The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-12
ALL TAKEN OFF
CREW AND PASSENGERS OF THE
MAIL STEAMER RUSsIE SAVED.
Had Been on the Stranded Ship since
Last Monday and Were without
a Scrap OF Food.
HER0ISM OF FISHERMEN
WHO BATTLED WITH WIND AND
WAVES FOR DAYS AND NIGHTS,
Were Repeatedly Driven Back, but
Finally Reached the Steamer and
Rescued the Unfortunates.
STORY TOLD BY AN OFFICER
TERRIBLE EXPERIENCES OF THE
SHIPWRECilED PEOPLE.
Scene of the Accident Called the
sMariners' Graveyard"-steams
Ethiopia Towed to Her Dock.
Were Repeatedly Driven Back, but
Finally Reached the Steamer and
Rescued the Unf0rtunates.
STORY TOLD BY AN OFFICER
TERRIBLE EXPERIENCES OF THE
SHIPWRECilED PEOPLE.
Scene of the Accident Called the
s.Mariners, Graveyard',-Steams
Ethiopia Towed to Her Dock.

FARAMAN. Bouches du Rhone, Jan. H.
After a night of terrible suspense all the
passengers and crew, numbering 102 per-
sons, of the French steamer Russie, from
Oran. Algeria, which stranded near here
curing a violent storm Monday, have been
safely landed. AS the lifeline 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 signaled
message read as follows: 1--WE have not
scrap of food left. CONSERVATION prevails
on board" On receipt of this appeal the
fishermen 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 10
launch their only remaining boat.
The storm ragged with renewed fury dur
ing 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 lighthouse. AT midnight
two floats with lines attached to them were
launched, but both attempts to reach the
Russie were fruitless.
were lighted at the bow of the Russie, and
IN response to the signal the fishermen
made another attempt 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 about q
bonfire made of wreckage 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 perceptibiy
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 spectators watched
with fast beating hearts the boat dis
appeared through the waves. More than
ones it was thought she was engulfed,
but the small craft rose in sight again on
the crests of the waves. approaching grad
ually nearer TO the Russie. 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 succeeded in reaching
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 en-
thusiasm was delirious. The spectators
plunged into the Some of them
dragged the lifeboat ashore and others lift
ed 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 from wreckage and covered
with blankets. to the lighthouse. The other
women collapsed from fatigue, cold and
hunger. Their haggard faces and trem-
bling limbs told of the awful experiences
they had gone through. 1t was unfortunate
that want of foresight resulted in all the
nourishment being kept at the lighthouse,
two miles distant. for the sufferers had TO
walk there, assisted by their friends, before
the restoratives could be administered to
them.
The four-oared boat then arrived with
seven more passengers and the lifeboats
then made repeated journeys until all were
saved and sheltered in the lighthouse.