The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-03-08
SAVED FROM THE WAVES
RESCUE OF TIE CREW OF THE
BARK JAN PIETERSzooN KoEN.

The Bark Bonita Picks up Thirteen
Men From the Wrecked Vessel-Tbe
Jan Pieterszoon Koen Wsterlogged
and Observation-Disclosures Exper-
ience of the Ofacers and Crew.
The Norwegian bark Bonita which ar
rived here yesterday morning from Ant
werp with a cargo of cement consigned to
Andrew Hanley, had on board the captain
and twelve men of the Dutch bark Jan
PIeterszoon Koen from Pensacola foriMid-
dlesborough. with lumber. which was
abandoned Feb. "a in lat. "a 10 N, long.
60 2S' W.
Capt Spanjer, her commander. said bis
vessel sailed from Pensacola Jan. q and had
fair weather until Jan %, when she ran Into
q very severe storm off the Bahama banks,
the wind coming in from the west with
high seas. He had great difficulty in navi
eating the vessel to keep her clear of the
banks, and after several days Of almost
superhuman work on the part of himself
and crew they managed to keep the vessel
from going ashore. The gale continued ex-
cept at intervals.
LULL IN THE STORM.
It lulled somewhat on Feb. z. The wind
had then veered around to northwest and
terrific storm set in accompanied by thun-
der and lightning and heavy seas. The
next morning between and 5 O'Clock,
while the vessel was jumping and plung-
ing in the heavy sea, she struck some
unknown obstruction supposed to Gle
a sunken rock. which caused the vessel to
SILVER and crack in every timber. She inn
mediately began to leak. and her forward
stays were broken. The storm did NOT
abate any for several days The vessels
decks were covered with water most OF
the time. The crew was at the pumps,
and the windmill was kept going con-
stantly, but the water kept gaining, some
times ten inches an hour. The storm ceased
for few hours, when 10 set in again with
renewed fury. 1t was found necessary to
relieve the vessel of all unnecessary weight
on deck. and the captain threw overheard
ell spars and planks that were movable.
KEPT AT THE PUMPS.
The weather was continuous off and on
until Feb. %, and the pumps were kept
going until the crew was well nigh ex-
hausted. The water in the meanwhile kept
gaining steadily. On the 23d it was in
creasing at the rate of eighteen inches per
hour.
Capt. Spanjer called the crew together on
the morning Of the oath, and it was de-
cided to abandon the ship, as it was impos-
sible to keep her ahoat. She was water
logged with the seas washing clear
over her. Signals of distress were set and
the bark Bonita sighted them about 1880
O'Clock In the morning and bore down.
The captain launched one of bis boats in a
heavy southwest wind and cross seas. but it
was knocked to pieces against the side OF
the bark and was rendered useless.
HURLED INTO THE SEA.
The Bonita's crew then launched their
long boat, which went alongside The
vessels first mate in attempting to get into
it missed his footing and fell overheard,
carrying with him all the ships papers, the
log book and all the valuables, which were
lost, except the mate, who WIS rescued.
Another Of the crew had his hand
crushed by having it damned between the
boat and the side of the BARK. After max
ing the second trip all of the crew were
taken Off and carried to the Bonita, where
they were taken safely aboard, the captain
being the last to leave the waterlogged
vessel
The following are the names OF the crew
landed here: Capt. Il. Spanjer, First
Mate Fred Piffner. Second Mate II Ademo,
and Seamen l.. Vietsch, G. Meir, G. d'Iries,
r. Smit. d. T. Swiort, A. Vos, - Putrin,
i. d. Abaurlivch, G. Spanjer, son Of the
captain. and g. Kaale. Consul W, de-
Bruyn Hops will look after them and their
transportation home.
The Jan Pieterszoon Koen, was owned in
Brussels by G. de Groof. She was built In
Rotterdam thirty-one years ago, and was
considered a substantial and stanch vessel.
She was 675 tons burthen.