The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1897-04-01
Loss OF THE ANDROSA


Terrible Tale of Suffering on
the Stormy Atlantic.
HEROIC STRUGGLES OF THE CREW
The Androsa Was Valued at ee5. 900
and Carried Valuable Cargo
From This Coast.
Boston, March 26.-The steamer On
tario, which arrived here from London
today, brought into port twenty-seven
men, comprising the crew of the Brit
ish ship Androsa. Captain Moran, which
was abandoned at sea March 8, 800
miles west of Falmouth, England. Tho
Androsa left San Francisco in October
for London. She sprung leak in
furious storm, became unmanageable
and was abandoned. The greater num-
Der OF the rescued men were well-nigh
helpless from exhaustion when taken
from the Androsa, and they had been
working the pumps and jettisoning the
cargo for many days and nights with
out intermission. Several times during
the battle with the elements men
dropped from their places and were
carried below by their comrades, and
after resting they would drag them
selves to the deck to again engage in
the work, even though in some cases
they could not get upon their feet, and
worked while on their knees.
After the rescue of the men they had
to be put to bed on the steamer, but
they are now fairly we'll, and will prob
ably be returned to Liverpool by steam
er this week by the British consul.
When last seen the Androsa was fast
sinking, preparatory to taking her final
plunge to the bottom. The lost vessel
was an iron ship of 1892 tons net, built
by Oswold, Mordaunt & Co., of South
ampton, in 1881, and was owned by
E. F. & E. w. Roberts, of Liverpool.
She was valued at about e25, 600, and is
said to be nearly covered by insurance
in English companies, while American
companies have large policies on the
cargo, consisting of about 900 tons of
grain, and a large quantity of canned
salmon, canned fruits, California wine
and tallow. The cargo was said to be
the most valuable that had left San
Francisco during that year, and while
the exact valuation is not known, it is
estimated it would reach the hundreds
of thousands.
Captain Morgan says that after the
Androsa left San Francisco she encoun-
tered only ordinary weather until De-
cember Ii, when to the westward of
Cape Horn the first serious storm oc-
Cured. In this storm the cargo shift
ed, and the vessel hove down on her
beam ends, and for some hours her
main and foreyards were dragging in
the water. Said Captain Morgan:
1--WE were favored with good weather
for the next seven weeks, and made
rapid progress toward our destination.
On March l, however, came the disaster.
When the ship was within 400 miles
of Cork, Ireland, strong westerly gales
set in, accompanied by westerly sea.
The wind steadily increased in fury
until, on March 2, it was blowing a
hurricane, the sea becoming more and
more frightful. The barometer reached
the low mark of 80. 80, indicating a
continued spell of bad weather.
"That afternoon the fore lower-main-
topsail was blown to pieces, and shortly
after a mountainous wave swept the
ship. bursting the poopdeck, carrying
away the three lifeboats and skids from
the forward house and all the mOvables
on deck. The bulwarks were swept
away, all the plates torn off and the
huge volume of water had hardly swept
over us when all the topmasts went by
the board. We began jettisoning cargo
to keep afloat. When the wave struck
the vessel the second time, David Evans,
was jammed under the poop, and his
back SO severely strained that we re-
moved him in helpless condition to
his berth, where he suffered intensely
for some days.
"All that night the men were engaged
in throwing over boxes OF salmon to
tighten the vessel. They worked in
cessantly, without food or drink, until
the next day, when the weather mod
Grated a little, but still blew bad gale.
On the morning of the Sd we sounded
the pumps, and found eight feet OF
water in the hold. It was then discov-
cred that the ship was leaking in the
after part. When the leak was discov-
cred we fastened the crew to the pumps
with bowlines around each man, and,
al only the weather handle of the pump
could be utilized, we attached . bell
rope to the handle, SO more OF the men
could work at once. Part of the crew
continued jettisoning, and, being I'M
able to leave their work for fear the
vessel would founder under them, they
had no nourishment for two days and
nights. It was then that ! succeeded
in bringing some biscuit and canned
meat and water to the men. Most OF
them suffered terribly from swollen
feet. which became four times their
normal size. After awhile some OF
them were unable to bear their weight
upon their feet, and had to be carried
to their berths.
s.That night the storm increased, and
blew furiously until the morning Of the
nth. On Sunday, March Z, the weather
again moderated. and blew moderate
cele until the 9Th, when we were res
cued by the Ontario.
-. nsnner 20 Cabinet Members.