The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-23
PICKED UP ON THE OCEAN
FOUR MORE OF THE CREW OF THE
STEAMER BULGARIA RESCUED.
Taken from an Open Boat by the
periences ON the Missing Liner.

Steamship NlllOl1 ID captain NVNhSASN' -
rived to-day from Hull, via Hampton Roads,
with four of the crew of the missing Ham
burg-American liner Bulgaria. The rescued
mariners are Second Mate o.. Scharges,
| Quartermaster Carl Ludtke and John
| Schulz and Seaman William Starke. They
were picked up by the Vittoria from an
open boat of the Bulgaria three and a half
hours after they had been cast adrift in
latitude 40 north, longitude AZ west, on
Feb. 8. These, with the twenty-five women
and children who were picked up by the tank
steamer Weehawken and landed in Ponta
Delgada, Azore islands, a week 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 Jan. 2S.
Captain Wetheren said that he sighted the
Bulgaria in a disabled condition at z a. m.
Peb. 5. flags flying and the tank steamer
| Weehawken standing by and communicate
ing with her. There was a heavy sea on,
and his vessel drifted away from the dis
abled craft, but he again located her. He
saw the men aboard the crippled vessel at
tempt 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 approach her on account OF
the high seas. The Vittorla was preparing
to lower a boat to go to the assistance of
those on the Bulgaria when the four men
came alongside. After considerable difficulty
they were taken aboard. During a lull the
second officer of the Bulgaria, accompanied
by six of the crew of the Vittoria, manned
the boat just vacated and started Tor the
sinking steamer. They were scarcely away
from the side Of the Vittoria, however, be-
fore another gale began and the brave EEL
lows, not being able to reach the Bulgaria,
found it impossible to return to the Vittorla
until several hours had passed. Captain
Wetherell would not abandon hope of being
Of assistance to those on board the nl-fated
vessel and remained in sight of her until
nightfal, when a perfect hurricane arose
the morning the Bulgaria was not to be seen
and the Vittoria proceeded on her journey.
The story of the experiences of the Bul-
garia, as told by Second Officer Scharges, is
a thrilling one. ON Feb. !, at about 8 p.
M" said he, "a hurricane of so severe a
nature was encountered that it was found
impossible to, make any Roadway and at 2
a. IN. the following day we were forced to
heave to. The flying bridges, both fore and
aft. were carried away and seamen and
passengers were afraid to venture on deck
for fear of being swept into the sea. About
Z a. m. the spring in the rudder, which is
used to break the strain of heavy seas, col
lapsed, and soon afterward the entire steer
ing 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 US" continued Second
Officer Scharges, smashing in the doors of
the cabin and Lighthouses, flooding the main
deck, washing in the awning deck, and Gre
ating havoc and disorder all over the ship.
To make matters worse, one hundred horses
deck, stampeded and in their fright made a
wild dash, trampling each other to DEATH.
rnls STATE OF ar ana L,io iasred until an put
wash of the waves. Then the butcher Of
the vessel, with a 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 frenzied animals over
board, their threats were cut. Before the
maddened animals were dispatched, how
ever, 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 been blown off and before they could
be replaced four of the seven holds filled
and all had considerable water in them.
TIL 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 said Mr..
Scharges, passengers and crew worked like
slaves throwing cargo overheard to tighten
ship, but it 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. One wave car
ried away eight of the lifeboats from the
low-lying port side, and with these went
passengers and crew. AT 4 o'clock on the
morning of the 9Th the order was given to
call all ndIlOS on QeCk TO prepare 10 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 CRATE
bars, but the fremen still managed to keep
the fires burning. Each passenger and sea-
man was given a life preserVer and the re-
naming boats were got ready and pro-
visioned. Shortly after daylight the three
steamers (Weehawken. Victoria and Koor-
distan) one after another hove In sight. The
WeehaWken was the first to be of service,
as she sent two boats, in which the twenty
five women and children were placed. These
were landed safely on the Weehawken, but
after that the storm increased in violence.
One of our boats was smashed, and it be-
came almost impossible to lower another on
account of the vessel being so far down on
the port side and correspOndingly high on
the starboard, where the remaining boats
were made fast. Another attempt was made
and one was successfully got into the sea.
me jumped into 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 an
other boat. but without success
The second officer stated that throughout
all the conduct Of the crew and passengers
was excellent. The women were especially
brave. Ho thinks there is little likelihood
that the Bulgaria weathered the storm that
night, as she was sinking when he left her.
The KOOrdistan, the third vessel that saw
the distress of the Bulgaria without being
able 10 be Of assistance because of the
tempestuous seas, arrived in Bremen on the
18th inst and reported that the Bulgaria
had foundered. Second Officer Scharges is
reasonably positive that none were rescued
from the Inflated vessel after he left her
and it Is feared that 11 persons went down
with her. The Bulgaria had no
tiOns for hrst-class passengers, and all the
passengers on board We're in the steeraee.
They were mostly Germans from different
parts of the United States. She was not a
OF the Hamburg-American line about a year.