The San Francisco call., 1897-03-22
Thrilling Experience of the
T. F. 0akes, Given Up
as Lost.
Scurvy.Stricken Survivors Of the
Crew Picked Up After
Many Perils.
Hetoism of the Captains Wife and of
the ReScuing British Sea.
men

q QUARANTINE. n. Y, March 1.-THE
long overdue ship, T. T. Oakes, which
left Hongkong July 4 249 days ago, with
a general cargo for this port and which
was given up as lost, was towed into port
this morning by the British tank steamer
Kasbek, Captain Muller, who picked her
up last Thursday in latitude IS 10, longi-
tude 90 A.
The Kasbek was bound from Philadel.
phla for Fiume, Austria, with cargo of
oil and lett the former port on Saturday,
March Is. On the following evening at IL
o'clock blue lights were seen, and Cap
tain Muller ordered the steamers course
altered and bore up for the distress sig
nails. AT O'Clock she was close alongside
the ship and stood by until daylight
when signals were observed flying from
the ship asking that q boat be sent along
side as the ships crew were so disa bled as
10 be unable to man their own boats.
Chief Officer G. P. Holman and three
seamen at once put off in the Kas bek's
yawl and when within speaking distance
heard tale of suffering and sickness from
those on board the ship such as made
them shudder.
Captain Reed of the Oakes reported that
his crew were all laid up with scurvy and
that the provisions were well-nigh ex-
hausted. He was unable to navigate the
ship with the hands at his command and
begged that he be at once supplied with
fresh food and vegetables and taken in
tow for the nearest port. The boat re-
turned TO the Kasbek with the message
and Captain Muller q { once dec ded 10 take
the vessel in tow. The weather, which
had been threatening, now became bois-
ferrous, and 9 northerly gale sprang up.
Nevertheless, preparations were made TO
pass hawser to the Oakes. At the same
time boat-load of provisions was sent. a
manila hawser was paid out OF the Kas-
bek's stern to the yawl, but tremendous
wave washed it into he propeller, which
was turning slowly at the time. but before
the engines could be stopped the screw
was so entangled that it stopped suddenly
and all the power of the engines was not
sufficient to move it.
An effort was at once made to free the
screw, but as it was so deeply submerged
and the sea running so high il was found
to be impossible. For eight hours the en-
gIneer's staff iabored to release the pro-
peller, and finally disconnected the shaft
OF wood between the couplings the screw
could be made % turn BY that time the
Oakes had drifted out of sight, and Cap
tain Muller, departing OF being able to
tow her with her dIsa bled screw, deter
mined to find her and supply her with
provisions. All night he searched the
horizon for traces OF her, and at 6 P. NJ.
Tuesday morning she was again sighted.
The sea was boisterous at the time, but
Chief Officer HOFFMAN again volunteered
TO attempt 10 board her, and as the en-
gineers reported the propeller to be work
ing we'll it was decided to send a hawser
aboard. Accordingly line was dragged
near the boat, and, after good deal of
hard work, two hawsers were made fast,
Mr.. Holman and his brave crew ef three
doing the work. only V the second and third
mates being able to help them.
The provisions were godsend to the
scurvy-stricken survivors, and they began
to gather hope that they might again see
land. From last Thursday morning,
when the hawser was passed aboard.
until the Sandy Hook bar was reached at
Z o. clock last evening, no incident of i'm
portance occurred. The Oakes was
anchored on the bar, and again taken in
tow this morning.
Captain Reed of the Oakes when in
terviewed a. Quarantine on his arrival
this morning. told story of sufferins aud
privation. The Oakes left Shanghai on
the 17tn of last Nav, and after conplet-
ing her cargo at Hongkong sailed from
that port on July 4. The crew were ap-
parenTly in the best of heal b with the ex-
ception of Captain Reed, who had been
ailing for some time, but who. under the
careful nursing of his wife, thought him.
self on the high road to recovery.
When six days out in the China Sea. a
. terrific typhoon was encountered, lasting
several days, during which the fore AID
main topmasts were sprung. The vessel
was Obliged to run before the gale, which
had no sooner blown itself out than it was
followed ny a second typhoon which blew
with great fury for twenty-four days. The
vessel was now well out in the North
Pacific, and so far off her course that
Captain Reed decided TO shape his course
via Cape Horn rather thar by the Cape of
Good Hope, hoping thereby to make better
time. The weather re NAMED fine, nothing
but light airs and Gains being experienced
until Cape Horn was rounded, 167 days
out.
In the meantime, the Chinese cook had
been taken down with a severe cold and
died on November II. Afterward sea-
man named Thomas King was taken down
with what appeared 10 be scurYy, and
died Decem ber 20.
In quick succession Seamen THOMAS
Olsen was taken Ill and died January II.
taken i'll with cancer of the stomach, and
later Mate Stephen G. Bunker showed
symptoms Of scurvy. The latter died Feb
ruary 4, and was quickly followed by
George King, an old man, who died on the
8th. On the 18th Judge succumbed, max
ing in ali six deaths
One by one the other sailors were Obliged
TO quit work, until on March l nobody
was left except the second and third
mates.
The captain and his wife were ex-
nausted and when strong northerly gale
sprung up OH that day, the brave woman
was Obliged 10 take the wheel for eight
hours without relief, and without as much
as drink of water she kept the ship on
her course. The provisions were running
short, although supply had been OBJ
tanned on january 17'from the American
ship Governor Robie. from New York for
Melbourne, when off the Island OF Trini-
dad. and the crew were left without other
tharthe barest necessities. q sharp look
out was kept for passing vessels. but MOTH
in was seen until the Kasbek hove in
sight.
Elections for Italian Deputies.
w.