The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-01-12
THRILLING EXPER1 ENCEs OF PAS
SENGERS AND CREW OF
THE FARAMAN
SAVED AT THE LAST MOMENT
STORM MODERATED SUFFICIENTLY Y
TO PERMIT THEIR RESCUE
IN BOATS
WERE FOUR DAYS IN PERIL
Clustered on the Fore Deck Watch
ing the Stern of the Vessel Bat
tered to Pieces by the
Furious Waves.

FARAMAN, France, Jan. 9. = After a
night of terrible suspense all of the
passengers and crew of the French
steamer Russie, from Oran, Algeria,
which stranded near here during a vo-
lent 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 stranded
steamer was possible. The last signalel
message read as follows:
I'VE have not a scrap Of food let.
CONSERVATION prevails on board
In the early hours of the morning
torches were lighted at the bow of the
Russie, and in response to the signal the
fishermen made another effort to reach
the wreck. But they were again tossed
ashore, and the crew of the lifeboat,
who belong to the fishing village OF
Caro-, gathered around a bonfire made
of the WreclIage from the steamer
drenched to the skin and with teeth chat
tering from cold, but not discouraged.
Their heroism finally was rewarded, as,
with daybreak, the weather perceptibly
moderated, the sea became calmer and
the wind, having shifted from east to
north, the Caro- fishermen, at about
$3.50 a. M, again put to sea. The specta-
tors 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 crest of the
waves, approaching gradually nearer to
the Russie.
THE RESCUE.
Then a rope was thrown, which the
fishermen caught, and the lifeboat soon
afterwards 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 succeeded in reaching the
wrecked vessel. A few minutes later the
Caro- boat left the Russie's side, heavily
laden. AS she approached the shore the
occupants were seen to be women and
one baby. The enthusiasm was deliri-
Gus. 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 i'll 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 from wreckage, and covered
with blankets, to the lighthouse. 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 fore
sight resulted in all the nourishment be-
ing kept at the lighthouse, two miles
distant, for the sufferers had to walk
there, assisted by their friends, before
re@toraives could be administered to
them.
The foUr-oared boat next arrived with
seven more. passengers, and then the
lifeboat made repeated journeys until
all were saved and sheltered in the light
house.
TALE OF THE WRECK.
MARSEILBES. Jan. 1.-THE passengers
OF the Russie arrived here by rail at 40
this evening. A great crowd was in wait
Ing at the station to greet them. They
We're loudly cheered as they let the
train and many touching scenes ensued
when the sufferers met their relatives
Admiral Besson, naval prefect of Mar
seil1es, who was present, expressed hi J
sympathy. Lieut.. Gautherot tells the fol-
lowing story of the Russie's exper, ences:
''The steamer ran ashore at o'clock
Monday morning. Only the watch vas
on deck at the time. The passengers
rushed up undressed when they felt tie
shock and a panic ensued The captain
and officers finally succeeded in calm 'ng
the people and the boats we-e prepared
for launching.
ut was found, however, that the sea
was too rough
AS night came on the Russie began to
sink The after hold and the engine room
We're inundated and the vessel, which
rolled badly. heeled TO the starboard The
passengers took refuge in the first cabin
and the, smoking. room.
Tuesday morning violent wave burst
in the door of the saloon. The paseen-
gers who We're again stricken with panic
rushed on deck We assn ed them ar
barricaded the doorway with mattrese es.
r1N1 11tNI<N NeS-1ry
watch attempts to reach us with rockets
and life boats from the shore and by
tugs.
CLINGING FOR DEAR LIFE.
eve passed The night in a state of tie
deepest anguish. The waves Increased
in fury and dashed over the vessel, which
was humping on her starboard side, un-
til in the early morning. the 2 ates gave
way and the stern of the vessel went 10
pieces: The utmost CONSIDERATION now
prevailed among the passengers. who f1el
TO the forecastle deck amidships and the
foredeck, clinging to the rails and stanch-
ions. Again we witnessed desperate ef-
forts all day long to rescue US.
When night fell without relief and The
widest tempest still raging. the scene en-
board was frightful. The passenee- S
seemed heart-broken, the women wee ping
ccnvulsively.
Thursday morning the crui er GaTee
hove in sight. Hope revived as she w3s
seen approaching US with engines Ievers-
cd. The water was too shallow and the
waves threatened to enguIf her Sc
made for the open sea and the passengers
were again plunged into the d epest
despair.
"Our provisions now were almo. It ex-
hausted. We had ONLY a few biscuits
and tins of preserves with wine and 81 m,
artichokes and oranges, a portion Of tie
cargo in the forehold.
eve passed an atrocious nj hit, hut
We're rescued this morning All the car. q
was lost and only a part of the mail and
passengers baggage was saved. The a.
cident was due to mistaking the Faraman
| light for the Placer light, a mist AXE
which has caused the loss ard wreck of
more than twenty steamers and given
the coast the name of the Mariners
era veVa rd 3"