The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-12-16

| y.
don: Mate Charles Kelly, New London;
Harry Brown. deck hand. Providence:
Charles Johnson, deck hand. Jersey City,
| Lewing Hagenes, fireman, Norway; Ben
jamin Nilsson, fireman. Norway; Ole
Sumclfore. fireman. New London.
on the Elk-Capt James Brown, Jersey
City
on the Engllsh-capt A. Barker.
Orange, n. j.; Seaman Elmer Tapley,
| North Brooklin, Me-
ON the Wyman-Capt John Loenfior,
| Hoboken. n. j.
on the Sumner-capt. Jake Storar.
Brooklyn: Everett Matteson. pol Rich
mond street, Providence; Mrs Matteson.
| II Is considered remarkable that the
wrecking OF the FIVE craft was not at
tended with loss OF life in the binding
storm OF Saturday afternoon. That
this is true is due to the heroic ef-
fort OF the crews at the Watch Hill
and Quonochontaug life saving sta
tions. who battled for hours with
binding snow and sleet driving. at
velocity of 6S miles an hour and seas
Is feet high.
The tug Hercules is valued at $4,000.
| The officials OF one OF the Scott wreck
| ing company's tugs, which came over
| from New London yesterday, said that
! IL might be possible TO save -seae-ef
her machinery. but the chances are
| that the seas Will break her TO pieces
| on the rocks before any effective work
can be done toward raising her.
| The barges are valued at about $4,000
| each.
The wreckage extends from Noyes
! Point. near which the bow OF the Sum-
ner. which broke is two, lies to point
| about "a mile TO the westward.
| The Hercules lies about 1000 feet off
| shore with her stack Just showing
| above the waves.
At o'clock Saturday morning Capt.
stevens left Newport on the Hercules
with the four barges I'm tow. AT about
| $3.50 when he was off Point Judith the
| storm seemed to blow out
He continued along the shore and
was running along about a mile and
half off shore when near Noyes beach.
Suddenly he felt grating impact
| under the bow of the tug. This was
followed moment later by~a second
| blow, this time at the stern. Capt
stevens at once sent a man below TO
| ascertain the damage. He reported
that water was coming in through
two holes, one at the stern and one at
the bow.
The pumps were started, but ID was
evident that they could not take care
of the water, which was entering. SO
Capt. Stevens headed full speed for the
drop their anchors. AS the tug made
for the shore the tow line was paid
out, not cut as was first reported:
Beach. the tug struck. and the crew low
cred the two boats and reached the shore
through the surf in safety.
The point where the tug struck is not
| patrolled by the crews OF either of the
life-saving stations. and after they reach
cd shore Capt. stevens started at once
for the Watch Hill station. about ten
| miles away. He was stricken with an at
tack of heart failure while on the way,
but reached the station with assistance,
and revived when stimulants were APP
piled.
From the Watch Hill station the men
| of the Quonochontaug station were no.
titled. as was Capt Knowles Of the life
saving district.
During this time the barges had been
dragging their anchors as each wave
| swept over them.
A successful attempt was made to
| reach them by the surf boat by the
| Watch Hill crew, but II was found Inn
possible TO board the barges on account
| of the heavy seas. The boat returned 10
the beach. and the life-savers prepared
| TO render aid 10 each barge as IT came
| ashore.
The Elk came first. having parted her
anchors at 4 o'clock. and dragged the
other barges. tied together with tow ine'
after her.
The English came next. and was fol-
| lowed by the Sumner, after which came
The greatest difficulty was experienced
on the Sumner. which broke in two. leav-
ing those aboard on the stern part.
After "A while the deck OF this part also
| woman on IT, The life-savers, however
managed to get line fast TO the floating
deck and towed * ashore.
In the other barges lines were got out
| To them by heaving sticks. and the crew
| then made their way To the shore with
| tho help of the line.
BAD WEATHER CONDITIONS.
The rain alternated with the snow yes
terday to make weather conditions here
miserable. What began as rain during
tho early part OF the afternoon turned TO
snow at about 2:3O. which continued until
well into the night. The slush on the side
walks made walking unpleasant, but new
erthelcss the downtown streets were well
filled with pedestrians.
In the harbor nearly all the steamers
were late, the New York boats coming
in almost two hours behind the schedule
time The Kentucky. a large passenger
steamer, due here early In the morning,
did not arrive until $50 In the afternoon.
The harbor traffic was practically at n
standstill due 10 the unsettled weather.
MRS. MATTESON'S STORY.
Mrs. Everett Matteson told OF her thrill
ling experience as follows:
II was In the cabin OF the Sumner when
the Hercules struck the submerged
| wreckage OF IN eLarchmont. but did not
realize that anything was amiss until 7
heard tho Hercules blow her whistle.
There was something ominous In those
blasts seemed 10 feel that trouble was
coming but I was not sure until I saw
the nose OF the Hercules turned abruptly
shorcwsrd and observed that Capt Stew
ems was pushing her with all speed to-
ward the beach.
Presently tho Hercules was bcachcd.
the tow was left 10 shift for Itself ana
each captain lropped anchor and waited
for the life saving crews to come tn their
relief. our own position was n bad one.
for we were quite well In shore and the