New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-19
OVEMBER 10, s93.-TWENTY-FOUR PAGES.
4 PLUCKY MATE AND CREW.
TIE STEAMER MICHIGAN BRINGS IN A STORY
OF STORM AND WRECK.
OIL POURED on THE WATER TO ALLOW THE
LAUNCHING OF LIFEBoAT-IIOw SAILORS

OIL POURED ON THE WATER TO ALLOW THE
LAUNCHING OF A LIFEBoAT-IIow SAILORS
WERE SPARED FROM DEATH.
The steamship Mohcan, from Bristol came into
mort Yesterday after an exciting voyage, in which
she had encountered heavy seas and had rescued
the crew Of a waterlogged and dismasted bark
The bark whose crew was rescued was the Lazy
I.lgard. which left Saguenay, Canada, Tor
London on November 3, laden with coal. She
was commanded by Captain Olafsen. she mad
fine weather to November Z, when a hurricane
came in from the north-northeast. The vessei
was dsmased, and her seams opening she De-
came waterlogged. She had a crew OF nine
teen men board. and after three days they
were sighted by the Mohican and taken on
board. How the men of the crew were rescued
is best told by the report Of Captain Cook of
the Mohican He says:
ION Saturday November II, during the night
we had whole gale from the northeast Win
terrific sea. Sunday. after midnight, the
wind gradually moderated. and we kept the ship
toward her course. At 7:30 a. IN. we sighted
a vessel, apparently n wreck, on the starboard
bow hauled toward her, and on approaching
found it to be a large vessel lying In the
trough OF the sea- with only her mizzen lower
mast standing from which flags were flying.
HARD WORK LAUNCHING BOAT.
"I signallcd: DO you intend to abandon" TO
which the reply was: must abandon the
vessel At this time the wind was blowing
a fresh gale from the northwest with tre-
meadouj sea. Finding that the chief officer
and four of the crew were willing to go in
boat, | decided to try and get the port boat
ont This owing to the tremendous rolling OF
the ship. was a work Of the greatest difficulty
but with the Of large quantities OF OIL
thrown overheard, the boat was safely got INTO
the water and proceeded to the wreck. which
was under our lee threw overheard other
quantities Of oil and steamed to leeward OK the
wreck TO pick the boat up again. The boat
brought six Of the crew, and as some OF
our men who were in the boat did not
want to go to the wreck again. and as
none Of the rescued seamen would try II, re-
ouested others of our to go instead. which
| they consented to do. In trying to get the boat
away from the lee side of the ship,'she got under
the counter and foul OF the propeller, whch was
stopped, with the result that the boat was
smashed, and had great difficulty IN rescu-
ing our men. The boat was lost. AT this time "iho
and sea had Increased in violence. 80 that 1t was
innossible to launch another boat and de-
cided to remain by the ship. At noon the wind
had increased to terrific hurricane, with a
tremendous sea. and to keep near the wreck l
had to wear ship. At dusk. the storm con-
tinuing with undated violence, l decided 10
rig q sea anchor. This was done by securely
lashing five cattle beams together. ana "ith
boats. mast and SAIL and fifteen fathoms stream
cable it was made fast to wire hawser anu
thrown overheard fo ward and the engines
stonned TIL midnight the storm continued with
! terrible fury and we had great difncuity IN
! kecpIng any lights burning The ship iapored
/ and rolled with great violence. the seas IRE
quently breaking over her; during the night '"e
! sta rboard lifeboat was stove.
| .On Monday by daybreak the wind had mod
! Grated to a strong gale. but there was httie per
ceptible difference In the sea AS soon as IN. .ne
sea anchor was hove in. the wreck was not
! in sight | steamed to windward Keeping sharp
| lookout and a man at the masthead. A,e,
! steaming To windward until noon, concluded
! that the wreck had been passed. or else that
| she had gone To pieces during the night de-
! cded To proceed on our course. Dut' nhdihs ,ne
sea still too high to do SO prudenty, kept away WA
! TO the southward, with sea on the quarter Dur-
| ing the forenoon had the starboard ilieooa'
repaired aad patched ready for Launching.
ONCE MORE TO THE RESCUE.
"At 12:i5 r. M we again sighted the wreck
bearing northwest. and hauled toward her
Upon approaching closely we could see the men
still on her forecastle At this time the weather
had considerably improved, but there was still
q fresh gale. with a high. topping sea. / con-
sidered II too risky to try and put boat out
although the chief officer and crew were willing
again To proceed away in her. steamed 10
windward of the wreck and signalled: Look
out will be kept for any RATS or spars, ana
also tried to drop a buoy. attached to deep
sea lead line down to her Finding this did
| not succeed and seeing no attempt at making
a rat. the night approaching and the weather
| looking unpromsing. | decided to try ana get
| The starboard lifeboat in the water This was
| a difficult task. , =, ~
| again we poured large quantities OF oil over
| board but in getting the lifeboat out she was
stove in but the chief officer and three men pro-
| cceded away in her Upon getting under the lee
| of the wreck IL was impossible TO approach ner
The men had to jump overheard ana were theh
| hauled into the boat When all had mus peeh
| taken into the boat she returned 10 the snip
! which Notwithstanding a plentiful use Oh on
! was rolling so that we had the greatest diHcui'y
| i'm getting the men out of the boat IL was use
less To try and take the boat on board owing 10
the rolling of the ship. that the second hiepoa,
was lost. Immediately all were sately on ooaro
! we steamed away on our course
II May add that cannot speak 100 hshiy
| of the bravery OF the chief officer ana the men
| who went with him each occasion IN the
| boat" IL,
This is tho story. and II is one which VIII not
| surprise those who go down to the sea III ships