The morning news., 1897-03-29
SIXTEEN SAVED FROM THE SEA
The YANARIVA FINDS A BOAT FROM
THE ST. NAZAIRE.

sure BefOre the 1anRrtNn move
in Sight-Thc Rescue Made on
March 1S-Pitiable Spectacle Pre-
sented by the Survivors.
Greenock, March 2S.-The report that the
steamer Yanarva, a British tramp vessel
from Newport News for Glasgow, had
picked up some of the survivors of the
foundered French steamer st. Nazaire.
turns out to have been correct. The Yana-
riva arrived here to-day and at once re-
ported that she had rescued sixteen of
those who had been on the Inflated steam
er and who had taken to a small boat just
before the st. Nazaire went down off
Cape Hatteras during heavy gale
The lookout on the Yanariva sighted a
small boat some distance from her display
ing signal of distress. She bore down TO
the boat, and soon had the survivors on
board, where everything possible was
done for their comfort.
AS soon as the rescued people were able
to give the details of the disaster that had
befallen the ST. Nazaire, they told story
that agreed in all its material details with
the report of the foundering of the steam
er cabled here from the United States.
The boat which the Yauariva picked up
had contained twenty-nine persons, but
when the steamer sighted it there were
only sixteen persons alive in it, the others
having died from the effects of exposure
and hunger.
The survivors were exhausted when they
were rescued. and If the Yanariva had
not seen their boat they would have all
been drowned in short time. The Yana-
riva saw nothing of the other boats which
left the St. Nazaire
Capt. Weston, the master of the Yana-
riva, modestly tells very graphic story
of the rescue. He says that on March IS,
eight days after he left Newport News,
it was reported to him that a dark object,
apparently flying a signal of distress, could
be seen some distance off. He at once
scrutinized the object through a marine
glass and thought he saw living persons in
boat. He at once gave orders to the man
at the wheel to change the course of the
steamer so that she would run down to
the windward of the boat. When the va
nariya appfoached the boat it was seen
that there were sixteen persons in her.
The weather was rough and it was a del
icate task to bring the boat under the lee
of the steamer. Those In the boat could
render almost no assistance in effecting
their own rescue. Finally, despite the
rough sea, the boat was brought alongside
and lines were thrown to those in her and
they were hauled on board.
The survivors presented a most pitiable
| spectacle. Their faces were wan and hag-
| gard, their eyes were bulging from their
sockets and their scant clothing hung
about them in loose folds. All were in a
condition of the greatest exhaustion, and
were unable to stand when they reached
the deck of the Yanariva.
Two of the number had lost their reason
| from the terrible sufferings they had en-
dured and they had to be restrained by
the men of the steamer.
The boat had left the st. Nazaire in
such haste that she had not been proper
ly provisioned. There was only a small
tin of biscuits aboard of her, and this. 1t
is believed. was part of the stores sup
| posed to be kept in the llfe-boats for use
| in just such a contingency as had occur
red.
After three days of the best care possi-
BILE to give the rescued people with the
meager facilities of the steamer, all of
them were able to partake of solid food.
Thereafter they progressed favorably, but
have not yet fully recovered from the ef-
fects of their terrible experience.
The survivors are:
Pierre Nicolai second captain.
German Giraud, second engineer.
p. Iaurenzetti, third engineer.
All the above belong in Marseilles.
Nicolas Sauvenel of Cuba, passenger.
! Twelve sailors belonging to Martinique.
In an interview with one of the officers
he described the capsizIng or smashing of
the boats when they were attempting to
leave the St. Nazaire. When the boat
in which the survivors we're found was
launched, Second Captain Nicolai took
command of her. The weather was ex-
tremeIy rough and continued so for several
days. sail was rugged, and Capt Nj
colai managed to keep her running dead
before the wind This, though danger
ous vancouver, was the only thing possible
TO do under the circumstances, as to have
kent the boat on any other point Of sail
ing would have resulted in her being
swamped. As 1t was, the combing seas
so.lowed close up on the stern Of the
boat and every moment threatened to
hroai, aboard and fill her. The water con-
s,ontly poured over the gunwales, and
o,,erv soul In the boat was drenched to
thc slin. The water was bailed out with
cans and this exercise undoubtedly saved
NE lives of some of the hapless men, for
otherwlse they might have frozen to death.
The salt encrusted ON their faces and
| Lands and caused much pain.
rhe audiences with which II was nee
eesarv TO abandon the st. Nazaire pre-
vented any attempt being made to put a
| snnnlv OF water In the boat. Some Of the
,,cn Svithstood the tortures OF thirst as
iono as Il was possible for human nature
to 20 so Then. maddened by the torture
| 10 which they we're subjected, they drank
| sea water. Their agony was then worse
| than ever, and In a short time they went
mad and Jumped into the sea. The strong
est of the men refrained from putting the