The sun., 1898-12-09
SAVED FROM1E &KS SFURY
Steamer Vedsmore Arrives at
Delaware Breakwater With
Starved Sailors.
WERE GIVEN Up AS LOST
Old Sea Dogs Talk of the Rescue by
Captain Bartlett of FOrty.five
Men Who Never Elk.
pected to See
Land.

LEwEs, Del, Dec. 9.--The rescue at SEA
of forty-fve Of the crew of the wrecked
steamer Londonian, from Boston for
Liverpool, November Is, by the steamer
Vedamore, Captain Bartlett, which ar
rived at Delaware Breakwater this morn
ing, was the star feature of shipping
news to-day. Old sea dogs had given up
expecting to hear from the ill-fated
Londonian, and all believed that her
crew had met a watery grave. The rescue
of even portion OF her crew is regarded
as the sea giving up its dead.
The first intimation that disaster had
overtaken the Londonian was learned
when the British steamer King Arthur
arrived at Liverpool from Demarara on
December 8. She brought the sad news
that on November 20, in lat. 45, long. 16,
she had sighted the Londonian on her
beam ends, her starboard side, decks
and matches under water and all her
boats missing. There was no sign OF life
upon the floating hulk, which was tossed
hither and thither at the mercy Of the
great gale that was then blowing
After making sure that the Londonian
had been abandoned the King Arthur
steamed away. 1t was impossible to
board the sinking craft, for no small
boat could live in the sea that was then
running. Since this news was received
not a word has been learned as to the
probable fate of the crew of eighty-eight
men of the Londonian. No one expected
to hear from them again, as it was not
deemed possible for boat to live
through the terrific tempests that have
recently left ruin and destruction in
their wake. The surprise of shipping
circles can, therefore, well be understood
when the VedamOre steamed into the
Capes with more than half of the Lon
domains crew aboard.
The story of their picking up is a
thrilling one. They were met bv the
Vedamore upon the wild waste Of
oceans waters in open boats after all
hope of rescue had been given up. They
were the hungriest of castaways. All
their provisions had been exhausted.
Death stared them in the face. They
had been buffeted for days by angry
seas, which at every minute threatened
to engulf their frail boats. But by some
miracle they survived.
1t was weary and emaciated body of
men that CaptainBartlett took aboard the
Nedamore, but none more thankful ever
stepped upon friendly deck. They told
heartrending story of their sufferings
and vcissitudes, Disaster had over
taken the Londonian when not many
days from Boston. 1t was during the
height of ali awful gale that the London
ian succumbed to its fury. Great walls
OF water swept her for hours, and vicious
and tempcstnous waves pounded her re-
lentessIy. The seas swept her decks,
broke her rudder and left her helpless.
WheE all hope of the Londonian sur
viving had been abandoned the boats
were gotten ready and launched over the
sides OF the doomed vessel. Into these
the crew got. They took whatever pro-
visions they could, but these were all ex-
hausted when the Nedamore hove in
sight of those she rescued. Just what
has become OF the balance of the Lon
domains crew those picked up by the
Nedamore could not say. Soon after
leaving the doomed ship they parted
company and have not been seen since.
l he rescue by the \edamore, however,
has given rise to the hope that these, too,
will be picked up by some steamer.
Captain Bartlett gave the castaways
the best OF attention when he got them
in his hands. Poor fellows, they needed
it. They were worn down to shadows
from lack of food and from exposure
For even the gallant Vedamore there
has been great anxiety felt for some
time. She was at least six days overdue
But she had spent her time in noble
mission. When Captain Bartlett sighteC
the castaways from the bridge OF his yes
sci he was quick to go to their aid. L
was hazy at the time, but through Tho
mist could be seen distinctly the sigma
of distress flying at the little masthead
OF one of the boats. When the unfortu
mates we've gotten aboard OF the Veda
more and they had revealed their ideD
tity, Captain Bartlett expressed his de
termination of cruising about the vicnit,
in the hope that the remainder of tn
boats would come in sight. Though h
steamed about for hours, none appeared
and he reluctantly gave orders to pre-
ceed on the voyage.