The times., 1899-01-09
HOW THE cATANIA WAS SAVED.
Azores Reached Under Steam With
C:nyas Tunnels.

New York. Jan. S.-Capt. Charles A.
Furlong, of the American steamship Ca
tania, which reached the Azores last Fri
day as nearly a wreck as she could be
and still float. is probably the first skipper
TO think of using canvas for jury tunnels
Jury tunnels are a novelty in navigation
anyway, but 10 substitute canvas for good
boiler iron in the construction OF funnel
TO carry smoke and myriads of sparks
from the furnace is 4 scheme that very
few captains would have though of in
Captain FurlOng's predicament and still
fewer have carried out successfully.
But Captain Furlong not only did use
canvas for jury funnel on the Catania
after her own had been swept overheard.
but he made il answer the purpose and
the vessel, with her pumps of tre-
mendous power going TO keep her free of
water and to keep those jury tunnels wet
down so they would not catch fire. went
into Ponta del Gada under her own steam.
The Catania was used as a transport
during the war She had taken cargo of
copper and ircn to Glasgow from this port
at top rates. The firm of Bowring &
Archibald, which dispatched the C4tania
on the voyage. is said 10 have cleared
very handsome profit She discharged the
cargo, and on December Il started in bal
last for New York. That was the last
heard of the Catania until the steamship
Mesaba reached London last tuesday
night with report that she had passed
the Catania on December 81 200 miles OFF
the Irish coast with her decks swept
clean, smobestacks and lifeboats carried
overheard and in danger of laundering.
The Mesaba launched boat and tried to
send a tow line to the disabled vessel but
the boat was swamped and its crew re-
turned to the Mesaba's deck again with
the greatest difficulty.
The Catania hosted signals: Don't
abandon; stand by US" fhs the NJ saba 5
commander tried to do. but during the
night the two vessels became separated.
for a gale was blowing from the north
west and it was impossible TO keep the Ca
tania in sight The Mesaba's captain de-
cided the vessel had foundered in tEe
darkness and he accordingly steered for
London.
But the CataDia had not fOundered. The
powerful six-inch pumps. placed in her
when she was fitted for transport, pre-
vented that, though she was in danger of
swampiDg 4 score of times, according 10
the account the agents received yesterday
by cable. Her ventilators had been
smashed OF close to the deck, and i'm
mense quantities OF water found Their way
below with every wave that washed the
vessel. But the pumps took care OF this,
and it was not the greatest danger that
menaced the unfortunate craft.
The loss of her tunnels rendered the eX-
unguishment OF the fires imminent and 10
correct this danger was Captain Furlong's
first thought He kept the vessel headed
up TO meet the seas, and then the sail
maker and three of the sailors constructed
a huge funnel of canvas, but small enough
10 make a draught from the furnaces.
While this was being done other men
We're making the frame. AS soon as it
WAS in place and arrangements had been
made for keeping it constantly wet, the
Catania was headed for the Azores, ESQ
miles away. The funnel was kept wet all
the time and the wave-swept craft made
the trip in safety.
Captain Furlongs feat IN saving the Ca
tania and the crew of thirty men, as well
himself, is regarded ar wonderful by
the agents and by his acquaintance here
The vessel had been practically given up
as lost, both here and in England.