The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-08-31
THROUGH RAGING SEAS.
The City Of Birmingham'S EVCntiul
Voyage.

! N%DN'
A Trip That Will Never be Forgotten.
A Memorial of Bravery to Capt. Burg
and His Officers Story of the Rescue
of the City of Savannah's Passen-
! gers Seven Men Taken From Dis
masted Schooner.
The voyage of the City of Birmingham
from New York was perhaps the most
eventful in her whole history.
The Birmingham left New York Friday
afternoon at 3 o'clock, and during that
day and Saturday it looked as is if she
were to have one of the pleasantest and
least eventful trips of the season.
con Sunday about noon, p" said Mr.. Dan
Rountree, one of her passengers. last
night, things took quite a different
shape and we encountered a most terrific
gale which continued to grow and in
crease in fury until thenext day"
WAVES MOUNTAIN HIGH.
About 10 o'clock Sunday night the
waves were coming against US mountain
high and the vessel was tossed about like
a cork by every one that dashed against
her We began then to entertain serious
fears as to what was going to become of
US.
The ship was headed right towards
the storm and Capt. Berg at all times ex-
hibited the utmost GOODNESS and bravery.
always assuring his passengers that there
was no danger, and that they would all
reach port in safety.
ROCKED BY THE STORM.
Nothing eventful occurred during
Sunday except that we encountered this
very heavy sea, which was continuous and
without cessation, From Sunday night
at 8 o'clock, when we began to round Hat
teras, until l o'clock Monday morn
ing, the ship did not average more
! than from one to three miles an hour
The ship was tossed about as if it were a
plaything and such a thing as going
across the cabin or on the decks was alto
gether impossible II was impossible to
! sleep, but during such time of danger
| few Of the passengers cared for that.
Every meal was served even during
the storm, but few were there to partake
! of them. The chances were that when
dish was set down at your place you
would find it across the table before you
could get your hand nit.
WRECKS on EVERY SIDE.
"When the ship would go down in the
trough of the sea waves mountain high
could be seen coming towards it.
ION Tuesday morning we encountered
wrecks on every side. A crew of seven
was rescued from water-logged schooner
| by Capt. Berg. When the schooner was
encountered she was going to pieces rap
idly, and she gave the signal of distress.
| Capt. Berg at once sent out lifeboat and
took them all on board.
After that time we passed frequent
wrecks. There were schooners and banks
with their masts and everything on deck
entirely swept away. Whenever one
was met and gave any signal Capt Berg
would send out and offer them any assis-
lance they wanted. Several of them
wanted TO be lowed in, but that he re-
fused to do, He was ready and glad to
take the crews aboard, but almost all of
them refused to desert their ships.
SIGHTED THE SAVANNAH
Tuesday afternoon about o'clock the
City of Savannah was sighted on the
shoal about three miles from the St
Helena light She gave the signal that
she was a sister snip and also that she
was in distress. Capt. Burg sent out
lifeboat in command of FIRST Mate John
son, but the sea was so high that they
could not possibly reach the Savannah He
remained at anchor off the shoal about
four miles until this morning, when all
the passengers and crew who were left on
the Savannah were brought over to the
Birmingham in the ifeboats, and we
sailed on to port.
SENT OUT VOLUNTEERS
1T was learned that on Monday the
captain of the City of Savannah called
for volunteers to go to shore and get aid
Three sailors volunteered to 90 and they
started of for shore. They were to give
the signal if they landed in safety, but
no signal was ever received from them.
All the passengers and crew who re-
manned on the Savannah were saved.
Nothing too high can be said in praise
of Capt Burg and the crew, especially of
First Officer johnson, who were at all
times kind, courteous and attentive to the
passengers"
THE BIRNINGHAM's VOYAGE.
MIR. +. L. Rebarer, clerk of the city
council, who was passenger on the City
of Birmingham, tells the following
story:
I'VE left New York Saturday.
Our voyage as far as Cape
Hatteras, was over comparatively
smooth seas, except a heavy ground
swell, which was regarded as the hnger-
ing result Of the terrible cyclone which