The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-11-23
DOWN IN THE DARK
AND THE TEMPEST
The Spanish Bark Taf-
For Morning But in the Gloom
the TafaIIa's Lights
Vanished.

Philadelphia, Pa, Nov. 21.-The
British steamer Aros Castle, Captain
Day, 81 days out from Java, with
cargo of sugar, arrived at this port
TO-DAY and reported the probable
laundering on November Is of the
Spanish bark ITALIA with her crew OF
fifteen men during the recent Southern
storm. The steamer stood by the sink
ing bark for two days, and on the
second night the Spanish Vessel as
appeared. The condition of the IaI-
ALA when the crew of the Aros Gas
tie last saw the vessel was sucn as
to lead them to believe that the park
went down during the night.
CAPTAIN Day reports that shortly pc
fore daybreak on Sunday, November
Ia during a terrific gale rockets We're
sighted about 220 miles east or the
Burmudas. The rockets were an
swered by flare lights from the Aros
Castle and the steamers course was
changed in the direction of the rock
els. The sea was running so high
that the steamer could not safely go
near the distressed vessel and she lay
to, waiting for daylight. In the mean
time the flare lights were Kept burn
ing to encourage the crew of the un-
known vessel After daybreak it was
learned that the distressed vessel was
the Tafalla, 995 tons, Captain ). Rolg,
with a cargo of pitch pine from Bruins
wick, Ga, for Valencia The storm
was so great that no small boat could
be sent to the assistance of the Ia
falla and Captain Roig hoisted the
following signal: Leaking six inches
an hour Main pump broken and
smaller pump clogged. Men worn
out"
Captain Day signalled he would lie
by until the storm abated. Toward
noon, however, the captain of the Brit
ish steamer decided to shoot a line to
the bark which he succeeded in doing
after steaming his vessel dangerously
near the bark. The hawser was fast
ened to the bark ard SO progress was
made in the turbulent sea. Late in
the afternoon the haWser snapped and
the Spanish vessel again drifted help
lessly with water gaining in the hold.
Night came and Captain Day decided
to stand by until morning.
During the night the storm did not
abate and Captain Roig continued to
send up rockets and Captain Day to
burn flare lights so that they would
not become separated.
With daylight on Monday it was
seen that the bark was lower in the
water, but the British crew could do
nothing until the sea became calmer,
because the only hawser on the YES
sci was the one that had broken. Mon
day night the vessels We're still to-
gether, and the rockets and flare
lights were kept going. After four a.
m, Tuesday, the crew of the Arcs
Castle saw no more rockets and all was
darkness. When daylight came not
a sign of the Spanish bark could be
seen on the ocean. and it is the be-
lief of the British crew that the ves-
sci was ripped open by the tremend-
Gus waves and went down with all
hands on board. The fury of the
storm was so great, Captain Day re-
ports, that no small boat could have
safely rode the waves. The Aros
Castle for half a day steamed in all
directions in the hope of finding some
trace of the vessel, but saw nothing.
The Tafalla, which formerly carried
the name of Ammina, was built in
1877.