The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1899-03-09
STEAMER LOST AT SEA
ONE HUNDRED PASSENGERS
co TO THE BOTTOM.
Severe Storm, Springs a Leak
and Is Lost.

Steamer Bulgaria Encounters a
Severe Storm, Springs a Leak
and is Lost.
Baltimore Mr.-(Special)-Th Brit
! ish steamer Vittoria. Captain Wether.
| ell, arrived from Hull, via Hampton
| Roads, with four Of the crew of the
missing Hamburg-American liner Bull
| garia- The rescued mariners are: Sec
/ ond Mate o. Scharges, Quartermasters
/ Carl Ludkte and John Schultz and Sea-
man VIII Starke.
They were picked up by the Vittoria
! from an open boat from the Bulgaria
three and a half hours after they had
been cast adrife in latitude 40 north,
longitude 43 west, on February 3.
These. with the twenty-five women
and children who were picked up by
the tank steamer Weehawken and
landed in Ponta del Gado, Azores, q
week ago. are all that have bene heard
from of the crew of eighty nine men
and fOrty-One passengers which the
Bulgaria had on board when she sailed
from New York for Bremen January 2S.
Captain Wetherell said that he sight
ed the Bulgaria in a disabled condition
at a. m. February 8, flags flying and
the tank steamer Weehawken standing
by and communicating with her.
ATTEMPT AT RESCUE.
There was a heavy sea and his YES
sci drifted away from the disabled
craft, but he again located her. He
saw the men aboard the crippled YES
self 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
reach her on account of the high seas.
The VittOria was preparing to lower
boat to go to the assistance of those
on the Bulgaria when the four men
came alongside. After considerable diff
ficulty they were taken aboard.
During a lull the second officer of the
Bulgaria, accompanied by six of the
crew of the Vittoria, manned the boat
just vacated and started for the sink
ing steamer.
They We're scarcely away from the
side of the Vittoria, however, when an
other gale began, and the brave fellows
not being able to reach the Bulgaria,
found it impossible to return to the Wit
toria until after several hours had
passed.
Captain Wetherell would not aban-
don hope of being of assistance to those
on board the Inflated vessel and re-
manned in sight of her until nightfall
when a perfect hurricane arose and
carried the waiting ship miles away.
BULGARIA DISAPPEARS.
In the morning the Bulgaria was not
to be seen and the Vittoria proceeded
on her journey.
The story of the experience of the
Bulgaria, as told by Second Officer
Scharges, is a thrilling one:
ION February l, about p. m.," said
he, "a hurricane of so severe a nature
was encountered that it was found inn
possible to make any Roadway, and at 2
a. m the following day we We're forced
to heave to.
About a. m. the spring in the rud-
der, which is used to break the strain
of heavy seas, collapsed and soon after
the entire steering gear was ashed
away. The steamer then fell in the
through and was left at the mercy of
the wind and waves.
Sea after sea swept over u.s." con-
tinued Second officer Scharges, smash
ing in the doors of the cabin and the
Lighthouses, flooding the main deck,
washing in the awning deck and Great
ing havoc all over the ship. To make
matters worse 100 horses that were sta
bled in the upper forward eek STAN
peded, and in their fright made wild
dash, trampling each other to death.
This state of affairs lasted until all
but twenty had been killed or drowned
in the wash of the waves. Then the
butcher of the vessel, with a number of
seamen, went into the pen and cut the
threats of the rest, the butcher having
both his legs broken and one of the
seamen being badly injured in the act
VESSEL BEGINS TO LEAK.
Any idea that our troubles were over
was soon dispelled when it was found
the vessel was leaking. The hatch COW
erings had been blown off, and before
they could be replaced four of the sew
en- holds filed and all had consider
able water in them. The cargo Their
shifted, listing the steamer heavily &c
| port. In addition the carcasses of the
| dead horses washed to port, adding tc
| the heavy list.
/ AT o'clock on the mornig of the
| 5th,' he continued, the order was Civ
en- to call all hands on deck to prepare
| to take to the small boats. The watel
had Hooded the engine room and fou
| pumps could not keep it down.
shortly after daylight the tire,
steamers (the Weehawken, Vittoria ant
Koordistan), one after another. hoy,
in sight The Weehawken was the frs
to be of service, as she sent two boats
in which the twenty-five women ant
children were placed. These We're land
ed safely on the Weehawken, but afte
that the storm increased in violence
One of the boats was successfully got
ten into the sea. l and the three mel
who We're saved with me, jumped int,
her to take the oars, when by som,
unfortunate accident we were cut loose
the men on the vessel were seen afte
that to try repeatedly to lower anothe
boat, but without success"
WOMEN WE'RE BRAVE.
The second officer stated tina
throughout all the conduct of the GREY
and passengers was excellent, The wo
men Were especially brave. He think
there is little likelihood that the Bul
garia weathered the storm that night
as she was sinking when he left hei
The Koordistan, the third vessel whicI
saw the distress of the Bulgaria, with
out being able to be of assistance, ar
rived in Bremen on the 18th inst, an,
reported that the bulgaria had found
cred. Second officer Scharges is rea
sonably sure that none We're rescued
and that l0l persons were down will
the Bulgaria.