The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-05-27
ROUND SHIP CREW
PASSENGERS OF STEAMER cycI.A
 DIES TAKEN TO LAW OFFICE.
Think Ship was scuttled.-- Insurance Omcfais Hold . Long Inquiry Be-
 hind Barred Doors.

detectives on their arrival yesterda
 and taken from Brooklyn pier to the
 ohice of law firm in Wall Street
 where an inquiry was begun to con
 firm or set at rest a suspicion that
 their craft had been deliberately scut-
 tied.
 They were from the Greek steamer
 Cylades, which while bound from Fen
 sacola by the way of New Orleans went
 on a sandbar of the Bahamas on May
 13 and sank next day. Previous to that she had been ashore outside Pen
 sacola, but got off after tettisonins some of her cargo. All on board es- caped in the ships boats and reached Nassau, from where they took the Wig | ilancia for this port.
 | The four passengers. two of then, women, were taken from the Brooklyn | pier of the Ward Line in a carriage to the law offce. while the crew were | herded across on the ferry The story of the wreck of the Cycla . des Is not devoid of exciting incidents, but they all pale before the experience of yesteraay. This began when the Vigilancia swung at anchor and the revenue cutter came alongside. She brought two representatives of the Peterson Detective Agency Marine In- vestigators of 25 Whitehall Street, and a representative of the law firm of Wallace, Butler and Brown, who act | for the Marine Underwriters. They took along two interpreters. Their action comes only after a care | full investigationinto the mysterious events which ended in the loss of the vessel. After receiving the news that | the vessel had foundered the insurance omcials began an investigation, and they have had at least, fourteen of the Peterson Bureau at work in the West Indies, New Orleans, and Pensacola. The Cyclades, 1t is said, was insured for about $400,000
 The inquiry had reached a point where 1t was necessary to take the testimony of the passengers and crew, and so those who were trying to get at the truth regarding the loss of the steamer determined to take drastic steps.
 Captain Mandacus, the skipper was told to get his crew of twenty -one to- gether and be ready to go from the pier to the law office at 54 Wall Street When they landed the greatest care was taken to prevent outsiders from getting at the men or interviewing the passengers. The guard which went down the bay was increased until about ten men were engaged in guard ing them. A photographer who at SO Shap IhC CECW was uTtVen off by a lawyer.
 The office of Wallace, Butler and Brown, at 54 Wall Street. were care fully guarded, too. The building was closed, but to prevent any one getting near the room In which the hearing took place a guard was placed at the street door The whole afternoon was taken up in examining the two women. One of the detectives said 1t was pos fhnt tact An-L.k L
 The Cylades left Pensacola on May b, carrying a cargo of old iron, cotton and lumber. She first got into trouble near that port, going on a bar. She got rid of a portion of her cargo fioated, and proceeded to New Orleans arriving there on May g. Her four passengers got aboard at Pensacola where they live. They are John Col las, Peter Arta, Mrs. Enrice Arta, his daughter, and Ganola Arta, her daugh- ter.
 The vessel got under way for Trieste on May 9. According to the stories of her loss, she again touched bottom and this time on May l3 on Sand Cay The shock of grounding started some of her bottom plates. and she began to leak. The water gained in spite of the steam pumps, and finally 1t crept up to the engine room fires and put them out. Then the men manned the hand pumps.
 All their efforts were of no avail. Inch by inch the water gained on them, and at last, when the stokehold was full and there was no hope for the vessel, Captain Mandacus ordered all hands to to the small boats. Three were lowered. but one was smashed as soon as 1t struck the water. Into the others piled the four passengers and the crew.
 Fortunately, the weather was good and the embarking in the small boat was devoid of 5anger. It was Mrs. Arta who came near delaying the es- cape until it was too late. When the skipper ordered his passengers into the boat she declared she would not leave without her two parrots and sewing machine.
 You must come" insisted the ships company.
 No, will not leave this ship" said the woman calmly. "I will only go with my machine and parrots"
 Captain Mandacus. seeing there was no time for further argument, order ed two men to bring the sewing ma chine up and put 1t fin the boat. Not until then did Mrs. Arta get into the waiting boat.
 A few minutes after the two boat got away theN Cyclades foundered be- tween Cape Stirrup and Abace Reef the small boats was a trying one. They in which Captain Mandacus and fifteen men embarked was taken in tow by a small fishing schooner and finally reached Barry Island and from there got to Nassau. When they arrived there nothing had been heard of the other boat. which contained the ships passengers, and 1t was reported that they were lost. A day after the skip per's boat landed the others came into port. They were landed from a fish ing boat which had picked them up at sea.
 The experience of the survivors in the small boats was a trying one hTey had but little protection from the heat of the tropical sun, and their supplies consisted of a loaf or two of bread and. two small jugs of water. Fortunately they did not suffer, for they were only afioat a day when the fishing boats came along.
 After the hearing the members of the crew were taken under guard to A sailors boarding house in Cherry Street, and the passengers. all of whom are related, were sent to relatives in Hoboken. The hearing will continue today.
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