The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-23
AT THE MERCY OF
THE CRUEL DEEP
Story of the Wreck of the
Bulgaria.
SPORT OF A HURRICAN c
SHIP DRIFTING RUDDERLESS:
STAMPEDE OF HORESE.
Rescuts Made by the Weehawken and ViuoIia
Heroic Strugg,s With the Itmpes
iuous Seas. i1l Persons have
Pnb,bly perished
Probably perished

]
Baltimore, Md, Feb. 22.--The British
steamship Nittoria. Captain Wetherell.
arrived today from Huh, via Hampton
Roads, with four of the crew Of the
missing Hamburg-American Liner Bull
gara, The rescued mariners are: See
ond Mate O. Scharges. Quartermasters
Carl Ludtke and John Schulz and Sea-
man William Smrke.
They were picked up by the Vittoria
! from an open boat of the Bulgaria three
and half hours after they had been
cast adrift in lat 40 IL. long. 10 w, ON
February 9th.
These, with % women and children
who were picked up Ivy the tank steamer
| Weehawken and landed i'll Ponta del
Gada, Azore Islands week ago, are all
that have been heard of the crew of
| 50 men and Al passengers which the
| Bulgaria had aboard when she sailed
| from New York for Bremen, January
2Sth Captain Wetherel said that he
sighted the Bulgaria in a disabled con
dition mt { Il. M. February 9th, flags fly
| ing and the tank steamer Weehawken
standing by and communicating with her
There was a heavy sea on, and his YES
sci drifted away from the disabled craft,
| but he steamed toward her and again
| located her. He saw the men aboard
the crippled vessel attempt to lower Il
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 approach her on account of the
| high seas
| The Nittoria was preparing to lower
| toat to 90 to the assistance of those on
the Bulgaria when the four men came
alongside. After considerable difficulty
| they were taken aboard. During a lnll
the second officer of the Bulgaria. ac-
companied by six of the crew of the Vat
toria manned the boat just vacated and
started fer the sinking steamer. They
were scarcely away from the side OF the
Nittoria. however. before another gale
began. and the brave fellows not being
able to reach the Bulgaria, found it i'm
possible TO return to the Vittoria until
several hours had passed. Captain
Wetherell would not abandon hope of
being of assistance to those on board the
Inflated vessel and remained in sight of
her until nightfall. when 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 experiences of the
Bulgaria, as told by Second Mate
Scharges is thrilling one.
"On February LIST at about s p. m,
said he. "a hurricane of so severe
nature was encountered that it was
found impossible to make any Roadway,
and al Il. m. the following day we
were forced to heave to. The flying
bridges, both fore and aft, were carried
away. and seamen and passengers were
n afraid to venture on deck for fear of be-
ing swept into the sea. About n. m.
the spring in the rudder. which is used 10
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 as
TOW at the mercy Of the wind and
waves.
"Sea after sea swept over us, smash
inc i'm the doors of the cabin and deck
house. flooding the main deck, washing
in the awning deck and creating havoc
and disorder all over the ship. TO make
matters worse one hundred horses that
were stabbed on the upper forward deck,
stampeded, and in their fright made Il
wild dash trampling each other to
death.
This state of affairs lasted until all
but 20 had been killed or wounded i'll
tbe wash of the waves Then the
butcher of the vessel with number of
;,,t. hn
quiet the beasts that remained This
failing. as did also the attempt to force
the frenzied animals overheard. their
throats were cut. Before the maddened
animals were despatched however, the
butcher had both his legs broken and
one of the seanen 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 covers had been blown off, and be-
fore they could be replaced four of the
seven holds filed, and all had consider
able water in them. The cargo next
shifted, listing the seatmer heavily to
port. In addition the carcasses of the
dead horses washed aport, adding to
the heavy list.
"All this did not happen in a day..
said Mr.. Scharges. "for hours had pass
ed since the first misfortune. Ihen for q
hours passengers and crew worked like
slaves, throwing cargo overheard to
tighten the ship but it was OF little
avail. One wave carried away eight
of the lifeboats from the low lying port
side. and with these went much of the
hope from the hearts of passengers and
crew.
AT 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 en-
CINE room and four pumps could not
keep it down. 1t was then UP TO the
CRATE bars, but the hremen sun man
aged to keep the fires burning. Each
messenger and seaman was given life
preserver and the remaining boats were
gotten ready and provisioned. Shortly
f41,. 4 ..l;1.L4 II, 70 thrne Stea merS lthn