Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-02-24
OVER 100 DROWNED.
Bulgaria Probably FOundercd at
Sea.
Second Mate and Three Seamen who
Were Picked Up from an open Boat
Tell the story Of the Disaster.

Second Mate and Three seamen who
Were Picked UP from an open Boat
Tell the story Of the Disaster.
The British steamer Vittoria, which ar
rived at Baltimore Wednesday, had on
board the second mate, quartermaster and
two seamen of the Hamburg American
liner Bulgaria. They were picked up in
an open boat three and one-half hours af-
tel they cast adrift from the disabled Bull
garia.
They and the 25 women and children who
were picked up by the tank steamer Wee
hawken and landed in Ponta del Gada,
Azore islands, week ago, are all that are
known to be safe of the crew of 50 men
and Al passengers which the Bulgaria had
aboard when she sailed from New York
for Bremen Jan. %.
The four men were attempting to lower
ife-boat when IL broke away and
they we're unable to return to the ship.
An attempt to render assistance to the
Bulgaria was unsuccessful, on account of
the storm, and that vessel drifted rapidly
out of sight.
The second mate says the Bulgaria en-
countered hurricane Feb. /. The flying
bridges and the entire steering gear were
deck stampeded and many of them were
trampled to death. The threats of the
other horses were finally cut, but in doing
this work two men were seriously injured.
The doors of the cabin and deck houses
had been washed away, and there was
havoc and disorder all over the ship. The
vessel began to leak All the matches
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 heavily TO port. In addition the
carcasses of the dead horses washed aport,
adding TO the heavy list.
"All this did not happen in day" said
Mr.. Scharges, "for hours had elapsed
since the first misfortune. Then for hours
passengers and crew worked like slaves,
! throwing cargo overheard to tighten ship,
but 1t was of little avail. Inch by inch,
| foot by foot the ship settled, and as she
sunk deeper the waves washed with great
! er force and freedom over her. One wave
carried away eight of the lifeboats from
the low-lyng port side, and with these
went much OF the hope from the hearts of
the passengers and crew.
"At o'clock on the morning of the
] 5th," he continued, "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 managed to
keep the fires burning Each passenger
| and seaman was given life preserver and
the life boats were gotten ready and pro-
visioned. Shortly after daylight the three
| I.t.
Kourdstan) one after another hove in
sight. The Weehawken was the first TO
be of service, as she sent two boats in
which the p women and children were
placed. These were landed safely on the
| Weehawken, but after that the storm in
creased. One of our boats was smashed
and it became almost impossible 10 lower
another on account of the vessel being
so far down on the port side and CORE
spondingly high on the starboard, where
the remaining boats were made fast. An
| other attempt was made and one was sue
cessfully gotten into the sea. |, and the
three men who were saved with me,
! jumped into her TO take the oars, when by
some unfortunate accident We were cut
loose. The men on the vessel were seen
after that to try repeatedly to lower an
other boat, but without success"
The second officer stated that through
out all the conduct of crew and passengers
was excellent. The women were especial
! ly brave. He thinks that there is little
| likelihood that the Bulgaria weathered the
storm that night, as she was almost gone
when they left her.
The Kourdistan, the third vessel which
sighted the Bulgaria, without being able to
be Of assistance because of the tempestu-
Gus seas, arrived in Hamburg on the 10th
inst, and reported that the Bulgaria had
foundered. Second Officer Scharges is
reasonably positive that none we're rescued
from the Inflated vessel after he left her,
and it is feared that l0l persons went
down with her.
The Bulgaria had no accommodations
for first-class passengers and all the pas
sengers on board were in the steerage.
They were mostly Germans from different
parts of the United States. She was not a
regular liner and had been in the service OF
the Hamburg American line about year.