The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-09-11
LEFT BIZ THE HURRICANE.
y Fleet or DereIicts Floating In the Atlantic
Along Orr Const,

| Iho Iatost OF the recent hurricanes along the
Atlantic coast was more destructive on land
than at sea: but the two INN ed lately proceed
ing It, and particularly the one that struck this
| city on Aug. ~. left track OF desolation
among the unfortunate vessels tn at got caught
IN them. During the last week OF August no
less IMAM twenty vessels. schooners. barks.
and ships were abandoned at sea nenr on:
coast, between Florida and New York: not TO
mention tho much larger number that were
wrecked by going ashore Eight OF these
have since been towod in. who the
remaining dozen. occupying an area
about 600 miles long by $50 wide along our
coast, form an unprecedented fleet OF danger
Gus derelicts. some OF which may stay ailoat
Tor months or years. Some are bottom up.
some are almost sunk below the sea Level.
while oil are more or loss dismasted. with
here and there n tattered sail Idly tapping in
the wind. Driven hither and thither by every
wind and tide. with no directing hand ut tho
holm. this battered and ragged feet are tho
veritablc tramps Of the ocean.
These abandoned vessels. with perhaps
moro to BIO heard from. hold out good induce
mont to the salvor since they are all near
land. The one furthost cast is the italian bark
Vincenzo Galatola. 535 tons. which left
Charleston on Aug. 10 for London. with cargo
OF lumber She had almost escaped out OF the
cyclone area when q terrific revolving storm.
then coming up from the south. struck her.
Aug 3D. about 24O miles east OF Cape Charles.
The same storm passed over this city the next
eighteen years. but the violence OF tho wind
and the turbulence OF tho sea were such that
t she soon sprq Ing leak which grew worse as
were needed on deck. There was no time to
eat or even T,u. to looS after the stores and fresh
were only too glad to be taken OH by the first
passing vessel
OF the twelve derelcts in this unique fleet
the names OF only seven are known as yet
Victims OF a power far mightier than man.
raT1 Po dS
that they are constant menace to vessels that
pass them at night or when tho air Is thick or
silence and passivity makes them all the more more
ners:: and at the great international Maritime
Conference held in Washington three years
ct tho PARTS to
and America. and the destruction OF, removal
once at Washington. one Of whose branches
sloner oBrien on OF the Bureau Of Nayieation
Treasury Department.
"a ne nGlnenm0ss snp 81 tne aerelct Heet
stump q one mast LETT standing g. The south
tons. lumbsr-laden. about $50 miles northeast
Of st. Augustine. Her crew were all rescued
By an Am erican bark.
The small loss Of life among all those dis
asters 10 noteworthy feature. and is perhaps
due to the wonderful efficacy Of fish oil poured
upon the sea. The oil is used In strkingly
minute quantities considering the large re-
suits. gallon per hour being sufficient
tos calm the sea on the weather
side OF q large shin. One drop will smooth a
square yard OF sea surface FOR several min
utes. The waves continue to roll in immense
rounded heaps as before, but their crests no
longer break over on'a ships deck they simply
lift the vessel up and roll harmlessly from un-
der her. So. whenever it becomes necessary
to send boat to rescue sailors from a wreck,
tho rescuing vessel comes up as close as pru-
dence will permit. and smoothes the sea with
oil while the lifeboat goes to and fro.
Many q vessel owes her safety to the use OF
OIL and vet whom 1t was first seriously pro-
posed By Capt John R Bartlett OF our navy. In
1883. he was doubted and laughed at by most
mariners 1t took few years to get them to
try It, but. trying. they saw and believed. and
now no seagoinR vessels outfit Is considered
complete without oil distributing apparatus.