New-York tribune., 1908-11-02
RURNING SHIPS CREW
RESCUED AT SEA
THREE-MASTER 4FIRE AS
GALE RACES.
The 4dmuaI Schley SaUes Sailors
from Wmd-Fanned Furnace When
HI Hope Seems Gone

The steamer Admiral Schley, of the United
Fruit Company, arrived here last night from
Port Antonio with the captain and crew of the
burned schooner Lulie l. Pollard who were
literally snatched from the Jaws of death IN a
heavy gale and high sea 2T2 miles southeast
of Sandy Hook at o'clock on Saturday even
ing
The Schley was on time and 1t was due to her
consistent run up the coast that she was able to
drag off from the blazing schooner the captain
and five men, who an hour later would have
been burned to death drowned in the heavy
sea.
Captain ]. c. Powell of the Pollard and his
men said last night arrival that they thanked
God and the captain and men on the Schley for
their escape from death.
The little three master left Charleston 8 c.
on Octoder 26 with lumber ty phiia i'hia
She took her cargo at Fernandina, Fla. on Oc-
tober 10 but was driven by terrific gales to
seek shelter in Charleston on October II. She
nut out again on October %. and was on her
way up the coast to Philadelphia when the
cook struck match near some pine boards
soaked with resin, and before any one aboard
could check ii a blaze crept along the cargo
to a small house amidships sheltering two tanks
of gasolene the fuel for hosting engine
The flames woke up the men off watch, and
every one aboard except the man at the wheel
buckIed to in a desperate battle for MS ne
The course OF the schooner was changed to keep
the wind from blowing the fire TO the tanks but
without avail The mate, who ran toward the
tankhouse with a handful Of wet sacks, forced
his way through The flames just as they struck
the tanks. and he and the cook, who was behind
him. were hurled ten feet aft along the deck.
They fell in such q way that they escaped In
Jury and were ready. within a few minutes
after the shock to renew their fight with the
fire.
high wind carried cinders forward. and
within ten minutes the forward section was
cracking. The men on the Pollard said last
night that the ship as hot as roaring fur
mace. and that their only hope of saving them
selves depended on their ability to dodge the
flames that shot about in all directions.
Seeing that there was chance to save their
clothing and effects forward the men huddled
aft and tried to isolate themselves from fire by
throwing buckets OF water before them. Their
courage almost failed whcn they saw two life
boats forward consumed by the flames, and their
one thought from that time was to save the
Hfeboat aft, which they shifted from its Chocks
and swung over the stern. where the Combers
could keep it wet.
There was a heavy sea running, but even the
occasional breaking OF comber on the deck
forward was insufficient to check the in
owner Of the little schooner. stood with his men
cool and calm although he realized that his own
property was being destroyed before his eyes
and that the lives of his crew well as his own
were mighty poor insurance investments. There
was a hurried consultation and the men agreed
to huddle up on the stern until the heat should
force them to leave the schooner The wind
was from the northeast, cold and penetrating.
but the heat from the burning pine cargo made
the air hotter than that In the tropics.
Captain Powell said minutes seemed like
hours In their terror the crew Of the Pollard
scanned the horizon for a steamer. They were
close to the northbound coastwise track. and
hoped they would be able to hang 70 the burn
ing schooner until help arrived. In the excite
ment thev did not notice that the Admiral
Schley. northbound, bearing down on them
at top speed.
Captain Jensen Of the fruit steamer saw the
Pollard long before the schooners crew noticed
the smoke from the Schey's funnel The smoke
from the burning cargo rose high in the air, and
Captain Jensen realized that the Pollard was in
q bad way. He changed his course and ordered
the engineer to push the Schley at top speed.
Within forty-fve minutes after the schooners
cook had lighted the fatal match the Schcy
was cicse by, and without waiting for the Pol
lard to signal that she needed assistance, Cap
tain Jensen had a llfeboat lowered and under
way through the heavy to the helpless men
on the schooner
The men. who had put on cork jackets when
they saw that nothing could save the Pollard.
Jumped into the and were picked up by the
lifeboat from the Schley Captain Powell was
the last person to leave HIS burning craft. He
and his men were provided with clean clothing
and were supplied with stimulants and food.
HAMS RESTAURANT PARK ROW BLDG,
Open Election Night Returns announced. Music.