New-York tribune., 1901-07-20
FIVE LOST WITH YACHT.
THE vENITZIA CAPSIZED IN LONG
ISLAND SOUND.
OWNER. HIS TWO DAUGHTERS AND TWO
SAILORS DROWNED-BLAME LAID
ON THE DEAD CAPTAIN.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE


tRY TELEGRAPH TO TRIBUNE.]
New-Haven. Conn. July 19.-rhe tug Gertrude
brought into New-Haven Harbor this morning
two survivors of a party of seven and news OF
the worst yachting fatality that Long Island
Sound has known in years. On BOARD the Ger
trude were Mrs. Walter J. Sprankle, OF Phlia-
delphia and James Stanrdge While caught IN
the sunken wreck of the yacht venitzia. off Cap
tains Island, there still remain the bodies OF
Arthur T. Colburn, a wealthy Philadelphia spice
manufacturer; his two daughters. Annette and
Ida Elizabeth; Captain Flint, Of Brooklyn the
skipper of the venitzia, and an unknown sailor
The venitzia, whose owner was member OF
the Philadelphia Corinthian Yacht Clup' leie
Philadelphia on Tuesday to Join the Meet OF the
Corinthians in Newport. Night before last 'he
party spent at Tompkinsville, Staten Island ana
at o'clock yesterday morning started throush
the Sound for New-London. The WIND was hsh''
according to the story told by Stanridge, who
was steward of the Ventza. and through the
morning the yacht was taxing the ioh "o
vantage of her yawl rig.
About o'clock it came on squaiiy' with
freshening Winds until Mr. Colburn advised
the skinner to take in some of his canvas. but
the latter was confident in the ability or MS
craft, and would not do So Ihe wlno con-
tinued to increase, and the women went peow'
where Mr. Colburn joined them. after again ad-
visng Captain Flint to reduce SAIL this time
saving that the lib and the jgger were all that
it was safe to carry.
ONLY TWO ESCAPE.
Still the captain kept the Venitzia under all
SAIL and finally the squall broke the nrst gust
knocked the yacht down, until her port rail- was
away under water. and the waves broke over
the cockpit into the cabin. Terror stricken the
party below rushed TO the eomPanon"aaS oaa9 5uss
as second and fiercer gust hit the ooolhea
craft and carried her down again "A secouu
time she righted but only for moment, LOT IN
the temporary calm there could he seen coi,,r,s
long mass of water capped with white line OF
foam that the wind raised -. .,,s,
Stanridge says he started for the mas JUS
before the wave broke while Captain tllnt ana
Mr. Colburn were endeavorinG to get the women
out OF the submerged cabin. But before stan
ridge could get there. the roller had sruch' anu
the Venitzia, righting for moment 10 an even
keel began to sink. Stanridge, thrown clear OF
the rigging by the Tapping sail, ana mrs
Sprankle cleared in some way from the wreck
bv the efforts Of Captain Flint. saw not far
away the yawl's small boat. which had broken
from the davits and was drifting, bottom up
ward. Both struck out for the boat and reached
it, and then for two hours. one cllnging 10 one
end. the other to the other. they drifted about
in the Sound until sighted by the tug Gertrude.
The Gertrude brought the two TO this city,
where Mrs. Sprankle communicated with her
husband, Walter J. Sprankle of NO 5l9 YORK
St, Philadelphia, and was then taken TO MOTEL
account of her exhausted condition she re-
maned in her room, seeing no one until the ar
rival OF her husband. and declines TO discuss
the experience. Mr.. Sprankle said tonight that
he had made arrangements with New YORK
wrecking company TO raise the sunken yacht
but that divers would first be sent down TO
explore the cabin in the hope of locating the
bodies
LAYS BLAME ON THE CAPTAIN.
stanridge, the steward talked freely of the
accident, and lays the entire blame Captain
Flint. ''Fhe' Venitzia came up the Jersey coast
Wednesday," he said and came TO anchor
off Tompkinsville. Staten Island. In the evening.
We lay at anchor there until o'clock yesterday
morning, and then started for Long Island
Sound We took tow through the East River,
and after passing Hell Gate into the Sound. We
cast off our lines and proceeded under our own
sail. The wind was blowing moderately at the
time. Captain Flint had all sails set.
I'VE made rather slow progress through the
Sound. for at about > o'clock yesterday after
noon we were only off Sands Point, with the
wind ahead Of us. Every one on board was IN
goods spirits. Along about . o'clock the weather
clouded VI and there were indications OF
sQUau but Captain Flint remarked that ne dlu
not believe would amount to much Later,
however the sky assumed a leeden hue and
the clouds looked threatening. Mr.. Col
burn thought so, too, for he remarked that the
wind coming up. and as several boats
sighted were sailing under shortened sail he
be done on our boat. Captain Flint repeated
that he did not think it would be necessary.
GOING UNDER FULL SAIL.
AT trat time we were proceeding under full
sail We had lib mainsail. main topsail and
driver canvas all out. Mr.. Colburn went below
to Join his three daughters. and he was there
when the squall struck the craft. 1t came in
minute and lashed the sea into n ferment. our
boat rolled and tossed about in the seaway, but
still no attempt made 70 take in any sail.
'The wind blew with the force OF a hurricane
and the boat lay away over on her port side.
AS she rolled this time she shipped lot OF
water and the water began rushing from the
cockpit down the companionway' hooding the
cabin. She recovered her position once more,
but another gust of wind swept her over on the
starboard side. and she filled again. When she
righted she began to settle with the large
quantity of water that had flooded her. and
knew that she going to sink.
Everybody on board was excited then. l
rushed forward. and before I could get hold OF
the mast the boat sank. / was cingng to the
mast, but the control OF the sails having been
lost by this time, the canvas Tapping about
me In a wet mass I feared that would become
entangled in the mass and released my hold
from the mast and jumped into the water
struck out from the sinking boat.
LAST SEEN OF MIR. COLBURN
Before 1 had left the boat 1 had seen Mr.
Colburn making efforts to save his daughters
Captain Flint had caught hold Of Mrs Sprankle
and pulled her out on deck. She was shrieking
and from below in the cabin where the two
other women were, came their frantic shrieks
/ saw Mrs. Sprankle on deck for moment after
she was taken out Of the cabin. She was pleaa-
ing with those who on deck to save the
other women
The women were almost up to their heads in
the water, ana as the sea closed over the IN hin
deck saw Mrs. Sprankle jump overheard
was at that time in the water myself strup
Cling about fer something 10 catch hold of
saw thA