Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-04-06
A FIGHT FOR LIFE.
CREW OF "SEABOARD'S" NIGHT
OF HORROR SAVED.

Yesterday afternoon people on the
water front were surprised to see the
old steamer Scaboard, one OF the first
boats of the Old Bay Line, but for
some years out of their service. come
up the harbor and tie UP at Baigh &
sons wharf. She was looking slightly
out OF sorts, had portion of her stern
rail stove, Il hole in her stern near the
water line and Il badly smashed yawi
hanging at the stern, beside other si.rns
OF generally lively time.
y visit to the "old acquaintance" Of
Norfolkians Qfor she used to run from
this port in the early days of the Seq
Doarc ana Roanoke railroad and Bav
Line), showed the outer view 10 be- n
comparatively calm and peaceful ono
captain Ralph Brillcr, her master. had
washed up. as he was obliged TO no
ashore to report. but the crew was dirtv
and Grimy, filled with strange o,ths
ana hungry for food and sleep; and or
ter listening TO their tale of Voc which
was extracted by an amount of hard
pumping" that would have put thci,
boat beyond danger of sinking for :,
year, their appearance was completely
accounted for as we'll as the condition
that went with il.
Ihey were nearly famished, having
been without food, sleep or rest fnr
'hirty-siX hours, and in imminent dan
ger OF laundering. Chief Mate Edward
hciIey-an old siGe-partner of "Dyna-
mite Johnny' O'Brien, and whose life
curing cuban iilibuStering days would
make novel as interesting as auv
Gunter ever wrote-said that r,asday
night. off Currituck, they nracticaliv
mad toss up as to the advisahiliiv nf
taxing 10 me boats or going down with
the vessel. Thcy had left New York
Monday morning, and sprung a leak
iuesoay morning. which leak gained on
them tuesday afternoon; and off cur
rituck that night the frh,
for their lives was a forced
one, ana with all siphons going
and every man bailing and pumping
they barely managed 10 keep the water
out OF the Srate-bars and get into Tho
port under their own steam. Thev nt
one time, decided to abandon the yea.
sci and put the yawi overheard bu,
the waves Knocked il to pieces ana
they then decided that they'd got 10
save the Seaboard to save themselves
Ihey did II. but-tired. well. thar came
near expressing it. Mate Kelley com
pared their trip with "Dvnami,c
Johnny's' experience in taking down
'he Terry boat TO Havana. and said he
con!d now give Johnny" points.
49, " - iADN tAtF1 DGINV. H..
WIND hurricane. but the vessel ,y1s
with cargo of general merchandisr
low in the water, and the trip n irvine,
one to heY. The Seaboard was buIIf N
M, at Wilmington, and is no spring
chickeh among steamers. She Is lindsr
charter TO the Gulf City Coal Corna1v
and bound TO Mobile. Ala She viii re-.
iaiT mere and continue her voyage.
The, schooner Marion Rockhul. Car
'a.h Cramer. in coming up the harbor
yesterday morning. narrowly ayarte1 =
collision in the channel off Sewalrs
Point and to escape il ran ashore on
Craney Island flats. from which she
was pulled at high water by the tu,.
Anna, and towed to the city. The
Rockhill was not damaged at ali.
Nearly every Bay tue in the harbor
pulled out with tow for Baltimore,
PhlladelD a, or other Bay ports las:
,;oht