The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-02-23
WRECK OF THE Bull LGAR|A
Four of the Survivors Brought
to Baltimore.
THE STEERING GEAR LOST
A Thrilling Story OF the Disaster Told
by Second Officer Scharge- At the
Mercy Of Wind and Waves.
Feared Many Perished

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:
Second Mate c. Scharge. Quartermas-
ter Carl Ludtke, John Schulz and Sea-
man William Starke. These We're pick
ed up by the Vittoria from an open
boat from the Bulgaria three and a
half hours after they had been cast
adrift in latitude 40 N, longitude 43 W..
Feb. 5. These, with the % women and
children who We're picked UP by the
steamer Weehawken and landed in
Punta del Gada, Azores, week ago,
are all that have been heard from the
crew of 80 men and Al passengers which
the Bulgaria had on board when she
sailed from New York for Bremen, Jan.
2S.
Captain Wetherell said he sighted the
Bulgaria in disabled condition at a.
M, Feb. 5, flags flying and the Wee
hawken standing by and communicat-
ing to 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 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 considera-
BILE difficulty they were taken aboard
During a lull the second officer of the
Bulgaria accompanied by six of the
crew of the Nittoria, manned the boat
just vacated and started for the sinking
steamer. They We're scarcely away from
the side of the Vittoria, however, be-
fore another gale began and the brave
fellows not being able to reach the Bull
garia, found it impossible 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 ill fateds 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 ex-
perience of the Bulgaria as told by
Second Officer Scharge is thrilling
one.
''On Feb. / at p. m.," said he, "a
hurricane of such severe nature was
encountered that it was found impos-
sible to make any headway and at 2
a. m. the following day we were forced
to heave to. The flying bridges, both
fore and aft were carried away and
seamen and passengers We're afraid to
venture on deck for fear of being swept
into the sea. About 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
q rant
the doors of the cabin and Lighthouses.
flooding the main deck, washing in the
awning deck and created havoc 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 a wild dash,
trampling each other to DEATH This
state of affairs lasted until all but 90
had been killed or drowned in the wash
of the waves. Then the butcher of the
vessel, with number of seamen went
into the pen and tried to quiet the
beasts that remained. This failing, as
did also the attempt to force the fren-
zied animals overheard, their throats
were cut. Before the maddened ami
mails were dispatched. 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 blown off and be-
fore they could be replaced four of the
seven holds filled and all had consid-
cradle water in them. The cargo next
shifted, listing the steamer heavily to
port. In addition the carcasses of the
dead horses washed aport and added to
the heavy list.
For 72 hours" added Scharge, pas
| sengers and crew worked like slaves,
w if1C ov,E1 1s.rl.%
the ship, but it was of little avail. Inch
by inch, foot by foot, the ship settled,
and as she sunk deeper and deeper the
waves washed with greater force and
freedom over her One wave carried
away eight of the lifeboats from the
lowlying 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 the order was given to call all hands
on deck to prepare to take to the small
boats The water had flooded the en-
gine room and four pumps could not
keep it down. Ii was then up to the
CRATE bars, but the firemen still man
aged to keep the fires burning. Each
passenger and seaman was given life
preserver and the remaining boats We're
gotten ready and provisioned. Shortly
after daylight the three steamers, the
| WeehaWken, Victoria and kOordiStan,
one after another hovs in sight. The
| WeehaWken was the first to be of ser
vice, she sent Two boats, in which
25 women and children We're placed.
These Wsre landed safely on the Wee
hawken, but after that the storm in
creased in violence. One of our boats
was smashed and it became almost i'm
possible to lower on account of the ves-
sci being so far down on the port side
and correspondingly high on starboard,
where the remaining boats were made
| fast. Another attempt was made and
| one was successfully gotten into the
sea. | and the three men who We're
saved with me jumped into her to take
! the oars, when by some unfortunate ac-
cident we were cut loose. The men on
| the vessel were seen after that to try
repeatedly to lower another boat, but
| without success"
The second officer stated that
| throughout the conduct of the crew and