clinging to the bowsprit. He called to them to be of good cheer, as he supposed help was at hand. The calls for help were again heard, the man and woman crying at the same time. The burning snip was lylng with her head to the wind and was one mass of flames. The headstays supporting the bowsprit had been burned away. The flames were making rapid progress to- ward it's heel, and as soon as they reached it it's two occupants would be cast into | the mad sea.
 The ship drifted to leeward, the jib and boom then burned off, and the two persons who for two hours had been holding on in the hope of being rescued, dropped into the raging waters. The broken spar was dashed about, then struck the side of the burning ship and disappeared.
 For six hours the Egyptian Monarch steamed abont the wreck to pick up the crew of the burning vessel in case they had escaped in small boats. No trace of them was found, and the steamer pro l ceeded to Gravesend, where the crew which had declined TO rescue the two un- fortunates were discharged.