The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-02-23
BULCARIA'S SURVIVORS
Four Of The Crew Rescued by the Vlttoria
Arrive at Baltimore.
i THRILLING STORY OF THE DISASTER
In Contrast with In Bourgognc
Wreck, the Women and Chill
drcn Were First Saved.

with four of the crew of the missing Ham
burg American liner Bulgaria.. The res
cued mariners are: second Mate ..
scharges, Quartermaster Carl Losket and
John Schulz aud seaman William a.
Stark.
They were picked up by the Vittoria
from an open boat OF the Bulgaria three
hours after they had been cast adrtt.
February 3. These, with the twenty Ave
| women and children, who were picked up
by the tank steamer Weehawken and
| landed In ponta del Gada, Azores. "a week
1 ago, are all that have been heard from of
the crew Of eighty-nine men and forty
| one passengers which the Bulgaria had
| aboard when she sailed from New York
| for Bremen.
| Captain whitehall said he sighted the
| Bulgaria in disabled condition at q.
| M. February 8, and the tank steamer
| WeehawSen standing by and communicaL-
ing with her. There wat a heavy sea ON
and his vessel drlfted away from the dis
| abled craft. but he again located her He
| saw the men aboard the crippled vessel at
| tempt TO lower boat, and just as four of
| them got into it, 1t broke loose from the
| steamer and drifted away. The four men
made an effort to row back to the Bull
| gara, but could not approach her on ac-
count OF high seas. The Vittoria was pre-
pairing to lower a boat to go to the as
sistance OF those on the Bulgaria when the
four men came alongside. After consider
able difficulty, they were taken aboasd.
Captain whitehall would not abandon
hope of being of assistance TO those OH
beard the Inflated vessel, and remained
in sight of her'uutil daylight. when per-
feet hurricane arose and carried the walt
ing ship miles away. In the morning the
Bulgaria was not seen and the Vtttnrla
PR ceeded on her journey.
The story of the experiences of the Bull
gaIia as told by Second Officer Scharges,
is a thrilling one, On February /, at alb put
s p. m, said he "a hurricane of 50 severe
a nature was encountered that it was
found impossible to make any Roadway,
and at ? a. m. we finally hove TO. The sea.
men and passengers were afraid to VEN
ture on deck for fear of being blown over
board. At a. m. the spring rudder, which
was used during 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 after sea swept over u.s." continued
Second Officer Scharges, Smashing in the
doors OF the cabin and deck houses, food
ing 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 stationed on
the upper forward deck stampeded, and in
their fright made wild dash. tramping
each other to death. This state OF affairs
lasted until all but twenty head were dead
or drowned
Any idea that our troubles We're over
was soon dispeled when it was found that
the vessel was leaking. All the hatch COW
erings had been blown off and before they
could be replaced four of the seven holds
hiled. The cargo next shifted, listing the
steamer heavily to port.
For seventy-two hours passenrers and
crew worked like slaves, throwing cargo
overheard to tighten the 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 greater force and
freedom over her. A wave carried away
eight of the lifeboats from the port side
and with these went much of the hope Of
the hearts OF The passengers ana 3. CIV,
~ 4 O'Clock on the morning of The attn
the order was given to call ain hard; on
leck to prepare TO take to the small boats.
Inc water Hooded the engine room and
our pumps could not keep 1t down II
was tnen up TO the crate bars, but the /
hreinen still managed to keep the fires
burning Each passenger and seaman was
given life preseGver and the remaining
boats were gotten ready and provisioned.
oeortiy after daylight the three steamers
the Weehawken. Victoria and Kord.stan) |
me after another hove in sight. The
Weehawken was the first to be of service,
IS she sent two boats in which the twenty |
i've women and children were placed.
fhese were landed safely on thu Wee
iawken, but after that the storm increase1
n violence. One Of orr boats was smashed
md 1t became almost impossible to lover
mother on account of the vessel being
70 far down on the mort side and carre-
poldingy high on the starhoa-d. whore
ne remaining bats were made fast. An
ther attempt was made AMI oca was SIR.
e sfrlly gotten out. BIZ some unfortun
tie accident the boat was cut loasa ami
ry rs we would. we could not yet bacl,
he bulgaria"
The second officer stated that through
II the conduct Of the crew and passengers
ere excellent, The women especialiy
ere brave. He thinks there Is little ,
likelihood that the Bulgaria weathered the {
.orn that night. as she was sinking when
e left her The Bordistan, the hig ves-
FL that saw the distress of the BULGARIA.
as unable 10 he of am assist mo on ac-
punt OF 'he tempastu1us .e7T She
cached Bremen on The 1o'h aud renortsd
mt the BllraHa had fonn1ersd
II IS feared that 1e1 psrs ns won't d,wr
IN her. The Bulgaria had no aec1nmn !
Atoms FOR hrst clsss nasseneeva ami an /,
e passengers on board were Ia the steer
gel They were mostly Germans from an. 4
rent parts Of The United Stnias she I
as not regular liner MI had not heen Z
the service o. the Hamburg American 7
II about a year. =