The evening times., 1899-12-25
THE WRECK OF THE RUFF.
Tale of Peril.aaa CSsardice ON the
Gulf of Mexico.

GuIf OF Mexico.
NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 25.-About ter
days ago news reached this city Of the
wreck of the schooner Run on the coast
II Mexico. at which time Captain Kalker
commander OF the vessel, was drowned.
Last night several New Orleans men who
ed this city. and told story OF suffering.
danger, and rescue reading like a boys
tale OF adventure. From their story, Cap
tain Kalker acted in criminally reckless
manner. while his first mate deserted the
vessel in the hour of danger.
The Run sailed from Mobile in the lat
ter part of November. with coal for Coal
zacoalcos. Mexico. Capt. ]. F. Van Horn
and three associates had formed a COM
pany to navigate a small Mexican river.
and had built two stern-wheeled gasoline
launches. SO they secured passage on the
Ruff and had their launches blocked up on
the deck. All went well for three days,
when the schooner ran into q storm, and
with the overlooking OF the upper deck
with the launches the vessel was found to
be in anything save a seaworthy condition.
Great seas washed over her and one of
these carried into the Gulf E. Van Horn,
son OF Captain Van Horn, before mention
ed. The young man was saved by the
presence Of mind of negro sailor, who
hurled a rope with sure hand and reach
ed the swimmer ~,
The Ruf's condition grew desperate, and
at last she was headed for Campeche Shoal,
where she was anchored. At that point
Captain Van Horn ard his party had
enough Of the schooner and demanded to
be put ashore. but Captain Kalker refused
and ordered his schooner to head on its
course to Coatzacoalcos.
The sea had calmed and the passage was
made without incident until the port was
sighted, when Captain Kalker again took
signal for pilot.
A Mexican steamer and a pilot boat both
signaled danger but Captain Kalker swore
that he was running the schooner, and she
would go everywhere he wanted and no.
where else. One minute after making that
blum the schooner struck and was soon
hard aground, with the waves dashing over
her.
The captain and mate, the latter named
G.. .. Sherman, became panic- stricken and
the latter made an attempt to lower the
ships boat. which swamped Immediately
He then undressed. tied his clothes in
bundle. cut in two liie preserver belong
Ing to the New Orleans party. tasted one
half on the bundle and the other on him
self and jumped overheard swearing he
would lookout for himself and that the 9TH
ers might do the same
Soon after. Captain Kalker saw two negro
sailors putting over the side In a dingy be-
longing TO the New Orleans expedition
The commander darted forward, drove the
blacks away, foated the skiff and struck
out alone, abandoning his ship and refus-
ing to even burden himself with a single
companion.
The dingy. however, proved too light for
the terrible sea, and was soon swamped
The captain clung to the skiff for several
hours. but finally his streagrfl gave cut
from the cold and the wrenehing OF the
seas. and he sank to his death.
Then one by one three of the best swim
mers cn the vessel put on life preservers
and leaped overheard. They could only be
seen a short distance and those on board
believed all TO have been lost until night
came, when bonfires on shore told that
their plight was known. r7D-
All night the waves washed over the
wreck. and It was not till dawn that the sea
Gained sufficiently for a little lifeboat,
manned by American and English volun-
teers. TO come through the surf to the res
cue. 1t took three trips for all those on
board TO be carried to safety. II was then
found that the three swimmers had reach
ed shore in safety. though terribly ex-
hausted and bruised. The mate. Sherman.
had also reached shore, but had gone his
way without giving any notice OF the dis
tress of his ship and crew. These facts
were told by Captain Van Horn and cor
roborated in full by the other passengers.