The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-12-13
BAILING kept
WASP AFL0AT
Little GunbOat Limped Into
Newport Under Canvas.
LEAK PUT FIRES OUT TWICE
Men Had Terrible Tine BallIng With
Buckets and Canvas Bags-No Sleep
Slice Saturday

A story OF exposure and of heroic effort
10 keep ahoat more stirring even than
that related by the crew Of the Nantuck-
ct lightship, which foundered Monday
morning, was told this afternoon by the
officers and men OF the gunboat Wasp.
which limped into port at 800 under her
fore and aft sails. after an attempt to
succor the brig Henry smith
Indeed. almost a wreck was the little
craft, which with three feet OF water In
her hold had been within an ace Of going
down while her crew bailed for 32 hours
in the cold and dark and a gale raging
hcst from the northeast and then from
the northwest
Though the weather I'm which the WASP
put 10 sea Saturday afternoon was al
most too severe for her when I'm the very
best OF condition, II was n leak I'm her
stern that endangered her. This leak,
which has not been explained, will he
made the subject OF an investigation a.
once, It appeared TO be about the propel-
Ter sockets. where a ship is usually espe-
cially staunch. 1t Is certain that the water
came in from about the propeller and that
the weakness that developed there en-
dangcred the ship and the lives OF the 30
men who composed her crew
Ihe Wasp went out at p. m. Saturday,
Capt Sawyer OF the training station hav-
ing been advised that the brig Henry
Smith Of New Bedford was of Vineyard
Haven In distress. It was hurry order,
and the Wasp went 10 sea with little
preTara'" beyond the putting on OF pro-
visions for three days
Chief Boatswain Hugh Sweeney, one OF
the best sailors In the service. was put I'm
command. with Boatswain r. ". ShepIey
as second officer The vessel had only one
boiler IN condition. but II was thought
this deficiency should not deter her from
going TO the rescue Of n shipwrecked crew
so she put out
rUMFS -wOULDN'T WORK.
It was about $50 Sunday morning that
the watch reported the Wasp making
water rapidly. and investigation was at
once made The leak was found. but no
means Of stopping it could be devised
The crew We're ordered TO the blge
pumps. but greatly to their CONSERVATION,
Il was found that they would not pump a
stroke. A conference was at once held.
as the situation was observed TO be very
serious under the circumstances.
IL was determined that all hands must
resort to bailing as the only means OF
saving the ship and themselves,
BOatswain Sweeney resumed his post at
the wheel and the rest were organized
into two parties. one to use buckets and
the other TO use bags, as there were not
enough buckets TO so around.
Here a new difficulty presented itself.
for TO bail Il was found necessary to
open the doors and thus much OF the
water that was shipped found it way be-
low.
For a time. while the wind blew the
hardest and the Wasp labored the most,
the water gained on the bailers till 81 was
three feet deep This was at s o'clock
Sunday morning, after the men had been
four hours at work with their bags and
buckets.
Then the fires went out and II was very
cold, and the dynamo was put out OF
commission and there was nothing but
the dim light OF a few lanterns TO work
by. At this time the situation seemed
very desperate, but the men continued
their WORK heroically.
STEWARD WHITE BREAKS RIB.
Hospital Steward George White was
thrown heavily against a stanchion by
the lurching OF the vessel. as n big sea
struck her. lie had one of his ribs
broken. but he resumed his post in the
line of bailers, and. though suffering
great pain. he continued there till IT was
certain that the ship was saved
At this time Boatswain Sweeney re-
solved TO send up signals OF distress. so
desperate did the situation seem. and all
Sunday night rockets were fired every few
minuts.
They brought no relief, though once I'm
It was thought an answering rocket was
seen The crew hoped and bailed, but no
came 10 them. Many who were
green at seagong became III, and some
went down on their knees but few were
obliged TO quit bailing
First. all efforts was directed against
the water in the FIRE room, as IL had
been very cold aboard since the fires
had been put out. Moreover &c was
necessary TO get the engines going again
4 ii was desired to make port.
Soon IL became evident that some head
way was being made, and that the water
In the fire room was slowly receding At
II o'clock Sunday morning. after 10 hours
~ steady bailng by every man on board
save the captain at the wheel, the upper
fires could be relighted.
At 4 o'clock Sunday afternoon, after
bailin CHAD been going on for Is hours
steadily. tho engines was started.
ENGINES NEARLY USELESS.
Then came great disappointment
Owing TO the water in the fire room the
engines lost so much steam that they
we're OF very little use. The fact that
he water was under control was. how
'ver, apparent. ana from this time the
men took new courage as they continued
heir bailing.
wo upper fires Of each boiler could be
inc could much speed be got out OF the
vessel. While the men bailed. the gale
continued. nrst from the northeast and
hen from the northwest.
'essel was under most Of the time. and
he Wasp shipped seas that stove In her
ioors with q crash.
rHnArntn