The record-union., 1899-02-23

BALTIMORE, Feb. 22.-The British
steamship Vittoria, Captain Wetherell,
arrived to-day from Hull, via Hampton
Roads, with four of the crew from the
missing Hamburg American liner Bull
garia. The rescued mariners are: Sec
ond Mate c. Scharges, Quartermasters
Carl Ludtke and John Schulz and Sea-
man William Starke.
These were picked up by the Vittoria
from an open boat from the Bulgaria
cast adrift in latitude 40 north, longi
tude west, on February 9th. These,
with the twenty-five women and chill
drer who were picked up by the
steamer Weehawken and landed at
Ponta del Gada, Azores Islands, a
week ago, are all that have been 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
2Sth
Captain Wetherell said that he sight
ed the Bulgaria in disabled condition
at 3 g. M, February 9Th, flags flying,
and the Weehawken standing by and
communicating with her. There was a
heavy sea on, and his vessel drifted
away from the disabled craft, but he
again located her. He saw the men
aboard the crippled ship attempt to
lower boat. and just as four of them
got into it, it broke loose from the
steamer and drifted away. The first
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
difficulty they were taken aboard. Dur
ing a lull the second officer of the Bull
garia, accompanied by six of the crew
of the Vittoria, manned the boat Just
vacated and started for the sinking
steamer. They were scarcely away
from the side of the Vittoria, however,
before another gale began, and the
brave fellows not being able to reach
the Bulgaria, found it impossible to re-
turn to the vittoria until several hours
had passed. Captain Wetherel would
not abandon hope of being of assistance
to those on board the Inflated vessel,
and remained in sight of her until
nightfall, when a perfect hurricane
arose and carried the waiting ship miles
away 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 thrilling one.
ION February LIST, at about s p. m.,''
said he, "a hurricane of SO severe a
nature was encountered 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 and aft, were car
ried away, and seamen and passengers
were afraid to venture on deck for fear
of being swept into the sea. About Z
a. M, the spring in the rudder, which
is used to break the strain of heavy
seas, collapsed, and soon afterward the
entire steering gear was washed away.
The steamer then fell in the trough,
and was left at the mercy of the wind
and waves.
''Sea after sea swept over u.s." con-
tinued Scharges, smashing in the
doors of the cabin and deck houses,
flooding the main deck, washing in the
awning deck and creating havoc all
over the ship. To make matters worse,
100 horses that were stabbed on the
upper forward deck sta1npeded and in
their fright made wild dash, tramp
ling 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
tried nIyiaf the
beasts. This falling, as did also the
attempt to force the frenzied animals
overheard, their Threats were cut. Be
fore the maddened animals swere dis
patched however, 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 filled, and all had
considerable water in them. The cargo
next shifted, listing the steamer heav-
lily to port. In addition, the carcasses
of the dead horses washed a-port added
to the heavy list.
For seventy-two hours added Mr.
Scharges, passengers and crew worked
like slaves, throwing the cargo over
board to tighten the ship, but it was
of little avail. Inch by inch, foot by
foot, the ship settled, and as she sunk
deeper the waves washed with greater
force and freedom over her. One wave
carried away eight of the lifeboats from
tn low-lying port side, and with these
went much of the hope from the hearts
of the passengers and crew.
''At 4 O'clock on the morning of the
9Th the order was given to call 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 it down. 1t was then up to the
CRATE bars, but the firemen still man