The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1902-10-02
CONSULAR ENQUIRY
Every Effort Made to Rescue the
Drowning Sailors From the
Ship Austrasia.

ship Austrasia which occurred Monday
night was conducted on board the ves-
ael by the British vice-consul, p. l..
Cherry. yesterday morning and the
facts obtained speak well for the con-
duct Of the ship and In highest praise
Of the action Of the crew. The Wild
stories about the occupants Of the ships
boat offering to use firearms on the
boyle tales, concocted by some hot-air
individual for the purpose OF creating
sensation There is not sembance
OF truth In them, every fact elected
at the inquiry going to prove that ey-
cry effort possible was put forth 10
save uhe men and that no opposition
was offered 10 any one.
Two watchmen and an apprentice
had been on watch when one OF the
sailors retired. leaving his comrade
and the apprentice on deck. shortly
after this several sharp cries were
heard proceeding from off the port
side OF the ship. AL the same time
another voice nearer the ship and up
stream franticaliy sobbed, My God.
I'm going Immediately the watch
man called out that man vas IN the
water. whereupon the apprentice
reused the other three apprentices who.
attired as they were In Their night APP
parei, at once joined the two men on
deck.
Fortunately q boat was suspended
over the side Of the ship six or seven
feet from the water. so In the space
OF two minutes was speeding towards
the cries. carrying the five men.
The night was dark and foggy. and
drlzzllng rain kept railing The
darkness was impenetrable and Il was
! only the cries OF agony from the dis
tressed sailor that guided the men in
the boat Apprentice Clough stood up
in the bow and kept constantly calling
10 the drowning man to keep up cour-
age. that help was near at hand. But
Il was no use. for when the boat had
attained a distance OF about six ships
lengths from the Austrasla a white
face suddenly cleaned in the water at
It's very bow there was gurgie and a
gasp, and as Clough stopped TO seize
the sinking man, he managed only to
touch his shoulder as he disappeared.
Nothing was seen or heard Of the
other man, SO II Is probable that the
one sentence he called out was spoken
as ne sank. for no other cry came from
his direction.
shortly after the drowning voices
were heard from another boat and
watchman Allen asked his compan-
ions to stop rowing 60 vhat what was
said could be heard The approachins
boat called. Have you found the MANI"
ON being told no, the same voice ask
ed. Where are you FROM" On learn
ing that the other boat was from the
Austrasa the shore boat turned quick
ly and pulled away.
During all this time the apprentices
and Allen had no idea who the men
in the water were, but rather supposed
that boat on the river had met with
some accident and only learned the
truth when return was made TO the
ship.
MIR. Cherry closely examined all the
parties concerned in the affair, and the
facts learned speak in the highest
praise for the men who made so des-
perate an attempt to rescue their
drowning companions.
Nothing could be learned as to the oc-
cupants of the shore boat, 1t is thought
very probable that they were there to
assis. the men to make their escape
from the ship, and perhaps worked up
the scheme,
The food used on the ship was es-
pecially looked into and nothing in re-
lation to the culinary department
could have prompted the men to de-
sert. The service of the ship generally
Is anything but bad, so what 1t was
that caused the unfortunate men to
steal away as they did is open to con-
lecture, ''