The Washington times., 1908-05-08
NINET TY-NINE SAVED
AS ONE GOES DOWN
IN RAGING OCEAN
Many Made Mad in Awful
Night on Stranded
Ship.
Savers Find Grew Lash.
ed to Deck of Doom
ed RickmerS.

NEW YORK, May 9-After a night
OF peril. In which they momentarIly
feared they would be dashed into the
raging sea. ninety-nine men. crew and
wreckers OF the stranded four-nnasted
German ship, Peter Riekmers, were res
ci,ed today and the vessel was left 70
be battered TO pieces by the waves. one
man went 10 his death
All that remains or her is situated
hundreds OF fathons seaward from the
bar or zach's Inlet, Jones Beach.
while the fvescore Of the rescued are
being cared for by the Hfe-savers os
the nc.ghboring beaches.
At times during the night all hope Of
ever saving those aboard the doomed
ship was despaired Of A high wind
snapped the masts OF the Peter Rick
mers. her seams were rent and her hold
began 70 flll with water. For hours the
pumps were manned. but in the dark
nsss Just previous 10 the dawn Cap tain
Bacilmann warned the men TO aban ion
al further efforts and to look out for
their own safety.
Fully score Of times the life savers
who stood BY attempted TO FIRE lines 10
the ship, but they either fell short OF
the 1,G10-foot distance. or were carried
away IN the storm. suddenly the last
mast pole OF the Peter Rickmers was
swept into the sea, her hull began 10
crack, and the sixty seamen who com
posed the crew OF wreckers took 10 the
life boats. Their chance OF ever. reach
ing shore % safety was equal to that
of death. but luckily each man was
saved
The, rbe ufa ea,.-s r-o-. 49,.
let, Short Beach. ana Point Lookout
took 70 the surf boats, made their way
10 the stranded clipper. and rescued the
remaining men. Captain Bacbmann
was the last man 10 leave the shin
and Re only consented then after his
officers had convinced him that every
vestige OF hope had gone. and 10 loi.er
OF the wreckaEe meanth death.
A Terrible Experience.
All OF the men were III as a reslt
OF their nights experience. and some
we're compelled 20 take 10 cots when
the life saving stations were reached
Ti-e -s'7en today say that they seemed
TO be smut in a Black. raging Din. and
hurled about with such violence thar
their strength gave way. They nrs,,e,,
as long as they had breath and eoDsci-
BUSINESS. All were Iashed to the decl-
else il would have been Impossible 70
stay aboard.
Toward morning the men ashore oh
serve1 That the sea was subsiding. ana
the hope that had died IN the nigi-, y-,as
revived. Al daybreak the tlrF5s 49,
able 10 put or, and. as the sea vas ra-
duced as the wind slackened. they rnaSa
their Wa 10 The ship Tie men from
shore went aboard the Rickrnars -
cut loose the men who had been Isebs5
10 every possible attachment OF tie
deck. '''0
Many Of them had to be carried into
the tugs, as they apparently were Ife-
less Others seemed 70 be hoDeIessIv
insaEe- All were 50 weak from fatigls
and fright that they looked Ike r3en
who had passed through long. weaken
When they were taken ashore how
ever. they regained hope. and The coffee.
which the women on the shore bad
steaming, Quickly started their blood
brandy. too. and IL was not long until A.
was possible TO move the men to nearby
A roll car OF the crew OF the Rick
mers today showed that one man is
missing. He is believed 70 have been
swept into the sea last nfgnt bv tbe
waves or TO have been left on the shin
unnoticed by the life-savers.
Damage on Land.
The storm that shook and battaraa
the Peter RickmeTs made rough sailing
for other craft, and today left traces .of
it's work along the shore. Small bosts
washed away from their moorings. were
found today along the beach, some of
them battered 10 pieces.
The damage Of the heavy storm that
swept over New York, however. was not
felt on the water alone. Railroad traf-
nc suffered greatly and street car serv-
ice was tied up. Today tEs tangIe is
being Strengthened out and damage to
tracks is being repaired rapidly.
Floods following the deluge OF rain
tied I'D traffic on the New York CenrrsI i
i'm the deep cut at 15ist street The
damage to the track. however. was re-
Dsirsd early this morning and the trains
ran uninterruptedly.
Considerable damage was done along
trolley lines outside New York CITY and
the repair gangs were busy TODAY D;lt-
ting the tracks in a safe condition
Work on subway extensions, SUSPENDED
Yesterday on account of the heavy
downpOur. has not yet been resumed
the excavations resembling miniature
lakes Pumping plants are being riggeS
M TO take out the water, that the work
NAV go ahead
The storm was heavy enough to inter
fere with the arrival and de3art1Jro Of
ocean liners. The White Star liner Ral-
tic and the Cunarder due Yesterday
u-ere held back. and the fast turbiner
NFalIretania, which should be of the
It0htshfr early this morning. will nor
dock before O'Clock this afternoon.
@roM" FITZGERALD UNDER KNIFE