Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-03-17
STEAMER SINKS
AT SEA; PERISH
Phoenix Liner British King Founders
in Raging Storm.
RESCUERS DID HEROIC WORK

hEoOUEho DlD HEnOiO WYNN
Boston, March Is. Suffering. mental
and physical. and numerous acts OF
hcr0sm in saving life rarely equalled
in the record OF tragedies of the sea
attended the loss OF the Phoenix line
steamer British King. which on Sunday
last. in n raging Atlantic storm, found
cred about 1870 miles south OF Sable
Island. and carried TO death q MEM
beers of the crew. Thirteen men were
rescued from the sinking vessel by the
I.eyland line steamer Bostonian. and
II by the German tank steamer Mann
helm. Rotterdam for New YORK. Five
others VINO had been drawn down in
the vortex into which the British King
was cngulied were picked up by the
Bostonan from frail bit OF wreckage
which they had grasped after desper-
10 struggle for life in the whirlpool.
ate struggle for life In the whirlpool.
CAPTAIN James OHagan of the Brit
ish King. died on board the Bostonian
from the effect of terrible injuries sus-
taired in trying to save his ship.
When the first lfboat was lowered
from the Bostonian the small craft was
swept against the stern Of the big
shin and destroyed. and several of the
seamen were bruised and manned. Yet.
despite The boisterous condition of the
sea. the volunteers were rescued by
lines thrown out from their steamer.
A second attempt TO reach the sink
Ing ship was successful. and thirteen
men. including Captain O'Hagan. were
taken from the British King to the
Bostonian. Then again powerful
billow carried the lifeboat against the
side of the ship and destroyed 1t, and
the life savers were thrown into the
sea. To be rescued only after an hours
effort by their comrades.
Volunteers from the Mannheim. after
a heroic battle with the waves, had
taken off II from the British King, but
after this neither of the steamers. in
consequence of the increasing gale.
could make an attempt to reach the
laundering freighter. Moreover dark
ness fell and It was an utter impossi-
biiity TO do else but wait for the moon
light TO guide them. In the darkness.
the British King, which was then wa
terlogged and helpless plunged TO the
bottom.
For three days her captain and crew.
working against unconquerable odds,
had tried to prevent or at least post
pone their ships destruction. On FRI
day. in the height of the tempest. the
deckload OF oil barrels of the British
King and all her fittings were carried
overheard. The barrels and wreckage.
forming into n powerful ram, were
driven down upon her sides with crush
ing force. opening mp the vessels plates
and allowing the water 10 pour into
her holds
The extent of the leak was not I'm
derstood until tho following day how
ever. and then. although all hands were
placed at the pumps the water gained
considerably. The fires had been ex-
tInguished and the engines rendered
useless by the rising water. The only
remedy nj hand lay in repairing the
damaged sections. At the end of three
days when all hands had labored cease
lessly without rest and with little food.
the Bostonian and Mannheim were
sighted and to these Captain O'Hagan
displayed the signal for assistance.
The men Of the British King were
brave. for they pushed one another for
ward all apparently willing TO wait for
the last chance of being saved. They
almost overloaded the small boat.
which returned to the Mannheim in
safety Whether the Mannheim had
lowered other boats. which had been
stove In. was not known, although sur
vvors of the lost steamer say that
this happened.
The British King sailed from New
York last Wednesday bound for Ant
werp with a miscellaneous cargo and
$50 head Of cattle