New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-04
THRILLING RESCUE AT SEA
HOW THE CREW OF AN ITALIAN BARK
WERE SAVED AFTER BEING DE
SERTED RY \ HEARTLESS
SHIP MASTER

Newport News Va Nov , (SpecaD The
British steamship Pondo. Captain Brewis. which
arrived in port this morning from Pensacola,
Fla. for coal on the way to Antwerp with
general cargo brought the shipwrecked crew ~
the Italian bark Colombo which was out from
Catania for Savannah seventy seven days
when she was caught in the hurricane which
swept the coast early in the week The story
told by Captain Brewis s that Of a thrilling
rescue at sea on the morning Of November in
q strong wind and heavy
Captain Salvador Scamba. Of the Colombo: his
mate Angelo Capadanno. and the men Of the
Italian crew praise the work Of Chief officer
Thomas Airth. Of the Pondo and his boat
crew in rescuing the ehipwrecked men at the
peril Of their own lives. and tell a story which
reflects no credit on the conduct Of the master
Of an unknown schooner which stood by the
wreck. but refused to send off a boat, and finally
sailed away when the smoke Of the Pondo was
sighted.
The Colombo was long overdue at Savannah
and for four days before their rescue the sailors
had nothing cooked to eat. most OF the provis-
ions having given out on the morning Of Oc-
toher 81 the worst Of the hurricane struck the
bark and dismas:s I'd her, besides shifting the
ballast choking tie pumps with ballast sand
and badly straning the ship. The schooner re-
ferred to went out Of her course to reach the
Colombo and after exchanging signals made no
effort to launch boat. In spite Of the piteous
cries and appeals Of the impered Italians the
schooner stood off. and seemed 10 he va ting for
a luH in the storm. and il is the opinion Of the
British and Italian officers that she stand
ing by to SEQ what could be got off the bark
When the Pondo approached the nchooner sig
rallied that the steamship would look after the
wreck and then sCudded away The bark was
then in latitude % degrees north. longitude -
degrees west about three hundred miles south
Of Cape Hatteras ard about seventy-hve miles
off Savannah. Captain Brews changed his
course and ran as close To- the Colombo rs
safety would permit The signal he saw vas
y v" meaning i am sinking" An effort was
made To lover the port nfeboat. but 1t was
broken in pieces before it could be launched.
and the starboari b.r,t was lowered and crew
Of volunteers. undc~ Chief officer Airih went
10 the rescue. The boat could not go alongside
and il was necessary for tho men to jump over
board and swim to il. The eleven men were
taken off in this way. The saved none
Of their belongings. and the distress signal was
left flying in the excitement.
The rescued men have been turned over to the
Italian Nice-Consul The Colombo was partly
made his home in II for twenty three years.
Captain Thorpe Of the British steamship ArOs,
"hl'h arrived from savannah tor coal ana saieu
to-day for Gothenberg. reported that on Tuesday
morning below Hattcras he passed water
logged vessel The crew were in the rigging
shouting for help and a small boy was ringing a
bell on deck. His own ship was IN danger and
hc could not stop then but he turned back later
10 give aid AID the vessel was nowhere 10 be
seen. II IS his belief that she went down.
The steamship Acme which left Pensacola on
October - for Newport News. ahead OF the
PondO. has not arrived. and II IS feared that she
has met with an accident.