Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1894-01-24
HEROIC ACT IN MID-OCEAN.

Unsuccessful Attempt to Save the Crew
of IA Vessel Sinking in the Atlantic.
New YORK, Jan. 1.-THE passengers
and crew of the steamship Amsterdam
which arrived at this port to-day from
Rotterdam, witnessed q thrilling Incl
dent in mid-ocean during terrific gale.
A big schooner, battered by the terrific
seas and covered with ice, was discoy-
cred in a sinking condition, and volun-
teers were asked to man life-boat and
attempt a rescue, The boat from the
Amsterdam had nearly reached the dis
ab!ed vessel when the little craft cap
sized. Nearly all the crew were
drowned
The Amsterdam left Rotterdam on
January 49, She had continuation Of
heavy gales from all around the com
pass with tremendous high seas and a
very low barometer. On Sunday, Jan
uary IA, lat. 1921; long 58:1S, about II
A. NJ, in strong northwest breeze and
high seas, she sighted schooner show
ing an American union down and at half
mast; the steamer made for the schooner
and saw that the sea was washing con-
stantly over her and that only by hard
pumping was she kept afloat. She had
a crew Of about fourteen men. The
crew signalled the Amsterdam by gest-
ures that the vessel was in q sinking
condition and that they were anxious
to leave the ship, showing at the same
time by throwing overheard pieces of
their boats that their means of escape
had been destroyed.
The captain of the steamer called his
crew on deck and told them the posi-
ton in which the schooner was I'm
meGiately the first officer and six Of the
Amsterdam's crew offered to man Il
boat and go to the rescue. No. 4 life
boat left the Amsterdam and every
thing went all right until in the vicinity
OF the wreck, when snow shower with
squalls capsized the boat. Three of
the crew disappeared Immediately and
the remaining four succeeded in taking
hold of the capsized boat. The cap
tain of the Amsterdam went at once to
their assistance and succeeded in get
ting alongside, but the remaining four
men were thoroughly exhausted by the
cold and IN consequence were not able
to take hold of the life-saving apparatus
which was given to them. All were
drowned with the exception of one
sailor, who got hold of a rope and was
taken on board.
Another crew presented themselves
to man a second boat, but owing to the
increasing wind and sea the captain OBJ
iected and concluded to wait for better
weather and calm Sea. The Amster-
dam keptin the vicinity of the wreck I'M
til in heavy snow squall she lost sight
of her. Although search was made she
was not able to find any trace of the
wreck and proceeded on her voyage.
The wreck appeared to be the American
fishing schooner Maggie +. Well.
The following are the names of the
Amsterdam crew who went to the res
cue of the sinking schooner and were
lost: Chief Officer J. Meyer, aged rs
years; Second BOatswain f.. Requart
Carpenter A. J. Oudyn; Steerage Stew
ard a. Boss; Quartermaster +. q.
Eichhorn and Seaman A. Won Vleet,
Seaman A. Vandewilt, who was al eX-
pert swimmer, was saved.
Although every possible means OF
saving the sailors was employed, THEN
strength was so far spent that they were
unable to keep their hold on the ropes
and belts thrown them, three fell back
exhausted and drowned.
The schooner was no doubt the Mag
gle E. Wells, of Gloucester Mass. She
was built in 1890, was 84.7 feet long,
1913 feet beam, ga feet deep, and regis
&ara6 81 M toms