New-York tribune., 1905-12-13
GUNB0AT SAILORS SAFE.
R4LTNG SAVES THE SHIP.
Hgktshp,s Crer, Too, Had Desper-
ate Fight 5cith Seas.

Nevport r. I, Dec 1.-THE little gunboat
1rosn formerly the yacht Columbia, limped into
.o-t to-day under one boiler and several sails
st.- terrific battle with a North Atlantic
,,r-icane during which she sprung leak, and
,-.s kent aloat after her pumps cholHed, through
A.,5 haling by her entire crew. The little ves-
ii vzss blown nearly to the Gulf Stream by Sun
ssv,s Storm and was two days getting back to
-. At one time the water. which came in
,hrough a leak in the stern, flooded her engine
,or, and for ten hours on Sunday the Wasp
- e+ the mercy Of the waves. The crew of
-,~+v men, third of whom were naval ap-
.-.n+ices. haled for many hours with buckets
- 4nsIIy succeeded in clearing the engine
- EIcspital Steward White sustained
...l,., r,b but refused to give up his place IN
the bsling line
Grief Boatswain Hugh Sweeney, the com
-.ander Of the Wasp, received the commentator
;, The officers at the naval training station here
"a which the Wasp is attached
The wasp left at I o'clock on Saturday for
,,s relief Of the brig Harry Smith, which was
.hongrt To be in a dangerous position at the
,r-rance Of Vineyard Sound. At O'Clock on
sat,rday night the storm broke. On Sunday
r,o-ning. while the Wasp was entirely helpless,
,.o,-y seas came aboard. breaking in the deck
,onse smashing doors and carrying away the
s.ct 4rrings. Early on Monday one boiler was
@t.r+es I'D. and the Wasp headed back toward
,-sznor.. never making a greater speed than
,n,o tnots an hour She reached here about
o'clock this afternoon
The gunboat Hist, which went to the relief OF
the Nantucket iightship. is expected back TO-
morrow.
New Bedford. Mass. Dec. 12.-Persistent bail
ing by hand for twenty-four weary hours and
Io1-. NOD
the lives yesterday of the thirteen men on board
The Nantucket south shoal Relief Lightship No
So but the vessel went down few minutes after
the crew had tumbled over the side into their
lifeboat
For six hours Monday the lighthouse tender
Azalea. which had answered the call for help
lay alongside the waterlogged lightship, unable
"a render assistance owing to the fearful sea-
Al length the weather moderated, and an ef-
fort was made 70 tow the lightship TO New
Bedford But. after eighteen miles had been
covered the water. which had been coming in
steadily through a leak IN the freroom COM
psrtrnent since early Sunday morning, began 70
gain on the already exhausted crew, and the
distress signal vas hcisted.
without stopping for any Of their belongings.
the crew launched their boat and jumped into
f. They had rowed only a short distance when
No IS plunged beneath the waves. The men
we're pulled on board the Azales, which had
steamed back 70 rescue them. and every one
vas brought here safe and sound, early to-day
The relief lightship No. s. commanded by
captain Jorgenson. of. Dennis. took the place Of
70 - on December ;. The vessel was equipped
Hith wireless +eleE-arb.. 80 canstas77t CON-
munication could be kept up with Newport
At 2 o'clock on Sunday morning a leak was
discovered just above the firerooh plates in the
rnidship compartment Of the vessel. For several
hours the vessel was kept free by aid of her
steam pumps but at O'Clock it was apparent
that the water was gaining and message was
sent II Newport for aid.
During the next few hours the water rose rap
IDLY. until the fires under the boilers had been
quenched and pumping by mechanical means
ceased.
At ( O'Clock Monday morning the Azalea
vas sighted, and 1T 70 o'clock the sea, under the
influence of the northwester which had followed
the easterly storm camed down to moderate
roll, and line vas sent to the lightship from
the Azalea.
But the new strain from the towIine on the
bow seemed to open up the breach in the side
Of the lightship still more. and the water be
gar 10 gain OF The crew. About noon af-
ter eighteen miles had been covered. Captain
JorCenson hOisted distress signals the light
ship, and the towing stopped The Azalea ran
hack toward the sinking vessel. while the crew
Of the lightship pushed their lifeboat over the
side. No one stopped TO gather up any belong
ings. One by one they slid down the rope into
the boat. Captain Jorgenson the last to
leave his ship. Ten minutes later the lightship
ssnk
The crew rowed around on the eeward side Of
the Azalea and were dragged aboard. almost too
exhausted 10 stand