Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1899-02-25
BULGARIA'S SURVIVORS.
-Four Members Of the Grew Landed
at Baltimore.
THE STORY OF THE DISASTER.
The Second ONCE ofthe Doomed yes-
sci, Who with Thre Otherswas Res
cucd by the yfttoria, Believes That a

yittoria, Captain Wetherell, arrived yes
terday from. HUI, via Hampton Roads.
with four Of the crew OF the foundered
Hambnrg-American liner Bulgaria. The
rescued mariners are Second Mate O.
Scharges, Quartermasters Carl Ludtke
and John Schulz and Seaman William
Starke. They were picked up by the
Vittoria from an open boat of the Bull
garia three and a half hours after they
had been cast adrift in latitude 40 n.
longitude 43 w, on Feb. 8.
These, with the % women and chill
dren who were picked up by the tank
steamer Weehawken and landed in
Ponta Delgada, Azore islands, a week
ago, are all that have been heard from
Of the crew of SO men and Al passengers
which the Bulgaria had aboard when she
sailed from New York for Bremen or
Jan. Is. Captain Wetherell said that he
sighted the Bulgaria in a disabled con-
dition at Z a. m. Feb. 3, flags flying, and
the tank steamer Weehawken standing
by and communicating with her. There
was q heavy sea on, and his vessel drift
ed away from the disabled craft, but he
steamed toward her and again steamed
toward her and again located her. He
saw the men aboard the crippled vessel
attempt TO lower a boat, and just as
-four of them got into it it broke loose
from the steamer and drifted away. The
four men made an effort to row back
to the Bulgaria, but could not approach
her on account of the high seas. The
Nittoria was preparing to lower a boat
to go to the assistance of those on the
Bulgaria when the four men came along
side. After considerable difficulty they
were taken aboard.
During a lull the second officer of the
Bulgaria, accompanied by six of the
crew of the Nittoria, manned the boat
just vacated and started for the sinking
steamer. They were scarcely away from
the side of the Nittoria, however, before
another gale began, and the brave fell
lows, not being able to reach the Bull
garia, found it impossible to return to
the Vittoria until several hours had pass
ed. Captain Wetherell would not aban-
don hope of being of assistance to those
on board the illfated vessel, and remain
cd in sight OF her until nightfall, when
a perfect hurricane arose and carried the
waiting ship miles away. In the morn
ing the Bulgaria was not to be seen.
| Lite SlOTy VI int cADtlltHttS VI ~
Bulgaria and her passengers and crew,
as told by Second Officer Scharges is 4
thrilling one. He said:
"On Feb. /. at about 8 D.. M, a hur-
| ricane of so severe a nature was en-
~countered that it was found impossible
to make any Roadway, and at 2 a. m.
the following day we were forced to
heave to. The flying bridges, both fore
aud oft xrara 90 rpinJ N Vrap aud N
and passengers were afraid to venture
on deck for fear of being swept into the
sea. About Z a. IN. the spring in the
rudder, which is used to break the strain
of heavy seas, collapsed, and soon after
wards the entire steering gear was
washed away.
"Sea after sea swept over us, smash
ing in the doors of the cabin and deck
houses, flooding the main deck, washing
in the awning deck, and creating havoc
and disorder all over the ship. To make
matters worse a hundred horses tina.
were stabbed on the upper forward deck
stampeded, and in their fright made a
wild dash, trampling each other to death.
This state of affairs lasted until all but
20 had been killed or drowned in the
wash of the waves. Then the butcher
of the vessel, with a number of eamen
went into the pen and tried to quiet the
beasts that remained. This failing, as
did also the attempt to force the frenZied
animals overheard, their throats were
cut. The butcher had both his legs
broken, and one of the seamen was badly
injured.
ANY idea that our troubles were
over was soon dispelled when it was
| found that the vessel was leaking. All
the hatch coverings had been blown off,
and before they could be replaced four
of the seven holds filed and all had con
siderable water in them. The cargo next
| shifted, listing the steamer heavily to
port.
For II hours passengers and crew
worked at throwing cargo overheard to
tighten the ship, but it was of little avail.
Inch by inch, foot by foot, the ship set
tied, and as she sunk deeper the wave
washed with greater force and freedom
over her. One wave carried away eight
of the lifeboats from the low lying port
side.
AT 4 o'clock on the morning of the
9th" he continued, 'the order was given
to cali all hands on deck to prepare to
take to the small boats. The water had
flooded the engine room, and four pumps
could not keep ii down. 1t was then up
to the CRATE bars, but the firemen still
managed to keep the fires burning. Each
passenger and seaman was given a life
preserver and the remaining boats were
gotten ready and provisioned. Shortly
after daylight three steamers (the Wee
hawken, Nittoria and Koordistan), one
after another. hove in sight. The Wee
hawken was the first to be of service, as
she sent two boats, in which the % wo-
men and children were placed. These
were landed safely on the Weehawken,
but after that the storm increased in
violence. One of our boats was smashed
and it became almost impossible to lower
another on account of the vessel being
50 far down ON the port side and cor
resrondingly high on the s~tarboard,
where the remaining boats were made
fast. Another attempt was made, ana
one was successfully gotten into the sea.
[ and the three men who were saved
with me jumped into her to take the
80, xrhAn hV sue4n n nfgrtpna aaai.