The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-08-31
THE LOST STEAMSHIP.

have endeavored to nave taken the crew
and passengers Off that night IL there had
been any immediate danger Of the vessel
going TO pieces. When the first officer re-
Curned it was with news that the Savannah
were all right till morning.
The Birmingham accordingly remained
near her, ready to respond at once In the
event Of an emergency. None or the pas
sengers slept Tuesday night. In the morn
ing, at o'clock, the first and second off,
GERS, with five of the crew, left the Bir-
mingham with two lifeboats
The sea was still running quite high,
and it was five hours trip. II was after
o'clock in the morning when they re-
turned with their precious load. They
were utterly exhausted. They needed
drink and food, and never were men SO
eager for water before.
The second trip took but 8 l-2 hours, and
It was about / o'clock when all were
aboard who had been found on the City Of
Savannah, and the Birmingham started
on the home run TO Savannah.
Captain savase's Story.
Captain Savage of the wrecked Savan-
nah was seen last night. "Well, I've lost
my steamer" he said. shut thank God
that, as far as know, no lives are lost
The gale was the most frightful ever ex-
perienced. IL struck the Savannah of
Charleston, and tried to head her out to
sea, but the water was too much for me,
though, and sea after sea shipped over the
vessel, carrying away the pilot house and
portion Of the saloon.
Next the smokestack went, and then
the waves poured in and put out the fires;
then was lost For 12 hours, however, /
managed TO fight the elements, and then
seeing that further effort was futile,
headed her for II unting island and beached
her az far mp as possible. We signalled
repeatedly for assistance, but none came,
although several tugs passed along, and
finally / called for volunteers to make tho
perilous trip to the lighthouse, six miles
away, to get assistance.
"The crew Of three sailors started out
and they probably made Beaufort. 1t was
Monday morning about 8 o'clock when I
beached the Savannah, and In the after
noon the first and second officers fitted up
the life RATS and took woman and chill
drcn and several of the crew toward
Helena. think they landed safely After
the life raft left the sea began to break the
vessel aud we all took to the rigging.
from where we were rescued by the Bir-
mingham's crew. IL we had had to re-
main many hours longer in the rigging we
would have been drowned
The Captains bravery.
Captain Savage had but two lights left
when he burned his fateful signal, which
Captain Berry sighted. Captain Savage's
bravery is spoken OF in the most laudatory
terms by the passengers of his wrecked
vessel They say they would have tossed
themselves into the waves 10 end the
agony had IL not been for the bravery OF
the heroic master. who promised them
sure rescue.
The experience OF the Savannah's pas
sengers was horrible and eau never be
told In fitting languSee. Rev. Mr.. Hooper
OF Boston. one OF the SdvannaE's passen
gers, lost his mind.
Pathetic Scenes
The arrival of the Birnpngham was
great scene BY o'clock men, women
and children had bcgnn to gather on Ex-
change and other wharves as the noble
steamer, bearing the flag Of her ill-fated sis
ter ns well as her own, came slowly up
the river Great cheers broke out from
every wharf, answering cheers came back
from those on tho steamer aud hsndkcr-
chief were wildly waved. The Exchange