The evening times., 1899-09-07
WRECK OF THE PRISCILLA
Graphic Story of How the Barken-
fine Went Down.
Four Lives Lost and Acts of HerOism
Performed-The Mate Dies i'm
Vain Effort TO Save His Mother.
The Captains Son Swept To Death
Before the Eyes of His Father.


Pillsbury and Mr.. John Stewart, jr., have
made report to Messrs. C. Morton Stew
arr d Co on the wrecking of the barken-
tine Priscilla, fifteen miles north of Cape
Hatteras Lighthouse on August II, in
which Mrs. Benjamin E. Springsteen, wife
of the captain of the Priscilla; William
Springsteen and Elmer Springsteen, their
sons, and Fitzhugh L. Goldsborough, aged
fourteen years, were lost. Captain Pills
bury and Mr.. Stewart were sent to the
scene of the wreck to report upon its con-
dition and the condition of the cargo which
had been washed ashore and recovered.
Their report follows:
The Priscilla, as has previously been
told. left Cape Henry for sea Monday af-
ternoon. August II, with a moderate west
northwest wind, steering almost due cast.
Tuesday the winds were battling and light
toward night, going around to the east
ward and increasing in force all that night
and next day. BY Wednesday afternoon
the wind had increased TO the force of a
hurricane, and the Priscilla was unable to
carry any sail. She was hopelessly drift
ing toward land, 124 miles distant. The
waves had attained an enormous height.
but did little damage to the Priscilla, as
Captain Springsteen had Oil continuously
poured over her windward side, and this
kept the waves from breaking, though she
rolled frightfully in the trough of the sea,
and the sailors were unable to get TO the
water casks after p. m. Wednesday af
ternoon until she struck the following day
at 9:l2 p. m.
"All Wednesday night and Thursday
Mrs. Springsteen, her little son and young
Goldsborough, a passenger, were in the
{ q n them l.
ways. The captain was forced TO be on
deck, trying against hope TO keep the YES
sells head to the wind and her decks clear
of broken pieces of timber that the wind
and waves would tear of from the deck
house
AT 9:l2 p. m. Thursday she struck the
outer Wimble Shoals, but lightly, and 10
the relief of all did not break. The cap
tain called the crew aft in the cabin, and
following the advice of the mate, the cap
tains son, they took off their boots and
coats TO be able more easily to swim. Cap
tain Springsteen tod the mate to care for
his wife, the mates mother, and that he
himself would look after little Goldsbor
ough and his own young son.
The rest of the crew promised never 20
leave the vessel while they could be of any
help in saving anyone. and later risked
their lives in trying to save the ones that
Ntit lOsl anu lHt captain lll1SelI.
AT 10 p. m. the Priscilla struck shore
again, that is. the inner Wimble Shoals,
and broke rapidly to pieces, a huge wave
filling the cabin and almost drowning one
OF the sailors. who escaped through one of
the cabin windows. Everyone. however.
managed to reach the stern of the vessel
which was the highest part out of the wa
ter. when a wave struck the captain, his
wife, the mate, his young son and young
Goldsborough, washing them about the
decks in merciless fashion. AT this point
Mrs. Springsteen was washed overheard,
and her son, the mate, went after her. los
ing his life trying 10 save his mother. It
was a noble death
The captains young son was washed
into the cabin, and We trust his death there
was a painless one, as the cabin at this
time began 10 20 to pieces Captain Spring
steen, holding young Goldsborough had
partly reganed his footing when they were
dashed against the rigging and young
GoIdsborough was lost. never once fearing
daaJh. and his love to his mother were the
last words he ever spoke. Captain Spring
steen would have been swept overheard
but for one of the sailors grabbing him by
chance and pulling him on the poop deck,
where they chung for five hours. struggling
against the terrible waves and wind
AT 3:30 Friday morning r. 5. Midget, Of
Gull Shoal United States Life-Saving Sta
ton saw signs of wreckage while patrolling
the beach and soon discovered the after
cabin of the Priscilla, on which were cling
ing the ten surviving members of the crew
more dead than alive. He saved them all.
We cannot attempt 10 describe the heroism
of this man struggling against the force of
a hurricane to save ten men. knowing that
any error on their part meant death for all.
When we asked him about il he simply
said: Il had no time TO think of danger.
gentlemen. | simply did my duty. Ii may
interest YOU TO know that we intend TO
write 10 the Government of the heroism OF
this man. and We trust he will be rewarded
in some fitting way, for are not such deeds
of yaioT TOO seldom done not 10 De no
ticed?
Keeper Pugh and his men, OF the Gull
Shaal Life Saving Station, did all in their
power 10 alleviate the sufferings OF the
wounded. giving them their beds, while
they slept on the floor. There was not
man that did not need the care Of ply
sician. Captain Springsteen, in trying to
save young Goldsborough and his son, re-
ccived terrible wound in his chest and his
lower limbs were badly cut and bruised.
The crew. as you know, returned in fairly
good condition. but the captain, after re-
naming fifteen days at the life-saying sta
ion. still remains very weak. We took
him to the Marine Hospital last Sunday
on our arrival home in Baltimore.
The sale of the cargo. as our sales ac
count shows we think ought 10 prove very
for the underwriters. for new
er has any storm equaled the force or dura-
tion Of this one on the North Carolina
coast The wind blew at times 160 miles
an hour. and the vessel was literally torn
in three pieces and the -four barrels. lard
kegs, rosin barrels, and cottolene cases
were torn into atoms and strewn for dis
tance of ten miles up the coast. We think
the saved cargo was admirably handled by
the United States commissioner.
Before closing we wish 10 call your at
tention to Keeper Pugh, Of the Gull Shoal
Life Saving Station, as We consider he
alone is responsible for Captain SPRING
steens improved condition by his untiring
care, and we further consider his station
one Of the most dangerous on our coast
and never did we more fully realize than
now that in Keeper Pugh the Government
has an officer in whom courage, honesty,
manliness, kindness. and sense of duty
are always paramount.
I'VE did our best to find the dead bodies
but only Mrs. Springsteen and her young
son were found. They are buried on the
shore close to where they lost their lives"
Royal Prize for Singing
NEWARK, n. j., Sept. Through its
president. Maj. Carl Lentz of this citv.
Emperor William, of Germany. has offered
TO the Northeastern Saengerbund of the
United States prize TO be awarded at its
golden jubilee in Brooklyn, from June so TO
July 4 next. inclusive. Just what the prize