Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-01-04
EFFORTS TO SAVE CREW OF
STRANDED STEAMER THUS,
FAR WITHOUT AVAIL.
WAVES SWEEP VESSEL
FROM STEM TO STERN
Three Sailors Said to Have Already
Perished-Another Steamer in Dis
tress Reported Of Coast Of North
Carolina.


zier are still awaiting rescue. For near
ly 96 hours the Drumelzier has been
aground and at the mercy of the sea.
The crew of 81 men is believed to have
been reduced to 20, according to the dis
tress signals displayed, three having al
ready persisted. Every effort to rescue
the half frozen men has been futile.
Vessel in Bad Position.
Signals, which were exchanged be-
tween the stranded steamer and the
wrecking tugs Thursday forenoon, were
interpreted by the marine observer at
Fire island as indicating that the posi-
ton of the Drumelzier was by no means
secure. One set of signals said that she
had only one anchor left, that that one
was bent and twisted and that she was
laboring badly. A few minutes after
these signals passed surf boat put out
from one of the wrecking tugs and it is
believed that three or four men were put
on board the steamer.
The wind and sea subsidized gradually
through the day but up to ESQ o'clock
in the afternoon the Fire island life
saving crew had not succeeded in reach
ing the Drumelzier. At that time prep
arations were being made to launch the
surf boat for another attempt to reach
the stranded steamer.
Waves Sweep Ship.
Watchers on shore marvel that the
crew has not succumbed to exposure or
been washed from the deck or rigging OF
the steamer. All day Wednesday the
steamer was swept, by mountainous
waves that left only her funnel visible
from Fire island and Thursday the chilly
blasts had coated her sides, deck and
rigging with ice. The condition of the
steamer herself was unknown to those
on shore, but twas feared that she could
hardly be f1t to live in and that the seas
breaking over her we're sweeping her
interior through broken cabin windows
and doors; and that the condition Of her
crew must be extremely uncomfortable.
Sailor Swept Overheard.
The liner Yucatan, which arrived in
the Mersey from New OrleARs, had ter
rible voyage. Heavy weather was en-
countered almost all the way across. At
the height of the storm the quartermas-
ter, while giving orders to the deck
hands, was washed overheard. He was
seen holding up his hands In the trough
OF the sea in an appeal for help, but moth
ing could be done, the deck being clean
swept by the breakers, and he was car
ried astern and speedily lost to sight.
Another Steamer in Distress.
Richmond, Va, Dec. 30.-Life-saving
crews from the Hatteras, Kennakeet and
Curds Hill stations on the North Caro-
lima coast, have just started off to the
unknown steamer stranded on Diamond
shoals. The distressed ship, with which
there has been no communication, lies
in the same position last reported and q
portion, If not all, of the crew are sup
posed to be safe on board as torch lights
were seen burning on the steamer until
daylight Thursday. The sea is very
rough, but is going down. The vessel
is eight miles from shore.
Seven Persons Rescued.
Havre, Dec. 30.-The British steamer
Anglo-Chilian from Pensacola via New
port News, which arrived here Wednes-
day with Capt. Nelson, his wife and five
members Of the crew of the American
schooner w. r. Chester on board, re-
ports having rescued them I'm mid
ocean when the Chester was sinking
after having encountered four days
storm. Capt. Nelson set fire to the
schooner before abandoning her.