The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-09-24
Continued from Page ~

ened, leaving only the two lower top
sails, the foresail and fore-staysail set.
The wind changed to the south and the
vessel kept before it in an effort to ride
it out. After six O'Clock the storm in
creased. About thirty o'clock the
main lower topsail was carried away.
In rapid succession during the next few
minutes the foresail and fore-staysail
were torn to shreds accompanied by a
report louder than a cannon shot. A
few minutes later the vessel became
unmanageable. She could not be steer
ed, and preached to the wind just in
| time to catch two mountainous seas
| which swept the vessel fore and aft
and. shifting some of the ballast, left
| her listed over on her port side. The
vessel rolled in q fearful manner and
it became well nigh impossible for the
crew to do any work. 1t was feared
that the rigging would be carried away
and making a great effort the crew
clewed up the fore topsail
PORT BULWARKS UNDER WATER.
The ship continued to roll fearfully
and her port bulwarks were constantly
under water. Some members of the
crew went to the captain and told him
they thought they could save the yes
sci if they were allowed to go below
and trim the ballast. The skipper then
sent part of the crew into the mold and
the others remained on deck to work
with tackles in an effort to haul the
braces tight enough to hold the rig
ging. Then a terrible time was eX-
perienced by the brave men working
in the hold. tremendous sea swept
the vessel, toppled her over to the port
side and buried one man in the stones
and sand of the ballast. His mates
made q rush for him and managed to
effect a rescue. Captain Rotter ordered
the men on deck. The night was as
black as nights ever are and it was
with the greatest difficulty that the men
could find their way about the half
submerged deck. The port bulwarks
were entirely under water and it had
also crept up as far as the matches.
Then Captain ROtter decided that he
had only a moment in which to save
his vessel. In her condition at that
time she might have capsiZed at any
second. The captain ordered the main
rigging cut and as the rigging on the
starboard side was severed by the quick
blows of axes the main mast fell over
the port side with tremendous crash,
smashing the bulwarks, MASKING the
iron gear of the pumps into unrecOgniz-
able scrap iron, and breaking up some
of the vessels life boats With the
mainmast the mizZen-tOpmast broke
short off and came crashing to the
deck. going right through the bottom of
the after port life-boat. The fore-gal-
liant backstay was cut and this released
the fore-gallant and fOre-topmast and
these too dropped over the vessels side.
The middle boat on the port side was
broken to splinters ana the fore part
of the bottom of the middle starboard
boat was also smashed,
The ship still lay on her side in dan
ger of capsizIng at any moment and
with only one small Iife-boat left,
capable Of accommodating only half of
the crew in case they had to take to
the boats, the men on the Andromeda
We're in a frightfuI condition. 3
INJURIES TO THE CREW. +
Four of the crew were injured dur
ing this time. Captain RotteT had a
three-inch nail driven right through his
right foot but continued to work for
an hour and a half and then had the
sailors pull It out. The nail was rusty
but Captain Rotter has not since suf-
fered any severe trouble through it.
The ships carpenter was knocked in
the side and it is feared that some of
his ribs are broken. Second mate Han
son had his ankle spraiped and was laid
up while the sailmaker also had his
ankles spraiued but was able to so to
work again later. The crew were tossed
around in all manner of ways.
Then work was started to right the
vessel The GROW Iabnred night and &aE