New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-06-12
LIGHTNING AND FIRE At SEA
SURVIVORS OF THE CARRIE E. LONG
BROUGHT TO PORT.

CORCORAN OF WHAT BEFEI.L THEM AFTER
THE VESSELS OIL TANKS EXPLODED
IN MAYA TEN-MILE swIM-DAN-
GERS FROM SHARKS.
| The steamship Anthem. from Nassau. Bahamas.
arriving here yesterday afternoon brought to port
the six survivors Of the OF the bark Carrie H.
Long the oil-tank vessel whose singular story was
published in The Tribune OF June l.
The Carrie T. Long left Philadelphia on May
for Havana with a cargo of crude petroleum ana
acids on May p. when ten miles west OF Gun
Cay, one of the Bahama group, she ran into an
electrical storm and her cargo exploded the vessel
bursting out into flames fore and aft.
The second mate, Stanley. tod tale yesterday
OF remarkable struggle for life: II was forward
| at p m, giving orders to the men, when suddenly
there was an awful explosion and the matches were
blown off. | did not hear any clap or thunoer ana
do know II the bark struck by lightning.
| knocked insensble for Il Few seconds, Out as
soon as rcgained consciousness ran aft to find
the captain. James Corcoran seaman. was az the
wheel and I saw him taking off his olskins
asked him where the captain was He told me that
the captain and two OF the crew had seized Ire
buoys and jumped overheard. The lfeboat had
been blown almost to bits and among the smoke
and flames tried to get the small boat OH the
deckhouse. We did succeed In getting her into the
water but she badly damaged. Three OF u.s.
Corcoran the steward Mcnamara and myself got
into her hoping keep her afloat and patch ner up
1T was OF no use however. SO | said: Boys, We
must each shift for ourselves. I'm going 10 get
ashore II | can And started of on a desperate
ten-mie swim to Gun Cay. | came across the two
oars Of the small boat which had been lost some
distance astern. These | tied together with strips
torn from my un1ershlrt. and. putting them under
my left arm a. a support, found they Helped me
greatly.
.'When I was within what | conjectured 10 be
aboat four miles from shore | picked up the He
buoy that the captain had gone overheard WITH
but there sign OF him. When WITHIN TWO
miles of shore saw three big sharks. and one of
them actually brushed against my heel and came
ut me- but with the support of the life buoy. coulo
use the oars as some protection Some hours later
I fel, unconscious on the beach about one hundred
wards from the Gun Cay lghtshp.
II Law there for more than an hour. when went
70 the lightshp and got some clothes. Shortly
af,ervard the men were brought of from the wreck
bv the islanders and were taken TO BenIgne, a vi
lagc on the cay and from there to Nassau. Not
James Corcoran. the seaman who at the
wheel told Of his adventures after the explosion
the captain quicker than /, and had it on In a
minute and WAS overheard. When Mate STANLEY
came aft ! lent hand In lowering the small boat.
AM n',r w"'n a. dIT vcTamara We tried 70 yet some
II smoke. We got First Mate Asberg out Of his
wet sal lie had not strength to hold on there so
We lowered grating and get him afoat on
that. hut | think he vas soon washed off The
flrst mast 70 70 was the forcmast which went to
siArbOarl. but hung out boom. being held by
m. wire rigging. the mZzen and main went next
and the bOwsprit began to burn
While all this happening, every and
fhcn Az of tank would explode. and at each
poson expected to sink AZ once. We had tried
- anchor vessel but luckily for us. the chain
,nisng.e,l IN the masts and spars. and this, | be-
.l.ve ~avel our lives We were stu fast to the
ship IN small boat. and the heat intense.
W. hal throw water over one another con-
FINALLY. and our danger was made worse and more
horr.b" hy tho hundreds Of sharks attracted by the
glare OF the flames. How II they did not grab
~ * a wonder for wer. often NOR. than half
under water
Corcoran. spokesman for the survivors. put in
hal no, a crust. they said. The clothes they wore
were given 70 them by the people among whom
they feu at first An OF u.s." said Corcoran.
would Ike TO families again. none OF whom
live In New York.