The morning call., 1892-01-11
STORM AND FEVER.
Perilous Voyage of the Arist0-
meme From Java.
The Tempest Ships Cargo Jettisoned
in Order to Save the Lives CT the Crew.
Provisions Short.

The British ship AristOmene arrived off
the heads early yesterday morning, and the
crew Of the pilot boat America saw she had
signal Of distress flying.
AS soon as possible the pilot-bOat ran
Gown to the vessel and was told by the
captain that he aid not wish to enter the
harbor, as he was bound to Vancouver, but
he was entirely out of provisions and had to
get supply in some way, as his crew were
In danger Of starving.
The ship was placed in charge of Pilot
Jim Miller, and the captain was offered
passage to town in the pilot boat. As soon
as he was landed he lost no time in securing
supply Of provisions, including beef, NUT
ton, flour, groceries and garden truck,
enough to load two big drays, and the pro-
visions were hauled to ValeiO-street Wharf
and placed on board the red-stack tug Her
cules, which started out about 4 o'clock
yesterday afternoon, so that, no doubt, the
crew had San Francisco beetsteak for sup
per.
HAD A CLOSE CALL.
According to the captains report the
ATlstomene had very narrow escape from
going to the bottom, and was only saved by
sacrificing a considerable portion OF her
cargo. The ship left SOerabaya In the
Batch East Indies about four months ago
with a cargo of sugar. bound for Vancouver.
She took the southern route, coming by way
Of Australia, and had a pleasant passage
until in 40 south, when she was caught in
terrific hurricane, which lasted fourteen
hours. During the whole time the gale
lasted the ship was totally manageable
aud her decks were swept Of everything
movable by the terrible seas that broke on
vii n al Inn r I'm .n
tile decks. Inside of an hour after the gale
began the ship was thrown on her beam
ends, and not only were the few sails that
were set blown away, but many others were
torn from the gaskets and split into ribbons.
dashed ON THE POOP.
The ship lay over so far that the water
was up TO the hatchWays and all hands
sought safety on the poop, where they
dashed themselves until the gale subsidized,
All through that terrible night the unf0r-
tunate crew remained IN constant fear OF
death, for not even the captain expected to
see the sun rise again. 10 make things
worse many Of the crew, including the cap
tain, were weak and sick from the dreaded
Java fever, and several times during the
night some Of the men were torn from the
lasbings by the weight Of water that poured
over them, and but for the constant watch
fulness of their shipmates would have been
swept into the sea and drowned.
DdS IBut dJ ldot DIOh6 anu ~ TIC great Ic-
lief Of the exhausted men the hurricane had
blown itself out and the weather became
more moderate.
CARGO JETTIsONED.
There was no time for much-needed rest,
however, as the ship was still on her beam
ends, and all hands at once set 10 work TO
get her on an even keel In order to do this
the main matches were taken off, and the
work OF jettSOning the cargo was begun
and kept up for over tweuty-fOur hours. At
first the work was slow and extremely diff
cult owing 10 the fact that the baskets in
which the sugar was packed were wedged
In so tight that many of them had to be
chopped to pieces 10 start the tier Each
basket held halt ton of sugar, and by the
time the ship was balanced again over 400
baskets had been hraYed into the sea.
By this time the wind had died away, and
the sea was as smooth as glass, and then
the storm-tossed crew, almost dead from
hunger and hard work, had a chance to rest
and get something to eat.
PROVISIONS SPOILED.
1t was then discovered that every particle
Of bread, flour. tea, coffee and rice was 50
thoroughly soaked with salt water as to be
utterly useless, and after escaping from the
tempest the men found they had chance
to see how II felt to live entirely on a diet
Of salt junk as that was the only provision
not damaged by the salt water. After care
fully weighing the chances of a return TO
Australia it was decided to make the best
f the matter aud reach San Francisco as
soon as possible The weather held good
and the ship arrived off the heads early
yesterday morning, and il is safe 10 say
that no one on board her will care for salt
horse again for some time. The tug took
the Arstomene TO Bolinas Bay and there
placed the supply of fresh provisions on
board her, after which she proceeded to
Vancouver in charge of Pilot Hughes.