Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-02-05
THRILLING STORY.
Continued from Page One.)

way art. The deck was nearly red hot
and their Journey to the stern was no
easy one. All Of these men suffered
from burns
Two stowaways, who were forward
on the steamer, endeavored to escape
by making their way along the jumper
stay. which ran from the foremost to
the funnel. One Of the stowaways sue
ceeded in accomplishing this feat and
reached the stern In safety, but the
other was less fortunate. While he
was still clinging to the jumper stay,
the foremost began to totter and as it's
foot was burned away he was hurled to
the bottom of No hold. out of which
the flames were then shooting.
In a short time the foremost went
by the board. Finding that the steamer
was doomed two boats We're launched
at about 4.30 on Sunday morning, one
in charge Of the second officer, con-
tanning eight men, while the other boat
carried II men. Almost Immediately
after leaving the side Of the steamer
the second boat was swamped by
tremendous sea and all on board were
drowned.
The second officers boat drifted
away from the steamer. but as the
oars had been washed away from the
boat o. broken. the situation of the
occupants Of this boat was desperate.
Three Of the crew OF the boat went
mad when they We're tossing felplessly
about on the waves which threatened
each moment to overwhelm their little
craft. Although the boat was at times
half full of water, it stayed afloat
through the efforts Of the other men
OF the crew, who bailed continuously.
When daybrcak came the st. Cuth-
bert was seen still afioat and still
afre. miles away BY stepping the mast
and rigging . small sail the men of the
second officers boat succeeded in
reaching the steamer. In rounding the
stern of the steamer a mountainous
wave threw the lifeboat against the
steamers counter, sinking it and
tumbling all the occupants into the
water Lines were thrown from the
stern of the steamer to the men struS-
Cling in the water. and six were res
cued in this way. The other three We're
drowned.
Throughout the remainder of the day
Sunday the men on the st. Cuthbert
fought untiringly to prevent the flames
from reaching the after part Of the
steamer, which was already practically
on her beam ends The fight was pes
perate one as No. ! hold in the stern
Of the vessel contained great guam
tity of naphtholine. Had the flames
communicated to this the steamer
must have been blown to atoms and
all on board persisted.
BY strenuous efforts the fire was con-
fired to the forepart OF the vessel, but
when the sun rose on Monday morning
no sail or sign of smoke from steam
er was to be seen on the horizon and
the hopes of the exhausted crew sank
to the lowest ebb. as it seemed i'm
possible to continue their battle with
the fire.
Shortly after o'clock. however. the
Cynric hove In sight. Her appear
apcc was the sigma! for great cheer
from the sailors and from the firemen
who nearl- went wild as they saw z
prospec; Of rescue and the officers had
the greatest difficulty in maintaining
order The ST. Cuthbert at this time
was flying urgent distress signals, u
red blanket and q cork fender carried
at the masthead representing The bali |
and square flag. al! tie usual signal |
flags having been destroyed by the |
fire.
The captain of the Cymric signaled |
by semapiIcre 10 the distressed crew |
that he would stand by and would se,d |
q lifeboat as soon as the sea moderat-
ed. At that time a strong westerly |
gale prevailed with violent snow
squalls and the sea was running high.
shortly after o'clock in the after
noon, the weather having moderated g
very little. No. lifeboat was launched |
from the Cyniric. This was in charge
Of Chief Officer Scivey and was manned |
by six seamen volunteers from the |
White Star Liner.
In spit Of the violence Of sea the
Cyrnric ifctoat made the journey t.
TN" st. ruthbert without mishap. Six
tee II Ei1H, including the captaln OF the |
St Cuthbert and sailors, all of whom
were suffering from burns. were taken
aboard The life boat, after number of |
other men of the crew had been warn
ed back by the chief officer who
thrcatcred to shoot the first man who
dared to go into the life boat without
permission.
AS soon as the lifeboat returned TO
the Cymric and the injured men had
been carefully lifted on board. the life
boat was again hoisted on the davfts
as the Cymric had by this time drifted
far away from the burning steamer.
In order to get back to her former
position, the Cymric was compelled to
make a complete circle.
When a favorable berth for launching
the lfeboat had again been reached Chief
Officer Stivey again started to the rescue
of the men on the doomed vessel This
time - men were taken off and at 453
they were safely on board the Cymric.
Still another journey to the st. Cuthbert
was necessary as there still remained on
her six men, including the chief officer.
the second officer. the second. third and
fourth engineers and fireman. by this
tine darkness had set in and the work
of rescue was accomplished with even
greater difficulty than before. There WIS
a heavy fail Of snow. and the wind Thf
Blowing gale. In the face Of these
conditions Chief officer Stivey and his
men succeeded in getting the remainder