The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-02-11
Schooner Consumed by Fire in
Sight of Shore.
Life Savers Are Unable to Dis
cover the Crew.
LIFE SAVER FROZEN.
Crews Struggled Long and Haru
to Reach the Vessel.
Smoke is Still Issuing From the
Blackened Hulk.

delaware BreakWater. Del, Feb IL
THE tues Sommers n. Smith and Juno
which left here last night to go to the
assistance of a schooner on fire at sea
Saturday arrived at O'Clock ana re-
ported that the vessel was a tWo-lnasteoI
schooner. Both anchors were down anu
the schooner was a solid mass of fire
She was burned to- the waters edge anu
it was not possible to learn her name
The burning vessel was about two miles
off Cape May. She was apparently load
ed with grain or soft coal and was old
After leaving the blazing ship the two
tugs cruised in the vicinity for two
hours searching for the crew who We're
believed to be afloat in small boat.
Although they sent up twelve ROCKIES
their search was not successful and botn
returned here. The steam pilot poat
Hila extended the hunt until dayllght'
but saw no sign OF the missing crew.
HULK STILL VISIBLE
Cape May, N J., Feb. 1.-THE hulk
of the unknown schooner Whlch was
burned at sea last night off this place
is floating about in the ice this morning
a few miles off shore. The crews OF nVe
life saving stations went to the assist
ance of the burning vessel last night out
after o'clock this morning they gave
up the attempt to reach her and roWed
back to the shore. Most of the crews
we're compelled to land at Anglesea, n
d
high wind preventing them from land
ing at their stations. The night was
very dark and the ice was SO thick that
it was almost impossible to force the
boats through it. The fire was brightest
between Z and II o'clock last night
Seafaring men here advance the the
ory that it became necessary to aban-
don the schooner and that the crew was
taken off by a passing vessel. Before
leaving her under such a condition, the
captain may have dropped anchors and
set fire to the ship in order to remove
her from the path of passing craft.
LONG. HARD STRUGGLE
Cane May, n. J., Feb. 1.-THE life
savers from the stations at Cape May.
Cape Point and Two Mile Beach who
returned to their homes today tell
graphic stories of their long and un-
availing struggle against the clements
in their effort to lend assistance to the
crew of the burning ship. The night
was about the coldest of the winter,
and the darkness was almost impen-
etrable- In addition there was wind
enough to make the sea choppy and
therefore dangerous for small craft
For several days past great quantities
of ice have been floating out of Della
ware bay and this is packed along the
shore and extending several miles to
sea. The burned schooner was first OBJ
served on fire at about O'Clock VeSter-
day afternoon. AT that time she ap-
peared to be imbedded in the drifting
ice. The three life saving crews from
this vicinity were Joined by the crews
from two stations north of here, and
these men battled for hours in a fruit
less endeavor to penetrate the ice and
get to the assistance of the in periled
crew of the blazing ship.
Their efforts were in vain. however as
they were unable to force their frail
boats through the packed ice Long
after midnight the brave men gave up
their battle against the elements and
returned to the shore. Their suffering
was intense One of the surfmen from
this city. Enoch E. Roseman, was found
to be badly frozen, and he was carried
in analmOst unconscious condition from
the beach to the station, where medical
assistance was rendered All during
the night residents of this place lined
the beach and watched the burning ship
through marine glasses. When the fire
was at its height the flames Ieaped high
into the air Today smoke is issuing
from the hulk, which appears to be
drifting in the ice The schooner was
first seen about six miles off Cape May
Saturday night. 1t is believed she was
then caught in the ice. which finally
started leak and led the captain TO
set fire to the ship and abandon her.