The San Francisco call., 1897-03-25
LOSS OF
THE SHIP
ANDROSA
Twenty-Seven Seamen Res.
cued From a Sinking
Vessel.
ENCOUNTERED A GALE
ON THE ATLANTIC.
Succor Came When the Crew
Had Given Up Hope of
Rescue.
WORKED AT THE PUMPS UNTIL
EXHAUSTED.
Signals of Distress Unobserved Until
Water Had Covered the
Decks.
Succor Came When the Crew
Had Given Up Hope of
Rescue.
WORKED AT THE PUMPS UNTIL
EXHAUSTED.
Signals of Distress Unobserved Until
Water Had Covered the
Decks.

BOSTON. MASS, March 24.-Twenty-
seven happy men arrived in Boston har-
Dor to-day, glad that they were still in the
land of the living. They were the rescued
crew of the ship Androsa, bound from
San Francisco to Liverpool, and to Cap
tain Wise of the Wilson line steamer On
tario they owe their lives.
1t was thrilling tale of terrific storm,
of terrible su fferings and of brave res
cue. from impending death that the sur
vivors told to a CALL correspondent to-
day. The dismantled ship was sighted
about 800 miles from their port. They
had been out 127 days on the voyage. The
Androsa carried the most valuable cargo
sent from San Francisco last year.
A hurricane struck the vessel on
March 2. 1t tore through the rigging,
stripped the yards and created havoc
generally. Then the hull sprung a leak
and for six days the seamen worked the
pumps for their lives. They kept the
water down pretty well until March 6,
when it began to gain at an alarming rate.
The pumps got clogged with grain, and
the faces OF the men blanched with fear
They did not know how much longer they
could keep the ship afoat, but they kept
at it. Signals of distress were displayed,
but for almost week they were unob-
served. and hope almost deserted the un-
fortunate sailors.
Finally the water arose to such extent
in the hold that the crew was forced to
leave the deck. which was soon awash
The seamen took to the rigging. Their
dying hope was revived and their Joy was
indescribabIe when they saw the steamer
Ontario approaching. Their distress sig
Halz had been seen aud just in time. One
of the Ontario's boats was lowered, and
the Androsa's men were taken aboard.
After the rescue storm followed storm
until the good ship arrived in port this
morning. The iogbook of the Ontario
shows that the passage must have been
bad one, for the steamer left London on
march l. The shipwrecked sailors were
in horrible condition. Their hands and
feet had become swollen, and they could
not get their boots off their feet.
1T was as fine piece of work as l ever
saw in my life," said Captain Wise to
CALL correspondent. referring to the res
cue. !"We expected every minute to see
the boat overturned. The sea was growing
worse every minute. The waves were
mountain high, and we lost sight of the
boat between seas. Hurricane followed
hurricane SO fast that we could hardly
keep track of them"
Captain Morgan of the lost vessel said
TO a CALL correspondent: when the
leak was discovered we fastened the crew
to the pumps with bow lines around each
man, and as only The weather handle of
pump could be utilized we attached bell
10 %b.4
could work at once. A part of the crew
continued iettisoning the cargo, and, be-
ing unable to leave their work for fear the
vessel would founder, they had no nour-
ishment for two days and nights. The
men were fast becoming helpless. Their
feet were swollen to double their normal
size, and some were unable to bear their
weight upon them.
''As soon as the men became to ex-
hausted to work the pumps they were
lifteo below and given nourishment, and
upon their recovering sufficiently were
lifted back to their position at the pun ps,
as they were unable to stand on their feet.
It became question of a few hours when
the vessel would founder, as it was rap.
idly sinking and the weak efforts of the
crew at the pumps seemed TO have no
effect in keeping the water down. The
Ontario came just In the nick of time"
The names OF the rescued are: Captain
David Morgan, First Mate William Eli
son, Second Mate David Evans, Boat
swain Hans Olenavens, Steward w. Tenia-
. son and Seamcn 6. A. Tillman. II. M-yer,
c. StuyvessoE, A. NJ. Stafsudd, F. Hud-
son, c. Johnson, G. Broadley, c. Rowland.
C. Larson, r. Bought, HI. Mathieson, ].
Clarke, J. Harrington, o. Carlson, V. An
derson, J. Westling, Charles Stronstad,
Philip Griffeth, Fred Thomas, Edward D.
Gee and Fl. Bucker.
.Balfour, Guthrie Il Co., the commission
merchants on California street, were the
agents of the Androsa. Tne vessel was
laden with q miscellaneous cargo mostly
ary goods. It's owners were E. T. and +.
W. Roberts OF Liverpool, where it was
built lis gross tonnage was 1892 tons.
The Androsa was one of the stanchest
ships that came 10 this port and Captain
Morgan is known as most careful ma
inner.
4 Case OF the Plague at SNex.
NEW YORK, March 24-Health Officer
I. al frnr ha