The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-05-07
TIE RESCUE OF THE EMS
Heroism Displayed By Captain
Livingstone and the Crew
Of the WildfloWer.

PHILADELPHIA, May Z, 1894. The steamer
Wildfower, which rescued the disabled
North German Lloyd steamer Ems, with
nearly 500 souls on board, in niid7ocean on
March q, and towed the big liner to Fayal,
Azores, arrived at this port today from Bor-
deaux The story of the rescue, as told by
Captain Livingstone Of the Wildfower, is
thrilling throughout and depicts the heroism
of the master in saving the ship under de-
cidedly adverse circumstances.
The Wildflower left Cape Henlopen on
March 49, and for week ran through
tempestuous weather which smashed her
boats and Quilted her galley, wheel house
number of ioebergs which menaced her on
both sides. The Ems which was sighted the
next morning, lay in the trough OF heavy
cross sea and and was firing guns and Tying
signals of distress.
Captain Livingstone lowered the only
boat left on his vessel, and, after placing the
chief officer in command and picking crew,
sent the frail craft on its errand of mercy.
FEARED DEATH.
After long and tedious struggle the Ems
was reached and the chief officer, to use
CAPTAIN Livingstones words, was greeted
as one from heaven When the Wildfiowers IS
chief officer returned and reported that the
Ems was leaking badlyA and to leave her
meant certain death to those on board, Cap
tain Livingstone promptly decided to risk
everything in an effort to tow the ship to a
haven of rest.
IL required delicate and skilful man@uvr-
ing to work the Wildfower about in such
heavy seas, in thick fog and SO close TO the
Ems, but after fonr hours of patient toll the
tow hawsers were stretched between the YES
sells. When the Wildhower. with steam all
hall thick
clouds of black Msmoke forged
ahead and the lines creaked under
the fearful strain the passengers on the
Ems set up mighty cheer. The greatest
peril, however, had jlsr begun, for there
was imminent risk oil the lines fowling IN
the Wildfower's propeller and disabling her,
too. but she forged ahead, Shaping course
for Fayal Good weather was enjoyed for
two days. but on the Both and 31st very
heavy gales were encountered, and the
Wildnower plunged again and again Ee-
meath the mountainous seas. Time and
again. she was almost wholly submerged,
the towing strain keeping Der stern Gown
and preventing her from ri&ng to the seas
On April last terrific rain came up with
seas that rese to mountsa4na and the
brave fellows on the Wildfower expected
that their vessel would founder beneath
them and send all to watery graves. But
Captain Livingstone never fiinched.
On April the welcome spires of Fayal
loomed up, and more mighty shouts of joy
arose from the decks Of the disabled Ems
GRATITUDE FOR CAPTAIN LIVINGSTONE.
Reaching a moorage, Captain Livingstone
boarded the Ems, and was at once sur
rounded by the overjoyed passengers The
women embraced and kissed him In spite of
his blushes and protests, and tAe passengers
cheered him till they grew No hoarse to
cheer more and they told him oveS and over
of their debt of graf; Jude.
Whom the people got off the Ems they
cheered her courageous officers and crew to
fhta oohO