The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-03-06
THE BIRMINaH AVIS RESCUE.
the Saving Of the Akaba and the
Lives OF rhirty-fve People.

Lives OF rhirty-nve People.
The rescue OF the British steamship
Akaba from Hstteras shoals in last Mon
days gale by the steamship City OF Bir-
mingham of the Savannah and New York
line, reported in the MORNING NEWS, was a
brave effort on the part Of the City of Bir-
mingham's officers
The Aksba, as already stated, is the
steamship that broke away from the
Saturn, which was towing her from Turks
island to New York TO have her broken
shaft replaced by a new one. Twenty-four
hours after the Saturn was compelled to
abandon the Akaba the City of Birming-
hnn, IN command of Capt. Berg, sighted
her drifting toward one Of the most danger
Gus shoals along the coast.
AT IL o'clock last Monday morning."
said First Officer Johnston to a New York
World reporter. "we were in the neighbor-
hood OF Body's island. We were battling
with one OF the worst gales that ever visited
that region have been to sea a good
many years. but in all my experience 1
never recall time when such terrific seas
lowered abpve a ship. As these walls of
water rolled up mountains high was afraid
that our ship would be dashed to pieces. At
the hight of the storm Capt Berg's atren-
ton was called to distress signals. Through
the stormy maze we could just distinguish
ship was hugging the shore. Capt. Berg
headed in the direction whence the rockets
came.
1--WE had gone only a short distance when
we sighted big English steamship She
had signals flying that she was disabled.
The vessel was in less than thirteen faith
oms. Her anchor had parted and she was
drifting rapidly toward the Hatteras shoals
A moments delay meant the de-
struction Of big ship and the
loss OF thirty-five men. We could
see the crew standing on deck like grim
specters waiting to see what we would do
1t was moment of suspense to us. We
too had valuable ship. and carried full
crew and about thirty passengers. Before
us was helpless ship with thirty-five souls
appealing to us for help. The safety OF our
ship and passengers bad to be considered.
Capt. Berg decided to make the at
tempt. How to do IL was the problem that
faced US. How were we to get line to the
drifting steamship A boat could not live
In the sea that was running. Our only al
Tentative was TO try the perilous task Of
drifting down toward the ship and grad
ualiy throwing out life-lines to her.
las we drifted down toward the Akaba
our position was almost as dangerous as
that or the steamship we were trying to
save. As we approached the vessel we
threw out life-buoys and attached to them
AAo-llHSo. 40 tuoao We UldQe IhSG a BEd0C0
manila hawser. Capt. Berg Hgnaled what
we were doing. and when we were as close
as safety would permit we came to stand
still until the crew of the steamship got the
hawser aboard. Never did men work more
nobly than did the Akaba's crew in trying
to get these lines. When they began to haul
aboard the MANILA hawser a wild, exulting
shout could be heard above the weird moan
inRs Of the gale.
The supreme test now had arrived.
Would any hawscr stand the strain to be
put on the one connecting the Akaba and
our shipi Imagine a ship like the City of
Birmingham facing the teeth of the might
est gale that has ever ragged off old Hatteras
and having in tow a ship registering nearly
S,UOO tons Ii that hawser snapped
the steamer and her men would
drift to inevitable destruction.
The City OF Birmingham was headed
directly east. Our hearts were almost in
our threats as the first strain was placed
upon the towing line. The City of Birming-
ham forged slowly ahead and for more than
an hour we tugged until soundings showed
we were in fifteen fathoms of water. Then we
succeeded in getting 5-inch wire hawser
from the Akaba. This was the one which
parted while the Saturn was towing the
ship. We got this hawser just In time,
The strain on the MANILA hawser finally
told, and 1t snapped, tearing away five big
iron bits and smashing part Of the bull
warks.
1.-THE wire hawser saw cd the Akabs. but
we also had to use the MANILA one. We
nearly drifted down several times upon the
Akaba. We could make very little head
way. and practically only kept the steam-
ship from drifting dangerously near the
hoals.
About a. m. Tuesday the MANILA haw-
ser again parted. The wire one showed
evidence of collapse. At this juncture there
was fortunately a lull in the storm and we
launched a boat to pick up the line. We
then fastened it again and started eastward.
No sooner had we done this than the gale
swept down on us with renewed force, But
all that day and night we towed the ship
without any further mishap. The tugs I'M
derwriter and Taures arrived early
Wednesday morning in search of the Akaba
and with their assistance we towed the ship
into Hampton Roads"
Mr. Johnston left the City Of Birming-
ham at Hampton Roads and went on to
New York by rail to report to his agents
His ship arrived In port just after he had
related his story of the Akaba's rescue.
Capt. Berg said he could add no more to
the mates account, and did not think he
had done any more than his duty.
Members Of the New York Maritime Ex-
change are already discussing the propriety
OF recognizing the bravery of the seamen
and officers of the Citv of RirnoinohaD,