Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-01-06
THRILLING EXPERIENCES AT
SEA.

Compelled to lash the mselves to the
masts, and later cut their way through
the ice on deck, for three days, while
terrific gales threatened to send them to
the bottom, is the terrible experience OF
the crew of the Norwegian steamer Cey-
lon. which arrived at Philadelphia yes
terday from Newfoundland. The ves-
sci when she arrived bore many evil
dences of her hard battle with the ele-
ments. Boats and rails were smashed
to kindling wood, and her cabin was
badly damaged, and her iceladen deck
and rigging showed how severe had been
the winter blasts she had encountered.
The vessel is commanded by Captain
Johansen. He reports that on Decem-
Der "a and 2j the Ceylon ran into a
series of heavy gales, which made their
voyage extremely perilous, and caused
the crew much suffering. Icy sleet and
snow covered the vessel and interfered
seriously with the outlook, compelling
the steamer to proceed with great eau
tiou, while winds of almost hurricane
proportions lashcd the sea into Jury
and held the vessel at their mercy.
When Christmas Day dawned, instead
of enjoying the festival the suffering
men were compelled to labor for their
lives. Progress on deck was almost im-
possible, and those who we're compelled
hy their duties to be on deck lashed
themselves to the masts and rigging, and
saw their boats crunched like chips
while thew were helpless. Wave after
wave dashed over the decks, only to
freeze as they fell, and when the storm
finally abated, so thickly coated was the
vessel that it was necessary for the worm
out seamen 10 cut away theice with axes.
Three whole days we're spent thus, and
tons of ice thrown overheard before the
vessel was again under full control OF
Captain Johanseu and his men. When
the storms had abated, such temporary
repairs as Sere possible were made, and
the Ceylon ended her journey without
further mlshao.
OF all the remarkable tales of suffering
on the seas nothing excels that brought
on the North German Lloyd steamer
Koln Yesterday by Capt. William Yet
man. of the Nova Scotian schooner
Harold, who, with clew of FIVE men,
we're snatched from the very jaws OF
death by a heroic volunteer crew of
life-savers from the steamer Had the
rescue been deferred II hours the men
would have perished, as there is no
reasonable doubt that the water logged
Harold went to the bottom in terrific
storm that followed shortly after the
schooners crew had been placed in safety
on the steamers deck. Struck by a
waterspout while lying to in gale the
schooner was wrenched almost under,
and would have sunk Instantly but for
the resourcefulness of her crew. With
tarpaulins over her splintered bow and
a huge chain cable hove around her the
vessel was held together enough to hoat
by the incessant work at the pumps by
the men. For II days they thus
struggled with death as the penalty OF a
let up and, during that time not a
morscl had they to eat but some moudly
ship biscuit and some wine found in the
captains cabin, for the great wall OF
water that almost wiped them out
stripped the deck clear of everything,
including the galley and the provisions.
And yet through sll this terrible ex-
perience not life was lost but pet
dog, and he died by being crushed be-
tween the sides Of the derelict and the
liieboat while being transferred.