The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1905-12-19
RESCUED JUST IN TINE
USED WIRELESS TO SUMMON AID

Thirteen Men on Nantucket South shoai
Vessel BaiIed Out Water by Hand Foi
Twenty. four Hours Tender Azalea
Started to Tow the Lightship to New
Bedford, But the Latter Founderod.
New Bedford, Persistent bail
ing by hand for twenty-four weary
hours, while waiting the arrival OF
help summoned by wireless telegraphy.
saved the lives Of the thirteen men or
board the Nantucket South Shoai relief
lightship No. IS, but the vessel went
down few minutes after the crew
had tumbled over The side into their
lifeboat.
For six hours the lighthouse tender
Azalea, which had answered the cal.
for help, lay alongside the waterlogged
Iightship, unable to render assistance
owing to the fearful sea AT length
the weather moderated, and then an
effort was made to tow the lightshin
to New Bedford. But, after eighteen
miles had been covered. the water.
which had been coming in steadily
through leak in the fireroom COM
partment, gained rapidly on the al
ready exhausted crew, and the distress
signal was hoisted
Without stopping for any of their be-
longings. the crew launched their
boat and jumped into il They had
Fcwed only short distance when No.
So plunged beneath the waves. The
men were pulled on board the AzaIea.
which had steamed back to rescue
them, and they were brought here safe
and sound.
Relief lightsbip No. SIS, commanded
by Capt. .Eorgenson, of Dennis, took the
place of No. ~ on December S. Tho
vessel was equipped with wireless
telegraphy, and constant communiea
tion could be kept up with Newport.
AT two o'clock the other morning a
leak was discovered just above the
tire-room plates in the midship COM
partment Of the vessel. For several
hours the vessel was kept free by aid
of her steam pumps, but at eight
O'Clock it was apparent that the water
was gaining. and message was sent
to Newport for aid
During the next few hours the water
rose rapidly, until the fires under the
boilers had been, quenched and pump
ing by mechanical means ceased. Sew
eral messages were sent after the dyna-
mos stopped, by means of storage bat
teries, all urging that some vessel be
sent rs soon as possible
During all this time the little light
ship had been tumbled about in one
of the severest storms of the season.
Realizing that Handwriting might pos
siOly keep the vessel afioat until help
arrived, the thirteen men started the
tedious work of hosting the water
from the flooded hold by buckets. the
hand-pumps being Of little use. With
ont stopping for food or sleep, they
managed to hold their own for twenty
four hours.
at two o'clock in the morning, one
Of the naval wireless operators was
able to send out one more message
stating that the Iightship was in dis
tress, and urging that help be sent
from anywhere" The power gave
out before he could sign the message
Two hours later the Azalea, which has
been the tender for the lightships on
this station for many years, was sight
cd by the light of the setting moon.
AT ten O'clock the sea, under the in
fuence of the Northwestern which had
followed the easterly storHl. claimed
down to a moderate roll. and line
was sent to the lightship from the
Azalea. Can't Jorgensen hailed Cant.
Gibbs or the tender. and said he
thought his men could keep the vessel
aiioat until she reached New Bedford.
although the middle Commandment was
nearly full of water The line from
the Azalea was made fast, Still the
crew continued to bail. although great
~ exhausted by their hard labors.
1t was about noon when. after eight
cen miles had been covered, Capt. Tor.
censor hoisted the distress signals on
the lightship. and the towing stopped.
The Azalea ran back toward the sink
ing vessel. while the crew of the light.
ship pushed their lifeboat over tha
side. Can't. Jorgenson was the last
TO leave his shin. Ten minutes later
No. SO plunged beneath the waves.
The crew rowed around on the lee
ward Size of the Azalea and Were
dragged aboard, almost too exhausted
TO stand. They were sent below
warmed fed, and then put TO bed.
The wireless outfit on the lightshir
was valued at $4,000
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