The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-02-24
1RECk Of THE bulgaria
One Hund1 ed and One
Lives Lost.
FEARFUL EXP. RIEkCE

-Four Wen Rescued I'm Addition TO the
Twenty-Five Women and ChiIeren-A
Storm Separates the Bulgaria and
the Steamers Attempting e Aid
Her
Baltimore, February 22.-The British
steamship Brittoria, Captain Wether-
ell. arrived today from Hull via Hamp-
ton Roads. with four of the crew of
the missing Hamburg American Liner
Bulgaria. The rescued mariners are:
Second Mate o. Scharges, Quartermas-
tiers Carl Ludtke and John Schulz, and
Seamen William Starke.
They were picked up by the Vittoria
from an open boat of the Bulgaria
three one-half hours after they
had been cast adrift in latitude 40 N,
longitude 43 w, on February 5th.
These, with the twenty-five women
n children, who were picked up by
the tan steamer Weehawken and
landed in Ponta del Gada, Azore is
lands, a week ago, are all that have
been found of the crew of eighty-nine
men and forty-one passengers which
the Bulgaria had aboard when she sail
ed from New York for Bremen Janu-
airy 2Sth.
Captain Wetherell said that he sight
ed the Bulgaria in a disabled condi-
ton at Z o'clock a. m. February 5th,
flags flying and the tank steamer Wee
hawken standing by and communicat-
ing with her. There was a heavy sea
| on and his vessel drifted away from
the disabled craft, but he steamed to-
| ward her n again located her. He
| saw four men aboard the crippled ves-
| sci attempt to lower a boat, and just
| as they got into it they broke loose
| from the steamer and drifted away.
| The four men made an effort to row
! back to the Bulgaria, but could not ap-
| proach her on account of the high seas.
The Vittoria 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. Dur
ing a lull the second officer of the Bull
| garia, accompanied by six of the crew
of the Vittoria, manned the boat just
vacated and started for the sinking
! steamer. They were scarcely away
from the side of the VittOria, before
another gale began and the brave fell
lows not being able to reach the Bull
garia, found it impossible to return to
the Vfttoria 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 a perfect hurricane
arose and carried the waiting ship
miles away. In the morning, the Bull
garia was not to be seen and the Wit
toria proceeded on her journey.
The story of h experiences of the
Bulgaria as told by Second Officer
Scharges, is a thrilling one.
"On February 1st, at about s o'clock
p. m.," said he, "a hurricane of so Sc
we're a nature was thai it
was found impossible to make any
Roadway, and at 2 o'clock the follow
ing 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 o'clock the sprint 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 as a toy
at the mercy of the win and waves.
Sea after sea swept over US, smash
ing in the doors of the cabins and deck
houses, flooding the main deck, wash
ing in the awning deck, and creating
HdNOC anu uiSOIueT oil over the snip.
To make matters worse, 100 horses that
were stabbed on the upper forward
deck, stampeded and in their fright
made a wild dash, trampling each 9TH
er to death.
This state of affairs lasted until
all but twenty had been killed or
wounded in the 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 re-
manned. This failing, as did also the
attempt to force the frenzied animals
overheard, their threats We're cut. Be
fore the maddened horses were dis
patched, 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 covers had been blown off
and before they could be replaced four |
of the seven holds filed and all had
considerable water in them. The cargo
next shifted, listing the steamer heav- !
lily to port. In addition the cas- |
of the dead horses washed aport, ad- |
ding to the heavy list.
"AH this did not happen in a day."
said Mr.. Scharges, for hours had |
elapsed since the first misfortune. Then |
for seventy-two hours passengers and
crew worked like slaves, the |
cargo overheard to tighten the hip |
but it was of little avail. One wave
carried away eight of the life boats |
from the low-lying port side and with |
these went much Of the hope from the |
hearts CT passengers and crew.
AT 4 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 flood |
ed the engine room and four pumps |
could not keep il down. It was then up |
TO the CRATE bars. but the firemen still |
managed TO keep the fires burning. |
Each passenger and seaman was given |
a life preserver and the remaining |
boats were gotten ready and provis- |
Toned. Shortly after daylight the three |
steamers, the Weehawken. vittoria and |
koordistan) 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 I
after that the storm increased In yio- |
lence. One Of our boats was smashed |