The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-15
WRECK OF THE
BARK RIDGWAY.
SUFFERING OF THE CREW OF AN
AMERICAN VESSEL DUR
ING A GALE.
A HEROINE OF THE OCEAN
BRAVE MRS. SJoGREN WATCHED
THE WOUNDED FOR THREE
DAYS AND NIGHTS.

Among the passengers of the steamer
AraWa, which arrived from Sydney yester-
day morning were Captain n. P. Sjogren,
his wife and four seamen, comprising the
survivors of the bark Ridgway, now dis
mantled wreck lying at the mercy of wind
and tide on the rocks Of Bellona Reef.
In the terrible experiences which pre-
coded and followed the abandonment of
the vessel Mrs. Siogren, pleasant little
woman whose clear eyes denote a courage
Gus spirit, proved herself true heroine.
The Sarah Z. Ridgway, a bark af 800
tons burden, owned by ]. Ridgway & Sons
OF Philadelphia and flying the American
colors, left Newcastle on January 1O.bound
for Singapore with cargo of coal. On
January % she struck the path of terri
bic storm and was forced to heave to for
several hours. That afternoon the gale
ragged with great violence and carried away
the goosewing, the lower maintopsail and
the foretopsail, leaving the Inflated bark
scudding along under bare poles, the sea
breaking over her decks.
The next day the wind blew still fiercer
and the heavy seas tore away the mainsail,
wrecked the pilot-house and drenched the
cabins. Both matches were swept away
and the water poured into the hold. Cap
tain Sjogren called to Olsen, the ships
carpenter, to come aft and secure a cover
ing for the main hatch. Olsen attempted
TO obey orders, but Just as he reached the
malnmaSt a mighty wave washed him
overheard. The skipper seized halyard
and threw 1t toward the drowning carpen-
ter, but it failed to reach him. A moment
later another comber swept Henry Barley,
seaman, to his death. An effort to save
him was alike unavailing.
The hurricane increased in violence, and,
owing to the rolling of the bark, orders
were given to cut away the fore and main
topmasts. The sailors bravely responded.
Soon the topmasts fell, and, dragging the
mizzen topmast down, carried away the
bowsprit The rigging of the foretopmast
struck sailor named Olstrup, breaking
his leg and rolling him into the scuppers.
AS he lay there bleeding, brave Mrs. Sjo-
gren and two of the crew went to his res
cue. 1t was dangerous even to be about
the decks, but this did not deter thewoman
from helping the men carry the wounded
man to the cabin. There she did all she
could possibly do to ease his sufferings.
The sea soon claimed another victim.
The mass OF rigging impeded the work of
the seamen, and while the crew were en-
deavoring to cut some of it away the water
rolled over the port rail and carried sea-
man with 1t. Like his mates Albert
Schroeder died within reach of the life
saving line, which the elements prevented
him from grasping. The survivors were
appalled,, but continued their work almost
without hope.
The third day the gale died away for a
few hours, but the sea still ran very high.
In the afternoon cyclone even worse than
the storm they had gone through sprang
up. w hlIe the crew took to the pumps
and worked like beavers, Captain Sjogren
tried to keep the vessel headed to the
windward, but with little success.
In the cabin Mrs. Sjogren was trying to
soothe the unfortunate Olstrup. The
pitching and rolling of the vessel made it
hard for her to keep her feet, but she
steadied herself as best she could and
bravely continued her self-appointed task
The fifth day the storm moderated and
a jury mast was rugged. BY this time the
bark was close on to Bellona Reef, and as
the water was pouring into the hold,
threatening to sink the vessel at any
moment, it was decided to abandon her.
Two boats were lowered. The injured
Olstrup and another disabled sailor were
placed in the one in charge of the captain.
Mrs. Sjogren at once installed herself as
nurse, and during the three days that they
were adrift on the sea she kept a ceaseless
vigil over the wounded.
At last the two boats reached Lady
Elliott Island, where landing was
effected. There the survivors were taken
care of by hospitable people, who gave
them accommodations until they took pas
sage for Sydney, at which port they
boarded the Arawa for this city.