Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-02-06
Stmr. ST. Cuthbert Sur
vivors Very Thankful
For Rescue From Death and
Their Kind Treatment.
Landed at Boston...Stories Of the
Disaster Are Thrilling.


from their burning and sinking ves-
sci by the steamer Cymric last Mon
DAY, 400 miles from THIS port, were
landed here today, 4 particularly
thankful lot OF human beings. for II
of their companions persisted in last
Sundays disaster. The individual ac-
counts only empha sized the combined
story Of their sufferings and priva-
tons which was sent from the steam
er Cymbric last night by wireless tel
Cgrapl. six Of these who reached here
today were in need Of careful nursing
and two Of them, Capt. John Lewis,
the commander of the vessel. and Ar
mand Jobart, Il seaman, were so bad
~ burned about the head and face that
1t was with difficulty they were taken
to the hospital. Both, however, will
recover.
Four other members of the crew
were also taken to the hospital, but
will probably be out in a few days.
There were number of stowaways
on board and it is expected that the
Americans. Ave in number, will be al
lowed to land by the authorities. The
British seamen and the officers of the
St. Cutnbert vii lbe sent back to Liv-
erpool, a majority leaving tomorrow
on the steamer Winifredian.
Nearly all the seamen and other
workmen on the boat were practically
destitute of warm clothing, but this
was provided for by William Gray,
the local agent Of the Phoenix Line, to
which the St. Cuthbert belonged. and
by the Seamen's Mission.
First officer Stivey and the boats
crew of the Cymbric which made three
trips TO the st. Cuthbert Monday af-
ternoon in particularly angry sea,
tok their honors very modestly today.
although Capt. Finch of the Cymric
seemed much pleased with their con-
duct. Capt. Finch was Of the opinion
that the ST. Cuthbert sank within a
few hours after she was abandoned
and that she no longer is q menace to
navigation.
The steamer Cambrian arrived on
the scene few hours after the Gym
ric, but finding that it was impossi-
BILE to tow the st. Cuthbert she con-
tinued on to this port. According to
the accounts of the officers and sea-
men of the st. Cuthbert. Third Officer
james White of Waterford, Ireland,
and Seaman Steig We're the first who
lost their lives, both being knocked
overheard soon after the fire started,
while they were clearing away one OF
the lifeboats. 1t was Capt. Lewis idea
after three lifeboats had been burned
to launch the other boats and have
them alongside in case the flames
reached the after hold and ignited the
naptholine.
After White and Steig had gone the
rest of the boats crew got the boat
away and nine men tumbled into her.
They had been alongside the vessel
about an hour when the poor handling
sent her up against the prcpellers.
where she was smashed. One man, r.
Brach, the boatswain, was hauled UP
on the deck. but all the rest in the
boat were drowned.
Meantime two stoWaWayS who had
been caught in the forward part of the
vessel, attempted to come aft on the
jumper stay, wire rope which con-
meets the two masts high above the
deck. One of the men. William Spauld-
ing Of New York, succeeded, but the
other, James Collins, went down into
the burning hold.
The second boat that was cleared
Was marned by 10 men, but there was
no officer aboard and when the paint
er parted the boat drlftcd away and
was tossed about several miles from,
the ship nearly all day Sunday. Three
of the men in the boat went mad and
only by using a piece of sail that the
rIs-t al I.Nt tns,n y.
lng the ship the three madmen refused
to help themselves ana when the boat
was almost smashed against tho
steamers side they were drowned
This completed the death list.
Nearly all the sailors were loud ir
the praise Of First officer Hobbs and
Second Officer Touhey. who hat
charge of lighting the flames, after the
| injury to Capt. Lewis. while all hands
were not only enthusiastic but very
thankful to the boats crew of the
CymIic.
Robert Jackson of New York, a cattle
| man, who was working his way back tc
this country or the steamer st. Cuth.
BERT save the following account OF tho
disaster:
About $50 o'clock Sunday morning
was awakened by u loud explosion anc
| rushed Oh deck in my undertaking. Th,
u hole shin an,>oo-a1 q, no al