New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-03
A RESCUE IN MIDOCEAN.
LA BOURGOGNE RESPONDS TO DISTRESS
SIGNALS FROM THE ERNST.

GERMAN BARK IN THE LIFEBoATs OF THE
FRENCH LINER-A NEWFOUNDLAND DOG
LEFT TO SINK WITH THE SHIP.
On the French Line steamship La Bourgogne.
which arrived here yesterday morning from
Havre. were Captain Ahrens and eleven OF the
crew Of the German bark Ernst. which was de-
serted, waterlogged and sinking in midocean. On
July %. in latitude 1851. longitude 32:15, about
a. m. while steaming rapidly for this port.
Captain Leboeuf. OF the French steamship.
sighted vessel flying signals Of distress few
miles of his port bow. The captain altered his
course. bore down to the disabled vessel and hove
to about 200 yards to the leeward OF her. Sig
nails were exchanged between the two vessels.
and Captain Ahrens. of the Ernst. said that his
vessel was sinking and he wanted 10 be taken on.
A heavy sea was running, a moderate gale had
been blowing for several days and II was not easy
to accommodate the skipper CAPTAIN Leboeuf
ordered two Of the port feboats lowered to take
the sailors from the wreck. The Ernst was ly-
ng-to under lower topsails and laboring neaVliy
First officer Motay. Of La Bourgogne had been
i'll for several days but when Captain Leboeuf
ordered the boats to be cleared away he ap.
peared on deck and declared II was his duty to
command the first boat. With five seamen he
entered the lifeboat. AS IL was being lowered
tremendous wave struck it and threw out Motay
and two of the seamen.
Third officer Rempler and six men were being
lowered in the second boat. and when they struck
the water they made 10 the rescue or their COM
napions who were struggling in the water and
being carried rapidly astern With great diin-
Guilty they were dragged aboard the second life
boat little the worse for their mishap The two
boats then proceeded to the sinking bark. which
l.I
of the high sea The skipper and six men were
taken off in safety but five Of the crew VINO BE-
came impatient at the delay. jumped overheard
and tried to make their way 10 the lifeboats
They were rescued after considerable trouble.
much battered and bruised.
The only living thing left on the bark was Q
big Newfoundland dog. the property OF tho
skipper, and great pet of the crew. The poor
brute appeared to realize his fate and he howled
dsmally as the two boats rowed away, leaving
him as skipper and crew Of the water-logged ana
doomed craft 1t cost Captain Ahrens many
pang TO leave his favorite, but the crews OF the
nfeboats declared that the dog would certainly
swamp the boat II he taken on, and that ne
must be left on the bark. The men realized their
danger and could only acquiesce In the decision
OF La Bourgogne's sailors. The last seen or the
Newfoundland he standing in the bow Win
his fOrepaWs on the rail and emitting at lnterVe4o
prolonged howls as he gazed with his great eyes
at his former companions. who were then de-
serting him
The passengers La Bourgogne were all On
deck when the shipwrecked mariners drew along:
side and welcomed them with hearty cheers ans
hand clappings The liner lay hove-to FOR FOUR
hours and although her officers growled at the
delay and muttered strange-soundlng frehcn SEA
oaths the passengers enjoyed the break In the
rnonotony Of the voyage and X furnished the
subject for conversation until port was reached.
The abandoned vessel left Caernamon Nortn
Wales on June 20. in ballast for Shediac. ~ b..
and she swept along under bellying sails before
fair winds until July 70 having then completed
nearly half her voyage Then the bark ran into
2 succession of heavy westerly gales and high
seas. which caused her to labor and plunge until
the continuous straining sprung a leak. The
Ernst carried windmill pump and two hand
pumps The former was started and the men
put at the hand pumps. but after forty-eight
hours Of incessant labor 1t was found that their
work was of no avail and that the water was
gaining on them rapidly. One of the pumps
gave out and when soundings were made II was
found that ther were ten feet or water In the
hold.
Captain Ahrens decided that "the Jig was up"
He set distress signals and ordered sharp look
out kept for passing sail. The men strained
their eyes in vain until the French steamship
came in sight, and their signals were answered.
The bark then badly down by the head and
showed all the evidences of preparing to take her
final plunge to the bottom of the sea When
taken aboard the steamship the men had little
with them beside the skppers instruments and
the clothes they stood in The shipwrecked
sailors will apply to the German Consul to-day
for assistance. and will probably be sent homo
by him.
The German bark Ernst was built in Quebec IN
1866 and practically rebuilt several years
ago. She was l65 feet long. 81 feet beam, ~
feet depth and 600 tons. She owned by q.
Kinder and her hang port was Rostock. Ger
many. Those aboard La Bourgogne do not be.
lieve that the bark remained afoat long after
she deserted by her crew.