New-York tribune., 1901-07-22
BODIES IN VENITZIA CABIN.
DIVER FINDS THE TWO COLBURN SIS
TIERS IN WRECKED YACHT
THE VESSEL WITH ALL SAIL. SET, RAISED
AND TOwED TO BROOKLYN.


AND TOWED TO BROOKLYN.
The bodies of the Misses Annette and Ida Col
burn. who were drowned with their father
Arthur c. Colburn. OF Philadelphia. when MS
yawl rigged yacht Venitzia went down after
being struck by a squall on Long Island SOUND
near Greenwich. Conn. on last Thursday, were
recovered early yesterday morning by diver
the wrecked yacht was being towed down the
East River lashed to the side Of the wrecking
tug Champion, which had raised the sunken
craft on Saturday Neither the body of Mr.
Colburn nor that of his sailing master, Captain
Edward r. Flint OF South Brooklyn, who also
met death In the wreck, found, though II
was supposed that of the former would be IN
the cabin
A. J. Mcintosh OF No. 30 Broadway, who
represents the surviving members OF the Col
burn family. announced yesterday that he had
been authorized to offer a reward OF STro for
the recovery of the body Of Mr. Colburn ana
the same amount for the bodies Of Captain Flint
and Frank Ekberf. the sailor. who was drowned.
The Venitzia was towed 20 the Mcintosh yacht
basin. at Twenty-sIxth-st.. South Brooklyn
early Yesterday morning and her hull pumped
out Coroner Hartung viewed the bodies That
OF Miss Annette Colburn was found lying in
bunk In the cabin. She had evidently taken
refuge there I'm her fright when the storm struck
the yacht, and had made no attempt 10 reach
the deck The body OF Miss Ida Colhurn was
found near the door OF the cabin. There were
indications that she had made desperate effort
to open the door The bodies were shipped TO
the Colburn summer home at Delaware City.
Del last night. They go to a widowed mother
who has been blind for a number OF years. Mrs.
Colburn is said TO be very Ill from the shock OF
the disaster She is attended by her daughter.
Mrs Walter ] sprankle. of No. 80 York-st..
Philadelphia, who was the only of the Col
burn party to survive the wreck
The WORK OF finding the VenitZia, raising her
from the bottom OF the Sound and bringing her
to this city accomplished in twenty-five
hours from the time the wrecking tug Cham
pion left N.w-vcrk Saturday. The work was
done by the Merritt Chapman WreckIng Com
pany. The Wrcc. was sighted at noon on Friday
OFF Prerniurn Point. where E. c. Benedict has
his sunl.acr home II in sixty-three feet
OF water, la the direct path OF Sound steamers.
and midway between Captains Island and the
SHORE OF Long Island. The top Of the main
mast was twelve feet above the surface. and
from It was flying the red and blue signal flag
OF the Corinthap Yacht Club.
The wreckers first attempted to pull the yacht
to the surface by choins which diver fastened
TO the windlass. The windlass was not strong
enough 10 bear the strain. and chains were put
under the yachts hull at the bow and stern.
She was then raised almost to the surface and
lashcd to the huh of the wrecking tug.
The Venitzia came out of the water with every
sail SET. Not a boom nor rope was broken.
Her huh Intact. and she could start
cruise to-morro without repairs
The Champion took her tow to City Island at
midnight for the purpose OF getting a tighter
grip the chains which bound her to the yacht.
Throughout the voyage to this city her power
full pumps were at work, and the yacht was
free from water by the time South Brooklyn
was reached.
number Of valuable papers belonging to Mr..
Colburn recovered Among Captain Flint's
effects were found several government papers
and licenses, which go to refute the statement
that he was an incompetent sailing master.
He had photograph of the Venitzia taken
shortly before she sailed on the disastrous
cruise, which he intended to send to Mrs. Nellie
M. Flint. according to the inscription on the
back
The identity OF the sailor who was drowned
has been in doubt. An examination of his eff
fects made yesterday showed that he WAS Frank
Ekberg. of No 129 Walnut-ave., Philadelphia.
THE cause OF the wreck of the Ventzia will
always be a mystery" said Andrew j. Mcintosh.
Captain Flint was the only man who could
give sn exact explanation of how the thing hap
pened, and he drowned. I believe IL was
due to the captains obstinacy poor judgment
Mrs. Walter J. Sprankle who was saved, says
that they noticed the squall coming and saw
other boats taking in sail
Better take in some of this SAIL captain.
advised Mr. Colburn.
There is no wind In that the captain is
said to have replied.
He held his course and lost his life in con-
sequence. The yachts sails were new and she
was simply blown under the water
E. c. Benedict, off whose country place the
Venitzia foundered. visited the wreck Saturday
He said that he was on his porch during the
entire storm. He said he could not understand
how the yacht had gone down in so mild a
squalL The yacht was injured but little by her
submarine experience. She is worth probably
$4,000 and has never before had n serious
accident
Every effort will be made to recover the
bodies OF Mr.. Colburn. Captain Flint and the
sailor. The family Will pay $500 for each body
recovered. ] have sent word to that effect to
points UP the Sound. and number OF search
Ing parties have started out"