The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-06-06
CREW SAVED,
BARGE LOST
LAST SUNDAY

The big wooden barge Pactoius.
bound here from Baltimore with 100
tons OF coal, sank of Hog Island, Va,
last Sunday morning, after unceasing
battles TO keep afioat during the high
gale which prevailed and which had
opened up the seams OF the old craft.
Her crew escaped.
The tug Tormentor, with her remain
ing barge, the Luzon, reached here at
4 o'clock yesterday afternoon. with the
rescued crew Oh board, two of them,
Capt. James II. Deputy and Samuel
p Young, engineer. suffering from in
juries received during the last fight
the barge made for her life. The barge
Luzon sustained a terrific battering In
the same storm which sent the Pacto-
lus TO the bottom.
Keen apprehension is also felt for
the tug r. III. Smith. which, with the
barges Occidental and Gatherer, left
Baltimore at the same time as the
Tormentor. bound east. OF which no
news has yet been received.
When the Tormentor came steaming
up the harbor yesterday afternoon
news OF the loss OF the Pactolus.
brought by Capt. Miles OF the tug M.
Il. Luckenbach, which had spoken the
Tormentor. had preceded her. and sew
eral interested persons awaited her ar
rival at her dock.
The Luckenbach's master had not
been sure OF the safety of the barge's
crew. but the fact that Capt. Deputy
OF the Pactolus was one OF the first
to appear on deck as the tug entered
her berth off South Water street
brought reinsurance which he at once
verbally sustained.
The Pactolus left Baltimore last
Friday In tow of the tug The Pacto-
lus was the stern barge. All went well
until Saturday In the afternoon the
tow passed Cape Henry and then was
fairly at sea. The wind was moderate.
though easterly. and the sea was
smooth.
Soon after sundown. when the tow
had proceeded 40 miles along the coast
and was of Hog Island. the wind.
shifting into the southeast. began to
blow a gale, which kicked up a wicked
cross sea. The Pactolus. which was
AZ years old, began TO leak, although
$4,000 was recently spent in an at
tempt to make her thoroughly sea
worthy. Her steam pumps were in
good condition and these were set
going at full speed. For time they
controlled the inflow of water.
When morning came the Pactolus
was sinking fast and Capt. Deputy sig
nailed the tug to come alongside.
knowing the old craft was near her
end. There was Is feet Of water In
her hold. her cabin was full of water
and every roll seemed as IL II might
be her last. AS the wind and sea had
gone down somewhat Capt. Deputy de-
cided to take to lifeboat. With his
crew Of three men he launched the lit
tie 1s-footer and set out in her for the
Tormentor which was already on her
way TO the rescue.
Before leaving the barge the captain
cast Off the hawser which held the
craft to the Luzon, thus freeing the
latter vessel After boarding the tug.
which was reached in safety. all hands
watched with interest the finish of the
doomed barge. whose steam pumps
were still running at full speed.
Within an hour she went down, bow
first. AS she sank her stern was raised
high In the air until IL was blown into
wreckage by an explosion, caused by
the compression of the air driven aft.
She went down in 13 fathoms, IL miles
southeast OF Hog Island
Capt. Deputy and his men lost every
thing but tho clothes they stood in. The
barge was not insured. although her
cargo was underwritten. She was
valued at $4,000. She was built at
Thomaston, Me, In 1865, was 1914 feet
long 3s.5 feet wide and 23.5 feet deep.
She was formerly the bark OF the
same name