Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-01-17
Tale Of the Sufferings Of
Shipwrecked Crew
or British Steamer ToIesby,
Wrecked Off Cape Race.
Men Tell Of Narrow Escape From
Death on Coast.

st. Johns, y. F., Jan. 1.-THE par
ticularS Of the remarkable escape from
death and the story of the privations
endured by the crew of the British
steamer Tolesby, which was wrecked
10 miles west Of Cape Race on Mon
day, We're learned from the men who
arrived here today. Their experience
has seldom been equalled in marine
records.
The Tolesby was bound from GAL
weston, Texas, for Havre, France. with
cargo OF cotton. During thick
snow storm Monday noon the officers
lost their bearings and the ship
struck with a terrific crash on a sub
merged ledge at the foot of steep
cliff, 500 feet high, the only spot along
the long stretch Of coast where she
could have remained above water aftef
going on the rocks.
The crew of "a men remained on the
vessel four hours. Signal guns were
fired at frequent intervals for assis-
lance and as night approached rockets
We're sent up. The section of coast
where the steamer went ashore Is one
of the most desolate on the bleak and
ironbound coast of New Foundland,
and Is sparcely settled. There are two
settlements within six or seven miles
of the wreck but in the storm the
guns We're not heard and no persons
saw the rockets on account of the
| thick weather.
| Just before darkness fell the storm
suddenly increased to q heavy gale.
! Immense waves swept the decks of the
doomed craft, washing overheard every
movable article. The merciless pound
| ing of the seas finally broke the back
| of the steamer abaft of the engine
| room and the crew, fearing She would
| go TO pieces before morning. launched
the liteboats in a desperate attempt tc
| save themselves from pershing. Three
| boats were put over the Sides but all
were smashed to pieces. The crew then
constructed RATS from spars, and after
a hard struggle with the big pillows
succeeded in landing on a narrow ston!
| beach in a cove at the foot OF the cliff
4 solid wall of rock, 500 feet high and
extending for miles.
The men We're little better off thar
when on board their CrublnS vessel
| for the tide rose during the evening anG
threatened to sweep them from their
position. One daring seaman with
rope about his waist succeeded in seal
ing the cliff after he had nearly fallel
several times. He was able to haul VI
three others Of the crew. This risins
tide cut off all chances Of the othcl
men reaching the rope. The night wa.
extremely cold and the shipwrecket
crew, nearly all wet to the skin, SUI
fcred terribly. The sailors say that hai
the tide risen another foot they wouic
have persisted. The marooned men were
10 hours on the hillock. Most of then
suffered from frost bites, and all wer.
without food.
The four who reached the summit o
the cliff Monday evening attempted tt
locate a settlement but went in the op
Iposite direction to the nearest place. They
wern almost overcome by the cold ant
were forced to seek shelter in a vacan
fisherman's hut for the night. Tuesda,
forenoon they continued on for four mile
and finally found a settlement. Return
ing with some of the male residents the,
met villagers of another settlement wht
had seen the wreck. BY means Of rope
lowered to the foot of the cliff severa
men descended. They found the casta
ways too helpless from hunger and ex
posure to attempt the ascent themselves
and all hands had to be assisted to tn,
top.
News Of the wreck was not received
here until Tuesday, and then only meagr,
particulars We're available.
The steamer Is n total wreck ant
much Of her cargo is adrift. The ship
wrecked men will be forwarded to Eng
land from this port