The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-12-20

Captain Charles Ecker and the cook
and deckhand were saved by the crew OF
the barge Fairy Belle. the captain and
deckhand being pulled aboard the Fairy
Belle after the boat had been smashed.
Captain Charles Smith of the tug Bat
tier. which was towing the Red Wing and
the three other barges, heard the signals
of the crew OF the Red Wing, but did not
stop. hoping to bring the barge into New
port
The crew got into boat after much ef-
fort and risk, for heavy sea was run
ming and dropped back alongside the
Fairy Belle. There they were rescued.
The hawsers from the tug and the Fairy
Belle to the Red Wing were cut and the
barge sunk stem first. and went down af-
ter the deck house was blown Off by the
compression OF the air in the hold.
The tug picked up the remaining bargS
and brought them into the bay. and the
Fairy Belle was brought 10 Providence.
This afternoon the crew. .of the Red Wing
left on the tug for New York.
Strangely the crew OF the Red Wing was
the crew OF the barge Mendoza that was
lost about a year ago and the crew at
that time had a narrow escape.
The tug Battler. which reached this
port early today with the barge Fairy
Belle. with coal for the Providence Gas
company. reported the loss of the barge
Red Wing of Beaver Tall at 4:45 this
morning.
Captain Smith Of the tug made des-
perate effort to save the barge and de-
spite all he could do the barge went to
the bottom when three quarters bf an
hour more would have landed her on the
fats at Newport.
The tug left New York a week ago with
the barges Red Wing with 14l2 tons OF
coal, the barge Fairy Belle with 1906 Of
coal. both for the Providence Gas COM
pany, the barge Tobasco and the barge
Whitestone the Tobasco for Newport
and the Whitestone for Fall River
The tow was delayed by storms and
rough weather and though the captain
was not disposed TO take chances the
barges. laden deeply. made heavy
weather of II at the best
Aside from rough weather that was en-
wave washed the Whitestone and Tobias
co badly. there was nothing unusual until
about six miles west of Point Judith, the
Red Wina began TO leak badly. This
vas about 1850 this morning.
The barge began TO gain and because of
the heavy sea from the southwest the
donkey engine could not operate the
pumps successfully, for the water dashing
about In the vessel would not take into
the pumps.
CAPTAIN BECOMES ANXIOUS.
Captain Charles Bergquist of the Red
Wing began 10 get anxious and the barge
steered viciously because OF the amount
OF water In her. Captain Smith of the
Battler was signalled, and though he
realized the danger he kept on. This
was because had he cast of the other
barges he might have lost one or more,
and he had hoped that he could get the
barge safely into Newport
IL was perhaps O'Clock when the sig
mails were given and Captain Smith gave
his tug all the power she had and hustled
for Newport. helped on by the strong sea
from the southwest.
As the Red Wing began TO steer badly
the helmsman OF the Fairy Belle began
10 hold his craft so as TO counteract so
far as possible the yawlng OF the Red
Wing. This was continued until shortly
after o'clock when Captain Ecker. be-
lieving that he and his crew could no
longer remain on the barge I'm safety,
launched the boat
There was a good deal OF danger and n
was feared the boat would be smashed
against the barge, but she got away by
clever management and then for some
thing like Wile the crew rowed along
with the barge.
Seeing the barge was sinking the boat
was dropped back and the boat was AT
$50 close 10 the FAIRY Belle The boat
was brought alongside the barge and the
cook jumped aboard the Fairy Belle hut
ss he did - he pushed the bow of the
boat of
SMASHED TO FRAGMENTS.
A line was thrown TO the captain ana
deckhand. who were IN the boat and the
boat was brought up close 20 the counter
OF the barge. But as the barge rose and
fell on the seas every iift drew the boat
ahead against the stern OF the barge, and
one rise drew the boat under the counter
and the barge smashed Il m fragments
az II came down.
Capt. Ecker and his deckhand ware
leaning over the counter and as the boa,
was smashed. the men were struggling