Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-01-18
FATE OF THE SINKING BOAT IN DOUBT

Seven Men From tho Dutch Steamer
Amsterdam Put Out to Rescue the
Crew of a Sinking Schooner, But Their
Boat Was Capsized and six We're
Drowned-one Escaped by Good Swim
ming--The Schooner Disappeared and
Her Fate is Unknown.
United Press Dispatch by Special Wires.
New York, Jan. 1.-THE Dutch
steamer Amsterdam, Captain Stenger,
from Rotterdam, January 4th, which
arrived this morning, lost her chief
officer, j, Meyer, and five men by the
capsizing of her port life boat, while
proceeding to the assistance of the crew
Of the American fishing schooner
Maggie Z. Well, which was in a sinking
condition.
The names of the heroic men who
thus lost their lives are; Chief Officer j.
Meyer, aged 2S years; Second Boatswain
e. Requart, Carpenter A. j. 0udyn,
Steerage Steward A. Boss, Quartermaster
Il. G.. &. Eichorn.
Seaman A. Vanderbilt was also in the
boat, but being a master of the art OF
swimming was saved.
THE CAPTAINS STORY.
The captains story is us follows:
january 4th, lat. 1921, long. 5S.18,
at about II a. M, during strong north
west breeze and moderate high sea, per-
ceived fishing schooner south of us
showing the American flag Union down
at half-mast. We made for the schooner
and saw that the sea was constantly
washing over her, and that only by
hard pumping the ship was kept atioat.
The crew of IA signalled us by gestures
that the vessel was in sinking condi-
ton and that they were anxious to leave,
showing at the same time by throwing
overheard pieces of their boats, that had
been wrecked.
81 called my crew on deck and told
them the position in which the schooner
was. Immediately the first officer and
six of our crew offered themselves to
, man boat and go tc their rescue. Al
about 10 o'clock, noon, the boat, No. 4
| left our steamer and everything wen
A all right until in the vicinity of The
E wreck, when a sudden snow squall cap
sized the boat, with the fatal result tina
! three of the crew disappeared imme
n diateN, and the remaining four sue
Q ceeded Al taking hold OF the capsizeC
a boat.
Q ~ went at once to their assistanc,
I. and succeeded in getting the capsizet
a boat alongside, but 1t appeared the re
s naming four men were thoroughly ex
# hausted by the cold, and in consequence
: not able to take hold of the life.savinl
apparatus, which was given to them
n and were drowned with the exception
y of one sailor, who by his extraordirar.
n presence of mind and calm behavior
@ got hold of rope and was taken o.
d board.
0 "Another crew presented themselve
to man second boat, but owing to tn
increasing wind and sea, l objected an
concluded to wait for better weathe
and calm sea. We kept in the vicinit
u of the wreck until 6 O'clock, when in
heavy snow squat we lost sight of he
and although we searched two hours "
. were not able to find any trace OF Il
is wreck, and proceeded. The wreck 81
b. peared to be the American schoon'
Maggie L. Well. Could not read Il
K full name"
,e ONE OF THE GLOUCESTER FLEET.
The Inflated schooner reported !
"a the steamer Amsterdam, is undoubted
" the Maggie E. Wells of the Gloucest
90 fishing fleet. She is IS tons regist
he and was built in 1890 at Essex, Mas
ee and is owned at Gloucester, Mass.