Evening star., 1902-02-11
VESSEL BURNS At SEA
Unknown Schooner Caught in
Ice Off Cape May.
CREWS FATE IN DOUBT
LIFE SAVERS FAIL TO REACH
DOOMED BOAT.
Belief That the Captain Set Fire to
Craft to Prevent
Derelict.

CAPE MAY n j., February 1.-THE
hulk of the unknown schooner which was
burned at sea last night off this place is
floating about in the ice this morning. Il
few miles off shore. The crews of five life
saving stations went to the assistance OF
the burning vessel last night, but after be
ing out until 3 o'clock this morning thev
gave up the attempt to reach her and rowed
back to the shore Most of the crews were
compelled to land at Anglesea n. J., where
the harbor Is protected, the high wind pre-
venting them from landing at their stations
The night was very dark and the ice was
SO thick that it was almost impossible to
force the boats through 1t. The fire was
brightest between and II o'clock last
night.
Seafaring men here advance the theory
that 1t became necessary to abandon the
schooner. and that the crew were taken off
by a passing vessel. Before leaving her un-
der such a condition, the captain NAV have
dropped anchors and set fire to the ship in
order TO remove her from the path of pass
Ing craft.
Hard Battle With the Sea.
The life-savers from the stations at Cape
May, Cape May Point and Two Nile Beach
who returned to their homes today tell
graphic stories of their long and unavail-
ing struggle against the elements 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 impenetrable. 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
has been floating out of Delaware Bay. and
this is packed along the shore and extend
ing several miles out to sea. The burned
schooner was first observed on fire at about
> o'clock yesterday afternoon. AT that
time she appeared 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 fruitless en-
deavor to penetrate the ice and get to the
assistance of the imperilled crew of the
blazing ship.
Efforts Were in Vain.
Their efforts were in vain, however as
they We're unable to force their frail boats
through the packed Ice. Long after mid
night the brave men gave up their battle
against the elements and returned to shore.
Their suffering was intense One OF the
surfmen from this city, Enoch e. Roseman n,
was found to be badly frozen and he was
carried in an almost unconscious condition
from the beach to the station, where medi-
cal 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 it's height the flames leaped 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. It
is believed she was then caught In the ice,
which finally started a leak and led the
captain to set fire to the ship and abandon
her.
Tugs Fail to Reach Vessel.
DELAWARE BREAKWATER, Del,
February 1.-THE tugs Samers ~ Smith
and Juno, which left here last night to go
to the assistance of q schooner on fire at
sea, returned at 3 o'clock this morning and
reported that the vessel was a two-masteu
schooner. Both anchors were down and the
schooner was solid mass of fire. She was
burned to the waters edge and it was not
possible to learn her name The burning ves-
Sci was about two miles off Cape May. She
was apparently loaded with grain or soft
coal and was old. After wing the blaZ-
ing ship the tugs cruised In the vicinity for
two hours searching for the crew, who were
believed to be at1oat In small boat. AL
though they sent up twelve rockets their
search was not successful and both re-
turned here. The steam pilot boat Phia-
delphia extended the hunt until daylight,
but saw no sign of the missing crew.
ATLANTIC CITY, N. J.. February IL
The crew OF the Cold Spring life saving sta
ton returned at daylight this morning
crew OF the schooner on fire off Cape May.
Ihe- men were on the ocean in small boa t
nearly six hours and they suffered much
from the cold.