New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-16
m7T IN TWO BY THE EMS.
s,y OF THE GYPSUM PRINCESS CREW
LOST IN A COLLISION.


u,rH THE SHIP THAT WAS THEIR HOME
rut, LINER CONSIDERABLY DAMAGED.
,r,a North German Lloyd steamer Ems which
..r,ved here yesterday brought in six survivors
:, ,be crew of the schooner Gypsum Princess
rho other members Of the crew, including the
a"..o,n and his entire family, with the excep-
.,or Of a daughter living In Brooklyn. were
s.oy,ed. The Ems. which was In collision with
.to schooner on Tuesday night near Nantucket
,,oht had n narrow escape az she has large
80 IN her port bow and Will have to go into
srvdock for repairs.
THE LOST.
Those who were lost from the Gypsum Princess
were:
c.o,a,n DAVID MERRIAM.
Mrs MERRIAM.
rDcAR MERRIAM frs, and son Of the captain
Two children OF the captan-vERA. aged fourteen and
Murray Ave years old.
SANFORD MURRAY. cook.
THE RESCUED.
WILLIAM FITZ. seaman.
BERNARD HANSEN. seaman
ALFRED JOHANNESEN. seaman
FULTON LAKE second mate.
CHURCHILL. PARKER. seaman.
EDWARD POLSEN. seaman leg broken
The captain and his son. the first mate, lost
their lives In attempting TO save the wife and
mother as well as the children who were afraid
70 lump into the small boat which had been
lowered from the stern Of the sinking vessel
Those who were saved made their escape by
climbing into the rigging and from there jump
ing 70 the deck Of the liner. Fog had prevailed
for at least twenty four hours previous to the
collision. and the schooner's speed had been re-
duced one-half. The fog had increased on Tues
day night. and the lookouts could not see ffty
wards ahead OF the vessel. 1t was at p. m.
when the Gypsum Princess sighted, and be-
fore the engines could be reversed the Ems had
cut the unfortunate vessel completely In two,
and some Of the men were thrown her deck.
The schooner sank almost Immediately.
The sinking Of this schooner Is probably one
OF the most pathetic tales Of recent years as
It caused the drowning Of almost an entire fam
ily Captain Merriam was one Of the oldest of
the coasting captains and for thirty years had
handled vessels going from one port to another
along the North Atlantic coast For the last
eight years he had had command of the Gyp
sum Princess with the same crew on all voy-
ages His family lived with him on the vessel,
and II was to all intents and purposes their
home.
AS SEEN ON THE GYPSUM PRINCESS.
From the stories told by the schooner's sur
yvors the following Is the account Of the acct
dent as seen by the men on the Gypsum Prin-
cess:
The schooner had experienced heavy fog for
three days previous to the collision Mrs. Mer-
riam had been i'll during this period and was
confined TO her cabin. At o'clock on that night
Captain Merriam had sent the little boy and
girl below to so to bed. and he followed them in
a short time. leaving his son Bdgar standing
on the loop. Bernard Hansen and Churchill
Parker were the lookouts and forward.
Just at o'clock they saw a large steamer on
the port bow, and Hansen called out, Steamer
on our port bow" Captain Merriam heard the
CITY and rushed UP from the cabin. The Ems
was then close on the schooner and a collision
was Inevitable. The captain saw the danger and
exclaimed "All hands afr but before the men
could be aroused from the forecaste or before
those who were lookout duty could make
their way TO the captain the big liner had
crushed into the schooner just aft Of tho main
mast and cut her completely in two.
With the captain aft were his and Ed
ward Polsen. who was at the wheel The cap
tain his son and Polsen lowered the stern boat
and then the two Merriams went below to bring
UP Mrs. Merriam and the children. They were
soon on the deck of the sinking stern. Polsen
was in the small boat holding IT up to the side
Of the schooner ready TO receive the woman and
children. He had broken his leg In getting over
the side Of the schooner and lowering the boat.
Captain Merriam started to put his fourteen
year-od daughter into ire small boat. but the
little girl said. Papa. 1T is too far; 1 cannot
jump" He then tried to lift her the side
and lower her into the boat. His wife and
were then standing by his side ready to go over
the side with the smaller child. but before they
could lower the child into the small boat the
stern OF the schooner sank. and the entire fam
fly was drowned Poison. who was In the small