The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-08-31
ONBSTBAMER WRECKED
The City Of Savannah Beached on
Hunting's Island.
MEN PASSENGERS TAKEN OFF.
Women and Children Sailed Ashore
on a Raft.

Fifty Hours without Food or Water
Then They We're Rescued by tho City OF
birmingham, Which Rrought Them to
| Snvanuah-A story or Suffering and
Bravery-Tho Sen Put Out the Fires
Tho Fato or tho Women and Children.
A TumuItuous Greeting Mt Savannah.
SAVANNAH. Aug. Gothic steamship City Of
Savannah. from Boston to Savannah. 10
aground on Hunting Island, thirty miles OF
Beaufort. She is a total wreck and is rapidly
going to pieces. The passengers arc all saved
probably.
Hunting Island is on the South Carolins
coast. about thirty miles above Button: 10
is about twelve miles long. Capt Savage
sent letter to Beaufort from the island By
some sailing craft, saying that his vessel was
ashore with water in the hold. and that he was
unable to get Off. He asked for assist
ance at once This letter was received
this morning and was hurried over to
the Collector OF the port II any tug
was sent out from Beaufort it did not reach
the Savannah until the crew and some Of the
passengers had been taken Off by the City OF,
Birmingham to-day. When the Birmingham
came to her pier here this afternoon Capt
Savage OF the wrecked Savannah was seen on
tho upper deck.
well. I've lost my steamer" he said, but
thank G I'D that as far as I know no lives were
lost. The gale was the most frightful ever
experienced. 1t struck the Savannah of
Charleston. and l tried to head her out to sea.
The water was too much for me. though. and
sea after sea was shipped over the vessel, car.
rying 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 twelve hours. how.
ever. / 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 signalled re-
peatedly for assistance. but mono came. al
though several tugs passed along. and finally
l called for volunteers to mako the perllous
trip to the lighthouse. six miles away to get
assistance. A crew OF three sailors started
out. and they probably made Beaufort.
1t was Monday morning about o'clock
when I beached the Savannah. and In the
afternoon the first and second officers fitted up
life raft and took nine women and children
and several Of the crew toward Helena.
hope they landed safely. After the life raft
left, the sea began to break over the vessel and
all took to the rigging from where We were
rescued by tho Birmingham this morning.
I'VE had been in the rigging thirty-si1
hours. We had been without food or water
fifty hou:s. If we had had to remain much
longer in tho rigging we would have been
drowned. 1t was welcome sight to me when
saw the signal light of the Ocean Steamship
line last night and knew tho Birmingham was
coming to our rescue"
Capt. Savage had only two lights left whom
he burned his signal which Capt. Berg sighted.
The Savannah's passengers had meeting on
board the Birmingham after the rescue. Will
liam Wade OF Savannah presided. An ex.
preston Of thanks was voted to the Captain
and officers Of the Birmingham.
The Birmingham found tho sea smooth as
far as Hatteras. A swell set in there. and soon
there came heavy sea. with southwest winds:
The cape was rounded on Sunday at midnight.
At daylight the wind and sea increased and .
heavy sea was rolling. but the Birmingham
mover once slackened her speed. At p M.
the storm began to abate. At daylight Tues.
day the ship began to come In sight OF
The Birmingham rescued Capt.
Harvey Hudson and a crew OF six men OF the
wrecked schooner Joseph Southern OF Boston.
On Tuesday at p. N. ship was sighted 4
ashore in the breakers about six miles south
Of st. Helena Lighthouse. Her Captain saw the \
Birmin ham and signalled. Capt. BERG recog.
niZed the signal and exclaimed:
God. that must be the Savannah"
A boat was manned with First Officer john
son and sent to her. He came back and said
It was the City OF Savannah aground In the
three miles from shore. going t0t |
pieces. with passengers and crew in the ri2-
eing. They had been there since Monday. and
It was impossible to attempt to rescue them
until daylight. n
The Birmingham was anchored. and this
boats in charge OF First Onlcer johns I
son and Second officer Hamilton reached tho
ship. and the rescue Of those on board was e.
Icctcd with safety
Nine women passengers OF the Inflated craft,
with two children and DR.. George W. Lamar.
mad loft the ship with the first and second off,
,ers and four men. 1t Is said tonight that
hey reached shore.
The experience OF the 'Savanna's passen.
gers was irightful. The Rev. Mr.. Hooper. one
II tho passengers. lost his reason Hesent his
wlfo and daughter Oft on the life raft, and after
hey had gone his mind became unbalanced.
lie wandered about the cabin. laughing and
rying by turns. Capt. SavaRe's bravery Ia
,poken OF in the most laudatory forms by the
"a ssengers OF his wrecked vessel. They say
hey would have tossed themselves into the
waves to end the agony had it not been for the
heroic master who promised them deliyer-
nee OF some kind
The news had been carried over the city that
he Brm ngham would be up between and
o'clock to night BY o'clock men. women.
nd children began to gather on tho wharves.
lined the river. As tho Birming-
am. bearing tho flag Of her Inflated sister as
yell as her own, came slowly up the river
heers arose from every wharf Answering
heers came back from those on tho steamer.
Me cheering was OF Joy that could not be
ontrolled. Tears ran down the faces Of hun-
reds Of those who cheered. Tho great pens
ant OF the City OF Savannah had brought tid-
ngs that most OF those on that steamer were
n