New-York tribune., 1901-02-19
SAVED FROM SINKING BARK
CREW SPY SMOKE AFTER WATCHING
FOR WEEK FROM wATERLOGGED
VESSEL-CAPTAIN'S LEG BROKEN.

Aboard the Quebec Line steamship Pretoria
which arrived here last night from Hamilton
Bermuda, were ten weatheTbeaten but sturdy
sailors who for "A whole week on a waterlogged
bark had drifted heIplessly between the Florida
coast and the Bermudas. They had almost
given up all hope f rescue and had been about
10 take To the lifeboat OF the sinking and dis
masted vessel when smoke had been at last
seen on the horizon. The Danish steamship l.
II. Carl rescued the despairing mariners on the
Norwegian bark Passat.
That the afternoon Of February 10
and three days later the crew and Captain
Aaron Aaronsen were landed at Bermuda The
next day the shpwrecked sailors took passage
on the Pretoria for this port There was only
one serious mshap aboard the waterlogeed
bark while IL drifting at the mercy Of the
wind and waves. Captain Aaronsen while d.
recting things the main deck was knocked
down by some timber which Was washed by
the which breaking over the craft
His right leg was broken below the knee He
fixed up the injury best he could and II was
ten days later before the fracture was set by
a surgeon at Hamilton. During that time the
captain suffered intensely from the injury
Captain Aaronsen. man Of powerful frame
was for eight years in charge OF the Passat
The abandoned vessel registered 65i tons. and
was built in 1875. It's home port was Arende
Norway. Telling the story of his experience
last night Captain Aaronsen said.
W. We ief m Ferganl,aa Fen , Fla on Fsbrua5y With
fairly well untH IA" afternoon 81 the 4th when II
IN latitude 50 iesrees 6nSiiude q desrSes ihe
vessel sprang = le'k, and four hand and windmill
pumps We're started and kept going The purnps
however. had no eject on the leak. which a
hold. As the bark dlle1 the seas washed oysr the
deck and loosened the timber carried there. Finally
II was decided 20 throw the deck timber overheard
and while this was being done the sth I was
knocked down and had lex broken
on the morning of February / decided 10 make
FOR bermuda In the hope 81 saving the bark Then
IL was discovered that tho bark would not answer
about O'Clock that night "a furious gale began 10
blow and the seas became tempestuous The water
was then rising IN my cabin. and ! had to be car
exposed 10 continued hail and sleet FOR four days
until We were rescued 10y the Danish stesmSIip
Car. which was then on her way from IeEhorn
the night OF the sth the bark kceled over ana n
seemed every minute that she would capslze The
f0remast WAS cut away. but 10 was not until the
mainmast had gone by the board that tbS bost
rightei. Then the main deck awash by the
Realizing our danger We had some provisions and
kegs Of water carried up and secured on the roof
OF the cabin All the provisions below had been
spoiled, and the vessel was completely flooded
The suffered. of course. from the cold as
II was either hailng or soetins all thr time We
were huddled together the roof Of the cabin
the horizon. and some hours later the
Carl came 10 assistance.
] saved the ships papers. some Instruments in
cluding the chronOmeteT. and little of clothes
The crew saved only such clothes they wore
We would certainly have lost our lives I'm the last
storm had We not been taken of our water logged
and dismasted craft. 10 small boat could have
lived in such stormy seas.
Captain Aaronsen will go 10 a hospital to-
day