The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-01-22
Passengers Of the
Russie Brought
Ashore.
'PlTlABLE STATE
OF TIE WOMEN
fIeroism of the Caro- Fishermen
was Crowned With
Success.

FARAMAN, Jan. 11-After a night of
terrible suspense all of the passengers
and crew of the French steamer Russie,
which stranded near here during a vio,-
lent storm on Monday. have been safely
landed.
AS the lifeline connected from the
shore with the steamer parted again
yesterday afternoon, no communication
with the stranded steamer was possible
last night The last signalled message
read as follows: I'VE have not a scrap
of food left. CONSERVATION prevails on
board"
On receipt of this appeal the fisher
men made two more plucky launches Of
their boats, but were beaten back, and
as the Russie disappeared in the dark
ness those on board We're apparently
trying to launch their only remaining
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 togeth-
er beneath a tarpaulin and others seek
ing refuge from the gale in farm
houses.
Last night boats with lines attached
were launched but both attempts to
reach the Russie were fruitless.
/ 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. They were again tossed
ashore and the crew of the life boat,
who belong to the fishing village of
Caro-, gathered round a bonfire made
of wreckage from the steamer drenched
to the skin and with their teeth chat
tering from cold, but not discouraged.
Their heroism was finally rewarded as
with daybreak the weather moderated,
the sea became calmer and the wind
having shifted from the east to north,
the Caro- fihermen at about $50 a. m.
again put to sea. The spectators watch
ed with fast beating hearts. and the
boat disappeared through the waves.
More than once it was thought she
had been engulfed but the small craft
rose in sight again on the crests of seas
and moved gradually nearer to the
Russie.
A rope was thrown. which the fisher
men caught, and the life boat soon 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 Dy lUuE IlSn Was lrtuflCucQ dHu
succeeded in reaching the wrecked YES
sci.
A few minutes later the Caro- boat
left the Russie's side heavily laden. AS
she approached the shore the occupants
We're seen to be several women and one
baby. The spectators plunged into the
sea; some Of them dragged the life boat
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 midday. She swooned and had
to be transported on stretcher. hastily
CONSTRUCTED from the wreckage and
covered with blankets. to the light
house. The other women collapsed
with fatigue, cold and want of food.
Their haggard faces and trembling
limbs told of awful experiences they
had gone through. Want Of thought
had resulted in all the nourishment be-
ing kept at the lighthouse, two miles
, distant. and the sufferers had to be
taken there before restoratives could
be administered to them.
The four-oared boat next arrived
. with seven more passengers. The life
! boat then made repeated journeys, until
, all were saved and sheltered in the
lighthouse.