Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-11
Gallant Rescue Of the People on
Stranded Steamer.
LIFE SAVERS PERILOUS TASK
Many Lines Parted Under Stress
of the Weather.
FINAL UCCESS TO-DAY

FARAMAN, Bouches du Rhone January
11-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 violent storm
Monday. have been safely landed.
AS the life line connected from the shore
with the steamer parted again yesterday
afternoon, when night set no communica-
ton with the stranded steamer was pos
sible. The last signaled message read as
follows:
I'VE have not a scrap of food left. Con-
sternation 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 were apparently trying to 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 light house.
AT midnight two floats, with lines at
tached to them were launched, but both
attempts to reach the Russie were fruit
less.
Another Fruitless Effort.
In the early hours of the morning torcnes
were lit 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 wreckage from the steam
er, drenched to the skin and with their
teeth chattering from cold but not dis
couraged. Their heroism was finally re-
warded, as with daybreak the weather per-
ceptibly moderated. the sea became calmer
and the wind shifted from east to
north. The Caro- fishermen at about G:3o
am. again put to The spectators
watched with fast-beatng 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 crests of the seas and approached, grad
ually. nearer to the Russie Then a rope
was thrown, which the fishermen caught.
and the lifeboat soon afterward was along
side. Then, above the bowling wind, rose
cries of joy from those on board the Rus-
sic. which were re-echoed by the crowd
ashore. Another boat, manned by four
men, was then launched and succeeded in
reaching the wrecked vessel
Boatload of Women and Children.
I A few minutes later the Caro- boat left
the Russies side heavily laden. AS she
approached the shore the occupants were
seen to be women and one baby. The ell
thusiasm was delirious. The spectators
plunged into the sea. Some of them drag
ged 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 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 light house. 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 fore
sight resulted in all nourishment being kept
at the light house. two miles distant, for
the sufferers had to walk there, assisted by
their friends, before restoratives could be
administered to them.
The four-oared boat next arrived with
seven or more passengers, and the life
boats then made repeated journeys until
all were saved and sheltered in the light
house.