The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-07-01
THRILLING
RESCUE OF
SAILORS
After Ten Days and Nights of
SIeGp|ess Labor Grew Of
Sinking Bark Was Rescued

| New York, July 1.-After ten days or
drifting. pumping and fighting for life in
| a crazy, ancient craft. surely sinking in
| n restless sea, the IL sailormen OF the
bark Biskop Brun were saved by the
! liner Potsdam and brought into port yes
terday. The rescue, which was one OF
great daring. was performed by Chief
officer J. Metz and six sailors. OF the
Potsdam.
The wreck, which was set on fire and
left a derellct torch upon the mid-Atlan-
tic. tempted fortune and. on account of
her age. defed a good Providence. said
under the Norwegian flag. She was COM
manded by Captain NJ. A. Nelson, and on
May 20 sailed from Limerick for New
Richmond, n. b.
TEMPEST AND AN UGLY SEA.
The wind came out OF the south with
increasing force on June 13. until on the
l4th and the 18th 1t had developed into a
hurricane. The tempest, having veered
to the eastward. was accompanied by an
ugly sea. The mizzen backstay snapped
under the strain with the twang OF II
string OF giant fiddle. Then the other
backstays went.
Twenty feet abaft the stem on the
starboard SIDE there opened up tre-
medous hole through which gushed tho
the winter. Failing TO pieces from age,
the bows OF the bark began TO spread
apart and TO break UP. From the port
bow a big bolt had dropped from the de-
caying planks.
Wide open sprang the seams OF the
ships entrance and hull. Through the
open bows rapidly rushed the sea. The
windmill pump could not keep the vessel
free and the crew were ordered to the
brakes.
THE VESSEL DOOMED
The more canvas the bark carried the
more she pounded and the worse she
leaked so Captain Nelson. to keep the
sea from forcing itself I'm. stripped her
OF her sails. After June Is he allowed
the bark TO drift. hoping. as the wind
changed TO the north, TO keep her head
from the sea and by careful manage
ment make land to the westward.
He sighted several vessels, but did not
signal for help while he was nursing
hope. On tho 24th Captain Nelson real
ized that his vessel was doomed, and or
dered main and lower tops'ls set to give
her a little more than headway and
drive her into the course OF ocean traf-
fic.
severen Kruge. the mate. noticed that
the windmill could not mako the pump
suck, and, descending with a candle,
found more than six feet Of water IN
the hold.
Sails were then made fast ana sig
nails OF distress set. on the next day,
June rs. the Potsdam. from Rotterdam.
was sighted more than n mile away.
Worn from ten days and nights OF hard
ship. fear and unceaslng labor. the crew
were exhausted, but the sight OF the
steamer thrilled them. with hope ana
renewed prospect of life,
CAsTAwAYs RESCUED.
Captain Potter. OF the Potsdam. hove 10
winhward and sent away Chief on
Ger j. Metz and six seamen In the for
ward boat. Tho sea was high ana
wicked. requiring much judgment and
skill TO ride II safely. Mr. Metz brought
his boat to leeward OF the sinking.
crumbling bark and ordered tho cast
aways TO jump into tho sea,
One by one, Captain Nelson last. the
crew were pulled into the Potsdams s
boat. After all had been landed TO the
cheers OF the liners l42 cabin and $50
steerage passengers aboard the Potsdam
Mr., Metz and Mr. Kruge returned to the
wreck. Mr. Kruge cut open his dunnage
bag and rescued his sextant, throwing
II into the lifeboat. where IL struck con-
siderable OF a wreck. Then the mate
set fire to the Biskop Brun Mr.. Kruge
mourned for 20 crows worth OF books
which he lost.
The Potsdam's passengers gave a con-
cert and raised $50 for the II castaways