The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-11-16
TWELVE MEN SAVED.
An italian Bark Sunk After Long
Struggle.

The Bark Kate f. Troop Glanced Along at
the Last Moment and Rescued the Crew
The Fishes Receive Consignment of
Yarmouth.
4 New York, \ oyeniber l5.-Twelve men
saved Ly the sea ere brought here yester-
day b.; the era &c Nova Scotia bark Kate +.
Troop, which arrived from Singapore after
a voyage of l04 days. They were the captain
and crew of the italian bark Torquato and
the captain brother, W no was passenger.
they We're rescued from their atellogged
and sinking craft after they had struggled
at the pumps for twelve days against The
water, which in spite of their efforts crept
higher in her hold.
The To1quato, ommanded by Captain
Trapanil, left Genoa on August IS. bound
for this port, with cargo of marble,
packet with rags. and several thousand
cases of vermoutb. She met boisterous
weather from the start. The nigh winds
shifted to the southeast on the morning
of October 26, and for nine hours blew with
hurricane force. The Torquato rolled her
starboaId rail under. and for two hours was
on her beam ends.
Nearly the whole spread of canvas was
carried away, and all but one of her boats
was crushed by the waves.
Blocks of marble must have shifted, for
her starboard quater was badly strained
and the water SHIPPED through the broken
seams. The pumps were riged and tor
twelve days the men worked night and day.
Neither sail nor funnel rose above the rim
of the sea. There was no sign Of hope for
the crew of the distressed craft.
Captain Trapani told me yesterday that
the bark was leaking at the rate of six
inches an hour. When help came there was
six feet Of water in the hold in spite of the
unremisting work of the crew.
The captain saw sail six miles away on
the afternoon of November :. in latitude 80
degrees and longitude " degrees. The ap-
preaching vessel changed aer course when
the lookout saw the Torquato's signal of
distress. and was soon within hailing dis
lance. She was the Kate f. Troop, COM
manded by Captain Smith. The sea was too
rough for small boat then and Troop stood
by all night. The water was gaining in the
Torquato's hold, although her crew worked
like men who had found hope and life. By
daylig htQthe W Gather had moderated and
Captain Trapani and his brother and his
crew, twelve in all, reached the rescuing
bark in safety. 81 assn 81
LAST OF THE ToRQUATO.
AS the Troop squared away they saw the
Torq uato steadily settling, stern first. They
believe that she went to the bottom within
two or three hours after they abandoned
her. Several of the men were SO worn out
by the pumps that they could hardly
chamber up the TROOPS ladder. Captain and
crew lost everything they had, and they
went on board the Troop scantily clothed
and shivering.
There was tremor in the voice of the
broad shouldered Italian skipper when he
told me yesterday how kindly he had been
treated by Captain Smith, the Troops COM
mander.
IF had commanded the Troop he said,
u could not have been treated with more
kindness and consideration. Captain Smith
would almost have me believe that I was
the commander and that be vas just a poor
fellow, whose ship had gone to the bottom"
The Torquato's crew will be sent home by
the Italian consul, The vessel hailed from
Castellamare. She measured sos tons.