Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1897-02-14
HORRORS OF THE OCEAN
Related by Eight Shipwrecked
Seamen,
WHO ARE NOW IN THIS CITY
They Are Part of the Crew of the Inflated
Bark Schmidt Which Foun-
dered in January.

Early in January the press dispatches
its cargo and all on board This inform
alton proved to a certain extent, errone-
Gus when eight of her crew appeared in
this city yesterday afternoon on their
way to Baltimore from Pensacola.
The bark was originally a freight
steamer. but had been rebuilt as a three
masted vessel and rechristened Schmidt.
1t was owend by Meyer & Hobuhr, of
Hamburg. A successful trip had been
made from Hamburg to Mpndunda, Chill,
and there a cargo was taken on, and on
the 9th Of December last the Schmidt set
sail on her return voyage.
On board as cargo were 1900 tons of
saltpetre. and the crew consisted OF thlr-
teen men. including the captain first
mate. cook, carpenter and common sail
orS.
When a few days out, Capt. Connie
died on board of consumption and his
body was buried at sea. First Mate
Schrader assumed command, and fair
trip was had for the following twenty
six days On the twenty-seventh day
the weather began to get rough and In
creased in violence with the succeeding
days.
About the I'd of January, a terrible
storm broke, which lasted five long,
weary Gays ana nights, anu resulted III
the loss of the bark, her cargo and five
of her crew. On the first day the waves
rolled mountain high and dark, ominous
clouds hung heavy above, with an ever
increasing fercely blowing wind. Inc
boWSDrit disappeared the first night ana
the mainmast followed on the second day.
AS the mainmast descended it struck the
carpenter, Scholtz, on the head, DANGER
ously injuring him. AT the same time the
bark sprung leak, and battle Tor Ire
r1aa,, MI
to no avail as the Loose saltpetre began
to gradually absorb the water, and with
the increasing weight of the wet cargo
the bark began to steadily settle towards
the bottom.
on the third and fourth days the
kitchen house and life boats were washed
overheard and as the latter disappeared
benea tn abe raging waters the sturdy sea-
men resigned themselves to their fate and
expected TO meet watery graves in I'M
known waters. At the same time the
rudder was broken and the bark drifted
helplessly around a the mercy OF the
storm capped waves.
The last night was filled with terrors
for the worn out seamen, as they saw
their companions one by one swept over
board and carried away on the top OF
mountainous wave the next moment TO
disappear in an unknown grave beneath
the troublous waters. The injured car
penter was the first to be swept away and
his dying prayer awoke no echoes as the
-tse9
storm was at its height.
Several sailors were lifted by the wind
and fed to the waves in quick succession.
The last man lost was Acting Captain
Schra der who regardless of personal
danger, went around his men uttering
words Of cheer and predicting the de-
llverance he could not live to see. He had
released his hold and started to another
part of the deck when the bark gave
lurch a mountain of water poured over
the deck and the brave seaman was seen
no more AS the remaining sailors real
lied their less many of them shed manly
tears over the fate of their unfortunte
fellow mates.
The scenes of their early childhood, the
faces Of the dear ones a home whom they
should never greet again and every little
action Of their lives presented themselves
in rapid succession and with God help
us" the poor seamen prepared themselves
for their appearance at the throne OF Him
who doth all things we'll.
But see. a ship! Though the storm still
ragged and the bark was slowly sinking,
the sailors became embued with hope as
the great hulk of a steamer appeared in
the distance. Oh, joyl they are seem but,
alas, in two hours 1t will be too late.
Again their efforts were redoubled TO keep
the battered old bark riding the waves
as the steamer drew slowly nearer.
She came closer and closer and at last
boats We're launched and sent to relieve
the almost exhausted crew of the
wrecked bark.
Successfully they were removed and
taken aboard the good steamer Spring
vile where outraged nature, the strain
being relaxed, gave way to peaceful OBJ
livion There in their dreams the res
cued crew again passed through the hor-
rors of the past five days and awoke to
find themselves safe ON board another
boat.
AS the Springville turned again on her
course the battered hulk of the bark
rose with a gigantic wave and then shot