New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-23
DEATH AMID THE STORM.
TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE OF THE BEN
LARIG ON THE HIGH SEAS
SAILORS EXHAUSTED FROM EXPOSURE AND
woRK-THE VESSEL NOW LONG OVERDUE
TALE OF THE PILOT, WHO HAD


TALE OF THE PILOT WHO HAD
TO LEAVE THE SHIP.
The arrival here yesterday from Baltimore Of
, Franklin Bcebe the pilot who put on board
the long-overdue ship Benlarig from pilot-boat
, F.. ID. Jordan, No g. rather increased the fears
which felt for the safety of the ship which he
attempted to bring into port. The Benlarig
sixty miles off Sandy Hook when the pilot board
ed her on February ). The British steamer Ross
more spoke the ship on Monday night, 130 miles
southeast of Sandy Hook. The ship was burning
signals Of distress. and it found that most of
her sails had been blown away She short Of
provisions and many Of her crew ncapaci-
tated from work by the cold and hardshps which
they had been through. Mr.. Beebe was in a ter
ribe condition from exposure and was ncapaci-
tated for service. The Benlarg was supplied
with provisions and the pilot removed to the
steamer and carried into Baltimore. Mr.. Beebe.
when he arrived here yesterday told the story of
the experiences OF the ship after he boarded her.
The pilots face was swollen, cracked and bleed
Ing from the effects of the intense cold and the
freezing salt water which had dashed over him.
The blizzard struck the Benlarig February l.
The ship. with a cargo Of nitrates. was 120 days
out from Caeta Buena, Chilli. for this port. She
had crew of about forty men, all told. When
the gale struck the ship her captain. Beale.
shortened SAIL putting the vessel under upper and
lower fore and main topsas and lower mizzen-
topsail These sails were blown from the bolt
ropes. and the vessel fell into the trough Of the
great which had arisen.
BROKEN INTO KINDLING WOOD
The yaw was broken into kindling wood and
the bulwarks were stove in
II Intensely cold and the swept the
decks continuously. The waves and the flying
spray covered the ship with ice. and the sailors
moved about at the peril Of their lives. Another
lower mZZentopsail bent. and the ship
again hove to. That sail carried away and
she again fell off with the trough Of the
Her yards were cockbIlled and unmanageable
owing To- the thick ice which covered all her
masts and spars and standing and running rig
glng
All this time the ship diving before the
fury OF the gale. rolling helplessly in the
trough Of the great seas. Days and nights sue
ccedcd each other and no relief came one u
the crew died from consumption just before the
gale struck the Benlarig and while the storm was
raging another man died. Both were buried at
sea amid the war OF the elements. The sailors
and the apprentice boys were one by one obliged
t. give up work and creep into the forecastle
They were covered with saltwater blisters ana
their hands and faces were terribly swollen.
cracked and bleeding from fros'b,e. while their
bodies were exhausted from exposure and work
SAILS COULD NOT STAND
Every effort was made to get sail on the ship.
4 irysall which WAS get was blown TO pieces at
once other storm sails set. but most of
them we're blown away soon as they were bent.
The focd on board began 10 run short and the
crew were placed IN half railons Then the al
lowancc WAS siill further reduced Finally after
fourteen days. the steamer Rossmore. Captain
Croskery. from Liverpool for Baltimore. came
along The weather hAI moderated when the
Rossm0re sighted the Benlarg Supplies for ten
DAYS were pJt On board the ship.
Excepting the loss ~ her sails, the Benlarg
was unlnjured She had still enough sail left
her captain thought. - get t. port and so he re-
fused other assistance than the provisions When
the pilot lrN thc ship and went on board the
RUssmore. sixteen men ani SIX boys were lying
sick in the forecast from the effects ot their ter
rlb,e experience The captain 81 the steamer Of
ferei T. take them on board his vessel and carry
them - port. but they refused to leave their ship
one 4 the sailors Richard C0nnors. slipped on
Ia. deck IL The Bcnlarig while the storm was rag
Ing and broke his leg The third mate, Spnder
II the ship Was badly frostbItten. Mr.. Beebe
said there was one small stove I'm the cabin and
that the fprccastlc WAS Ike an iceboX. The Ben
larig is now probably making her way slowly
toward Sandy Hook \ tug went out In search OF
her yesterday.
The Bcnlarig is a ship of 1852 tons register. ana
is owned by Watson x Bros. OF Dumbarton' scot