Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1901-01-17
ARE RESCUED|B HEROES.
Passengers and Crew Of Steamer
Russie Saved.
WORK OF BOLD FISHERMEN.
Wrecked Vessel Is Reached After Re-
peated Attempts-womon First to BE
Landed - Collapse from Fatigue and
Hunger-Scenes of Joy.

Faraman. Bouches du Rhone, Jan.
12.-After a night Of terrible suspense
all the passengers and crew of the
French steamer Russie, from Oran, AL
geria, which stranded near here dur
ing violent storm Monday, have been
safely landed.
As the life line connected from the
shore with the steamer parted again
yesterday afternoon, when night set
In no communication with the strand
ed steamer was possible. The last
signaled message read as follows:
I'VE have not scrap of food left.
CONSERVATION prevails on board"
On receipt of this appeal the fisher
men made two more plucky launches
Of their boat, but were beaten back,
and as the Russie disappeared in the
darkness those on board apparently
were trying to launch their only re-
naming boat.
The storm ragged with renewed fury
during the night, and only those who
were compelled to do SO stayed on the
shore, part of them huddled beneath a
tarpaulin and others seeking refuge
from the gale in the Faraman light
house.
At midnight two floats with lines
attached to them were launched, but
both attempts to reach the Russie were
fruitless.
CAIRO Fishermen Succeed.
In the early hours of the morning
torches were lighted at the bow of the
Russie, and in response to the signal
the fisherman made another effort to
reach the wreck. But they were again
tossed ashore, and the crew Of the, life
boat, who belong to the fishing village
Of Caro-, gathered around bonfire
made of wreckage from the steamer,
chattering from cold, but not discour-
aged. Their heroism finally was re-
warded, as, with daybreak, the weather
perceptibly moderated, the sea became
calmer and the wind having shifted
from east to north, the Caro- fisher
men at about 4:30' a. m. again put to
sea. The spectators watched with fast
beating hearts as the boat disappeared
through the waves. More than once
1t was thought she was engulfed, but
the small craft rose in sight again
on the crests Of the waves, approach
ing gradually nearer to the Russie.
Then a rope was thrown, which the
fishermen caught, and the lifeboat
soon afterward was alongside. Then,
above the bowling wind, rose cries Of
Joy from those on board the Russie,
which were re-echoed by the crowd
ashore. Another boat, manned by four
men, was then launched and succeed
ed In reaching the wrecked vessel.
Women Landed First.
A few minutes later the Caro- boat
left the Russie's side, heavily laden.
AS she approached the shore the oc-
cupants were seen to be women and
one baby. The enthusiasm was de-
lirious. The spectators plunged into
the sea. Some of them dragged the
lifeboat ashore and others lifted the
women out of the boat and carried
them in their arms, through the waves
to dry land. One woman was clasped
In the arms of her son, who had been
waiting on shore since Monday. She
swooned and had to be transported on
a stretcher, hastily constructed and
covered with blankets, to the light
house. The other women collapsed
from fatigue, cold and hunger. Their
haggard faces and trembling limbs
told Of the awful experience they had
gone through.
1t was unfortunate that want OF
foresight resulted in all the nourish-
ment being kept at the lighthouse, two
miles distant, for the sufferers had to
walk there, assisted by their friends,
before restoratives could be admins
tered to them.
The four-oared boat next arrived
with seven more passengers, and the
lifeboats then made repeated journeys
until all were saved and sheltered in
the lighthouse.