Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-05-09
|SeVanty-tWo Men Escape
From Wrecked Steamer.
Not a Man Lost and No One
Is Permanently Harmed.
The Ship a Hopeless Wreck, Bat.
tered 10 Pieces,

A~e" ioTN, May S.--SeVenty-tWO men,
who for more than "a hours had been
| facing death in the raging sea near
FIRE island, were rescued from the
| crumbling hulk of the big German ship
Peter Rickmers early today The res
cue was effected after one of the most
trying experiences the hardy life saw
ers on this exposed coast had ever
|. been called upon to face No fewer
than dozen times hope of saving the
| imperilled band who chung desperate
ly to the doomed ship was all but abal-
doned and it was only the easing of the
| gale and terrific sea that made rescue
| possible.
| Not man was lost and it is believed
that not one of them suffered any per-
| manent harm as a result OF the long
fight against death. The great steel
ship, che of the finest sailing vessels
that ever rode the sea. is practically
total wreck Her bow and stern have
been completely torn off by the noun
! famous waves. her masts were rip
ped out, her deck houses and bridge
swept away and she is full of water.
She is lying far back on the bar, and it
is unlikely even that any effort will be
made to tow her to deep water again.
| The Rickmers struck the sand bar
about 10 miles from Fire island while
bound out from New York for Europe
one week ago Yesterday. At first it was
| believed that she would be fioated
without difficulty but as the wind con-
timed and drove her farther and far
ther on the shelving bar, her position
became serious. Even then, when the
wind decreased, it was believed thai
she would be f1oated without serious
damage after a portion of her big
cargo Of case oil had been jettisoned
A large force of wreckers We're set to
work and excellent progress was being
made up to last Tuesday night, when
the last big storm broke on the coast
The wind increased so rapidly in
force and the sea assumed such pro-
portions that the wrecking tugs were
forced to flee for their own safety
leaving behind on the ship 80 of their
own men who had been working on the
cargo. The abandoned Wreckers, to-
gcther with the crew of the Rickmers,
made " men in all on the ship. AS the
storm increased the waves began to
pound the big vessel, breaking over
constantly and driving her slowly but
steadily back on the bar. One by one
her masts went by the board and the
storm bowling through the tangled
rigging and the great waves surging
| over the crumbling hulk threatened to
sweep every living thing on board into
the sea-
| In the meantime the plight Of
the men had become known to the life
savers. First the Oak Island crew used
all their efforts in stretching life lines
to the Rickmers but before a single
man could be hauled ashore, the lines
were snapped off. The wind increased
in force and the waves ran higher and
higher. Steadily the position of the
men on the wrecked ship became more
desperate. The helpless watchers on
shore saw the big deck house washed
into the sea and renewed their efforts
to get other lines to the ship. They
found themselves helpless and at last
the life savers themselves sent an APP
peal for help to Jones' beach, Zach's
inlet, Short beach and Point Lookout,
and little later five life saving crews
were on the beach. Surf boats were use
less in the heavy sea and the only hope
was for the storm to subside or t.
succeed in shooting lines over the ship.
Early this morning the storm had
subsidized sufficiently to permit the
wreckers on board the ship to launch
their beats and they came ashore un-
aided. Then line was sent to the
wreck and the crew of the ship was
brought to the beach.
They were taken to the life saving
station and started at once for Free
port. l.. l., where they will take train
for New York.