Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-09-01

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Sovaaaah.

SAVANNAH. Aug. sL-Ths City of Sa
vannah Of the Bss,oa line b ashore os
Hunting island. 30 milss Cd Beaufort She
b total wreck and rapidly goins (,
pieces Her passensers were rescued BY
the City Of Birmingham and brought r
Savannah last night
Hunting island Is on the South CAfolina
eoast about so miles above Biufttou, and
u about IL miles long.
Before the rcscae VI ths crew and pas
ssngers Of the City OF Savannah the Rir
minRham rescued the crew OF the schooner
Joseph Souther. from Darien to Boston,
loaded with timber. There were seven
men In all, and when taken o6 they had
given up hope and expected 10 soon b u
the bottom Of the sea.
Z They said the wreck was frat sighted
just as dark was coming on Tuesday night
lit had been two or three hours tatsI
they might have passed by her.
Gallant Resesa.
The wreck was recognised BY Captain
Berg and signals Of distress were fired
Officer johnson and picked crew manned
wreck. which was on shore about ak milea
on
The captain Of the birmingham would
have endeavored to nave taken the crew
and passengers of that night il there had
been any immediate danger of the vessel
going to pieces When the first officer 70
turned il was with news that the Savannah
were all right till morning.
- The Birmingham accordingly remained
near her. ready to respond at onos in the
event Of an emergency. None OF the pas
sengers slept Tuesday night. ln the morn
ing, at 5 o'clock. the first and second on
Gers. with five OF the crew, left the Bir-
mingham with two lifeboatA
The sea was still running quite high.
and II was q five hours trip. II WAS after
ao'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 %
eager for water before.
The second trip took but . l-2 hours, and
1t 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.
Story Of the WRECK.
Captain Savage of the wrecked SAvap-
nah was seen last night. We'll, I've lost
my steamer" be said, "but l thank God
that, as far AS l know, no lives are lost
The gale was the most frightful ever ex-
perienced. 1t 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 IL hours, however,
managed to fight the elements, and then
seeing that further effort was futile,
headed her for Hunting island and beached.
her As far up as possible. We signalls'
repeatedly for assistance, but none cain,
although several tugs passed along, an
finally called for volunteers to make th
perilous trip to the lighthouse. six mile
away, to get assistance.
The crew Of three sailors started on
and they probably made Beaufort It wa
Monday morning about o'clock when
beached the Savannah, and In the after
noon the first and second officers fitted up
the life RATS and took woman and chill
uEca anu Vi onc CieW oWdtu
Helena. think they landed safely. After
the lie raft left the sea began to break the
vessel and we all took to the rigging,
from where we were rescued by the Bir-
mingham's crew. II we had had to re-
main many hours longer In the rigging we
would have been drowned
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 to end the
agony hal it 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 can never be
told in fitting language. Rev. Mr.. Hooper
OF Boston, one OF the Savannah's passen-
gers, lost his mind.
The City OF Savannah was built by John
Roach Il Son, Chester. Pa, in 1877, and
was valued at about $225. 900.
She was an iron steamer Of 2O29 40 gross
tonnage. Her length over all was 254
feet, breadth at beam 3s.7 feet, depth .4s.
She d ew Is feet Of water. She was ranked
as a firstclass passenger steamer and car
ried ls5 passengers.