The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-08-22
WRECK OF A STEAMER.
Exciting Experience OF Survivors OF Q
Vessel Which Found cred.

Exciting Experience OF Survivors OF a
Vessel Which Foundered.
The steamer Queen Margaret. which ar
rived at Singapore on July -. brought the
captain and chief engineer and portion of
the crew and some passengers of the Pc
naug-owned steamer Milton, who were
picked up in an open boat at sea on the 11th
inst. They all bore traces OF having suf-
fered severe privations. The Milton left
Penang at 6 o'clock on the evening OF We'd
nesday. July 6. with a full cargo, bound for
Iaugkat. Her Plim.oll mark was well
free, and there was nothing to Indicate that
she was In any way overloaded. Nevertne-
less she at once began TO make water, and
by the next morning the captain ordered the
boats to be got ready. The deck cargo was
jettlsoned, which operation made no mate
rial decrease in the thrush OF water. The
captain was down in the hold endeayorlng
to ind the leak, when, hearing a noise on
deck, he came up and found that panic
had taken place among the crew and Asiatic
passengers aud that they had taken all
the four ships beats. Two OF the boats,
smashed and bottom upward, were being
washed abost by the side of the ship, aud
the other two boats. filled with passengers
and some OF the crew, were pulling away
from the ship. They were hailed TO come
back but took no notice.
Just at this time Mr.. Baringo, his SER
want and fireman. were seen preparing to
lump fukO TIE sea hlleE Tue DOdlS.
was big sea running, which made such
procedure extremely dangerous. The cap
tain called out 10 them TO desist, but they
went over the side. disappeared and were
never seen again. Only II hands all told
remained on the Milton, and they at once
set TO work throwing all the cargo over
board. THIS work went on vigorously
until about O'Clock, when little outside
Interest was eynced by the appearance Of
a large white steamer. not far from the
ship, passing TO the northward. The en-
sign, upside down, was hOisted on the fore
masthead; and between the masts the sig
nal want assistance was hoiSted; distress
rockets were fired, but the steamer took no
notice and continued her course. An hour
later one OF the Millions boats was seen TO
be making back TO the ship. ana sure
enough she came alongside. The captain at
once took command and put all hands, in
Guiding the passengers, on 10 the work OF
lettlsonlng cargo and b2llng out the water,
as the Pumps being choked could not be
worked. There were two Aehinese passen-
gers among those who returned i'll the
boat, and " hen they saw what was 10 be
done they simply refused 10 assist and,
pulling ont their knives, they made for the
boat again. Great difficulty was expert
enced IN keeping these two men In order,
and II was only after strict measures had
been taken that they were subdned.
Seeing that IL WAS impossible TO keep the
ship atioat, and that she gradually was &C.
ing down by the head The captain ordered
the people TO 60 one By one into the remain
ing boat. 4 bad sea was running, and four
hands were kept continually at work baling
out the boat. Two King passengers dashed
together small stage and went adTift Oh
this Three Chinese passengers refused to
leave tie snip. as they contended that the
boat as already too fun. At 80 o'clock
on the morning OF July 9 the boat put off
from the ship, which was then level with
the wafer. -Four hours later nothing could
be seen of the Milton. and there is no doubt
but that she fouDdered. The captain hoisted
blankets for sails. as, owing TO the crowd
ing. only two oars could be manipulated in
the boat The two Achinese passengers
again became obstreperous, th.eateniugy
biandished Their knives, and asked that the
boat be headed for some place where they
desired 10 land. The captain had to have
recourse TO his revolver, which tended to
bring these recalcitrant men 10 order. For
two whole days these unfortunate people
driited about in the open boat, and the prl-
vations which they suffered under a severe
tropical sun were very severe. The captain
and the chief engineer were the only Euro
peans among the number, and naturally
their lot must have been far harder than
those Asiatics, who are at least better able
TO stand the blazing heat OF the sun. Both
men are now at tho Sailors Home. Moth
ing is known of the other boat and ii is
feared that she is lost.