Evening journal., 1897-10-27
AWFUL WRECK IN BAY.
Big Bark Francesca r. Burst
in the Bay.
CREW STRUGGLED HARD FOR LIFE
TWELVE WE'RE FINALLY SAVED
AND REVIVED AT MILFORD.


AND REVIVED AT MILFORD.
MARIAN CASTELLANo BELIEVED
TO HAVE PERISHED.
The Italian bark francesca r., sail
ing from Philadelphia for Oporto,
Portugal, was wrecked in the Delaware
bay, on Monday. and Cap.ain e. Cali
fano and eleven CT his crew and the
pilot, William J. Bennett, arrived in
Philadelphia and had supper about z
o'clock last night. One of the crew,
Marian Castellano, remained by the
vessel, and as she is known to have
gene to pieces he is thought to have
perished, but a passing tug-boat may
have picked him up.
In tow Of the tug Ivanihoe the Fran
cesco r., laden with 1.l86 barre.s and
II, 100 cases Of refined petroleum., valued
respectively az SO SOB and $7,744, sailed
from Point Breeze on the morning of
the 18th instant, and that same night
was anchored to the eastward Of -Four
teen Foot bank. Here the tug left her,
and the bark then awaited a favorable
wind before putting to sea. 1t was
blowing pretty hard at that time.
DRAGGED BOTH ANCHORS.
The bark did not leave her anchorage
until she was struck by the storm on
Sunday. Both anchors were drawn.
Decpite this, she began to drag, the wind
blowing at terrific rate and the waves
ldashing over her fore and aft. The
strain was too great for her cables.
Suddenly, about 1890 O'Clock, one ci
the chains parted, and the vessel was
L ,l.,,s Ct a
the remaining anchor not being abe 70
hold her. On she dragged until the
ether chain snapped about half an
hour later, and then the vessel was at
the mercy of wind and wave.
CARGO BURST HER SIDES.
The vessel not long afterwards was
driven on Joe Flogger shoals to the
westward OF the light, or rather on The
| Delaware side She struck with ire
mendous force. The barrels and cases
of oil were scattered and broke through
the decks of the vessel. Soon all three
masts were lying across the deck.
All around the bark were scattered
the barrels and cases. 1t was seen by
the pilot and captain that the Fran
| cesco II. was doomed and they decided
to abandon her. There was one man
however who would not consent tC
Il this. That was Marian Catellano, {
| seaman. IL meant death, he said, tC
| launch a boat in such a sea.
ABLE SEAMAN FACED DEATH.
There were two boats on board, ant
n it was agreed that six should go in on
and seven in the other. the determined
Castellano still refusing to leave. Th'
\ first boat while being launched, wa
dashed against the side of the bark anC
n broken into kindling wood.
Then the entire thirteen men war
obliged to get into one boat Castel
lano looked on without a murmur
Daylight had appeared when tn
{, small boat started on its perilous tril
, to the Delaware shore, a distance o
! about seven miles.
D TWO MOTHERLY WOMEN.
After a desperate struggle of abou
six hours, little more than mile al
4, hour being made, the almost exhauste
| men reached Mispillion creek light o.
| their fearful trip several barks ha
n been seen at anchor, but even had the
\ launched boats no assistance cOul
y have been rendered the men because c
n the raging seas.
n Pilot Bennett started with the cre'
y to the lighthouse, where they wer
a kindly take care of, especially by tw
n 'motherly looking wcmen.' as the pilC
n put II. The ship-wTecked men, VIII
n had saved nothing but what they wor
n then started on an eight-mile walk
n Milford where a train was taken fc
n | Philadelphia.
N Kindness was shown the men also {
n | Milford some residents of which SUI
n piled them with food. The railroad con
n pany took the men to Philadelphia fire
n of charge.
N Pilot Edwards saws the Francesca O
M his way down on Monday she WI
N pretty we'll under water, and no sig1
n OF the crew could be seen. The tr
N James McCaulley, which arrived at Il
l0l Delaware Breakwater last night, r
N ported that the bark was going
D0l pieces.