Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1899-03-02
RESCU ED FOUR.
Survivors Of the Bulgaria Disaster
Reach Baltimore.
The Steamer Vittoria Succeeds I'm saw.
ing Four Of the Crew of the Ill
Fated Ship The Second
Mates Story of the Wreck.

nesday from Hull via Hampton Roads,
with four of the crew of the missing
Hamburg-Amercan liner Bulgaria.
The rescued mariners are Second Mate
Scharges, Quartermasters Carl Ludtke
and John Schulz, and Seaman William
Stark. They were picked up by the
Nittoria from an open boat of the Bull
garia 3Kg hours after they had been
cast adrift on February 5. These, with
the 25 women and children who were
picked up by the tank steamer Wee
hawien and landed in Ponta del Gada,
Azores islands, week ago, are all that
have been heard from of the crew of 50
men and Al passengers which the Bull
garia had aboard when she sailed from
New York for Bremen, January 2S.
Capt Wetherell said he sighted the
Bulgaria in a disabled condition at
a. m. February 5, flags flying and the'
tank steamer Weehawken standing by
and communicating with her. There
was a heavy sea on, and his vessel
drifted away from the disabled craft,
but he again located her. He saw the
men aboard the crippled vessel attempt
TO lower 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 sea. The
Nittoria was preparing to lower a boat
to 90 to the assistance of those on the
Bulgaria when the four men came
alongside. After considerable difficult
ty they were taken aboard.
During a lull the second officer of
the Bulgaria. accompanied by six of
the crew of the Nittoria, manned the
boat just vacated and started for the
sinking steamer. They were scarcely
away from the side of the Nittoria,
however. before another gale began,
and the brave fellows, not being able
to reach the Bulgaria, found it impos-
sfble to return to the Nittoria until
several hours had passed. Capt. Weth-
erell would not abandon hope of being
of assistance to those ON board the i'll
fated vessel and remained in sight of
her until nightfall when a 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 the experiences of the
Bulgaria as told by Second Officer
L
ruary l at about s p. m., he said, a
hurricane of so severe a nature was
encountered that it was found impossi-
bic to make any headway and al a. m.
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 a. IN. the spring
in the rudder, which is used to break
the strain of a heavy sea, collapsed,
and soon afterwards the entire steer
ing gear was washed away. The steam-
er then fell in the trough and was left
at the mercy of the wind and waves.
Sea after sea swept over u.s. smashing
in the doors of the cabin and deck
houses, flooding the main deck, wash
ing in the awning deck and creating
havoc all over the ship.
"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 other
to death. This state of affirs lasted un-
til all but 20 had been killed or drown
cd in the wash of the waves. Then the
butcher of the vessel with a number of
Scamen went into the pen and tried to
quiet the beasts that remained. This
failing, as did also the attempt to force
the frenzied animals overheard their
throats were cut. Before the mad
dened 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 il was found that the vessel was
leaking. Al the hatch coverings 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 heavily to port. In addition
the carcasses of the dead horses wash
ed aport, adding to the heavy list. For
~ hours passengers and crew worked
like slaves, throwing cargo overheard
to tighten ship, but it was of little
avail. Inch by inch the ship settled
and as she sank deeper the waves
washed with greater force over her.
One wave carried away eight of the
life boats and with these went much
of the hope from the hearts of passen-
gers and crew. At O'clock on the
morning of the 9TH 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 CRATE bars, but the fire
men still managed to keep the fires
burning. Each passenger and seaman
was given a life preseryer and the re-
naming boats were gotten ready and
provisioned. Shortly after daylight
three steamers (Weehawken, Nittoria
and koordistan) hove in sight
The second officer thinks there is lit
tile likelihood that the Bulgaria wealth
cred the storm that night, as she was
sinking when he left her.
Dreyfus' Innocence Proven.
Paris Feb. 23.-The Soir announces
that NJ Manu-, the procurateur general,