Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-03-12
DISABLED AND STARVING.
Crew Of the Disabled Steamer Bris.
coe In Hard Situation.
Male Reaches Land and Tells Of Their PLIGHT
Jugs TO ihe Rescue.

ST.. JOINS, N. F., March ll.-At noon
today a lifeboat was deserted making for
Cape Race signal station, which, two hours
latter, proved to be one belonging to the
disabled and overdue steamer Briscoe, con-
tsining First Mate Mackey and four men in
an exhausted condition. They reported
the Briscoe lying about 60 miles s. S. W..
off Cape Race. They left her at midday
Friday, but after pulling about four hours
it was discovered that their compass had
gone wrong. due undoubtedly to the iron
ballast carried by the lifeboat. The COM
pass defect was not discovered until the
Briscoe was sgain sighted after their four
hours hard work.
The boat was again launched Saturday
morning, and from IL O'Clock on that day
until their arrival at the signal station, the
five men had not morsel of food to eat.
They had also suffered considerably during
the night from cold and were slightly FROST
bitten. First Mate Mackey made the fol-
lowing statement concerning the Briscoe's .
voyage:
1--WE left Hamburg on Dec. s, but were
forced to put back to Queenstown for re-
pairs. We left there Jan. 81 and encoun-
t.red terrific weather. The decks were
swept by high seas continually and the rails
and bulwarks were carried away. The bridge
was gone and deckhouses, etc, destroy ed.
Nothing was left standing but the two
lower masts and funnel. The vessel was
a complete wreck. Then the sts-board bow
was stove in by the ice, but the compart-
ments we're still tight. She was full of
water forward, however.
"Our supply of coal ran out 10 day at
ter we left Queenstown. Then we began
to use up the furniture and other wood
work for fuel. Steamer Ulunda. which
sailed from Halifax February 27th for
London, took the Brisc ,e in tow on March
2d, but left her at o'clock the following
morning, after towing her l20 miles. Then
q repetition of our former experience set in
and we drifted along using up all the avail
able woodwork we could find on board for
fuel.
"a new danger now confronted us. Our
supply of food ran out and the crew were
nearly reduced to starvation. There were
no provisions on board, save a small guam
tity of -four and some peas. A small fire
was kept in the galley to prevent the men
from perishing from cold. The other fires
were let go out for lack of fuel. The
third engineer became SICK and Is suffering
from severe attack of sore throat. The
remainder of the crew were not ill., although
reduced to desperate straits. The captain
wanted us to bring the third engineer ashore
with us in the boat, but we deemed it un-
wise"
The tug Ingraham left here to search for
the Briscoe as soon as the above news was
received. The coast steamer Virginia Lake
also sailed from Trepsssey, last night, and
will endeavor to find the disabled steamer.
One Of these two will probably get her dur
ing the night or early tomorrow.
The Ingraham took provisions for the
famished crew. She will call at Cape Race
for the chief signal officer and has the best
'hsnce of finding the overdue steamer. The
Briscoe carries cargo of manure salt She
should have arrived at New York Feb. II.