The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1899-02-25

SCI.
BALTIMORE, Feb. 23.-The British
Steamship Vittoria, Capt. Wetherell, ar.
rived today from Hull, via Hampton
Roads, with four of the crew of the FOUL
dered Hamburg American liner Bulgaria.
The rescued mariners are:
Second mate O. Scharges, Quartermas-
ters Carl Ludtke and John Schulz, ana
Seaman William Starke
They were picked up by the Vittoria
from an open boat from the Bulgaria,
three and one-half hours after they had
been cast adrift in latitude 40, north;
longitude 4S west on Feb. s. These, with
the % women and children who were
picked up by the tank steamer Weehaw-
ken and landed in Ponta Delgada Azore
islands, a week ago, are all that have
ben heard from of the crew of SO men and
ii passengers, who sailed from New York
for Bremen on Jan. Is. .
The story of the experience of the Bull
garia told by Second Officer Scharges,
is a thrilling one: 49,,
ION Feb. 1, at about s p. n.,'' said Nc,
"a hurricane Of so severe a. nature was
experienced as it was found impossible
&c make any Roadway, and at O'Clock the
following day we were compelled to heave
to. The flying gigs, both fore and aft,
were carried away and seamen and pas
sergers were afraid to venture on deck
for fear Of being swept ineo the sea- At
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 of the
sea and was left at the mercy of the wind
and waves. .'r-E
sea after sea swept over u.s." continued
Scharges, smashing in the doors Of the
cabin and decks. flooding the main deck,
washing in the awning deck and creating
havoc and disorder all over the ship. To
make matters worse 100 horses that We're
stabbed on the upper forward deck, STAN
pe ded and in their fright made a wild
dash, trampling each other to death. This
state of aaffairs lasted until all but 20 had
been killed or drowned In the wash of the Is
with a number Of seamen went into the
pen and tried to quiet the beasts that re.
manned. This failing, as did also the at
tempt to force the frenZied animals over
board their threats were cut. Before the
n:addened animals were dispatched, how
ever, the butcher had both his legs bro
ken and one Of the seamen was badly in
iLred.
ANY idea that our troubles were over
was soon dispelled when it was found the
vessel was leaking. All the hatch cover
ings had been blown off and before they
CT lid 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.
For seventy-two hours, passengers and
crew worked like slaves throwing cargo
ov erboard to tighten ship, but it was of
little avail. Inch by inch, foot by foot,
the ship settled, and as she sank deeper
the waves washed with greater force and
fl eedom over her. One wave carried away
eight OF the life boats from the tow line
port side and with these went much of the
hope from the hearts or the passengers
and crew.
"1At 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
sra te bars, but the firemen still managed
to keep the fires burning. Each passen-
ger and seaman was given life preser-
vcr and the remaining boats were gotten
ready and provisioned. Shortly after day.
light the three steamers the Weehawken,
Nittoria and Kordistan) one after another,
hove in sight.
'The Weehawken was the first to be of
service, as she sent two boats in which
the . women and children were placed.
These were landed safely on the Weehaw-
ken, but after that the storm increased in
violence. One Of our boats was smashed
and it became almost impossible TO lower
another on account of the vessel being 50
tar down on the port side and correspond
inS!y high on the starbOard, where the
I, manning boats were made fast. Another
attempt was made ano one was success
fully gotten into the sea. 1 and the three
Elcn who were saved with me, jumped
int2 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 another
lGat. but without success
The second officer stated that through
out all The conduct Of the crew and pas
srnyers wls excellent. The women were
Ir:cially brave. He thinks there Is little