The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-02-05
SAILORS DROWNED !
WHILE SH|PIBURNEO
STORY OF LOSS OF THE STEAMER
So sT. cuTHBERT.
PART OF CARGO EXPLODED.
Crew Battied for Hours Against
Flames that Were Famed by
Terrific Gale--Were Rescued
by Steamer Cymric's Men,.


South Wellfeet, Mass. Feb 5.--A
wireless dispatch from Capt. Finch, of
the White Star line steamer Cymric.
last night told the thrilling story Of
the burning of the St Cuthbert with
the loss OILS souls and the rescue of
the survivors by a lifeboat from the
Cymric. According to Capt. Finch's
dispatch IL men were drowned by the
capsizing of boat in which they had
put off from the burning steamer.
three others in another boat were
drowned and stowaway lost his life by
falling through an open hatchway into
the flames.
The ST. Cuthbert, bound from Ant.
werp to New York with general car
go. including fusel oil, naptholin,
matches and rags, caught fire at 3
o'clock Sunday morning.
The second officer, Mr.. Tuohy, no.
tced smoke coming from ventilator
and summoned Capt. Lewis. Hardly
had the captain reached the deck when
q series of explosions occurred in the
forward part of the vessel and No. l
and matches blew into the air A
call was sounded for all hands, but
some OF the crew who were forward
were unable to reach the after part Of
the steamer, as the bow seemed in.
staDtly to burst into flames.
The quarters of the officers were
burned ten minutes after the fire start.
ed Through matches l and 2 the fire
communicated to hatch 3 and within
an hour the entire forward section of
the vessel was blazing fiercely. The
flames, fed by the combustible mate
olc t,, hat t, tAn nf
the tunnels, giving out tremendous
heat. A few of the sailors who had
been caught In the bow, were nearly
overcome by the heat and saved them
selves by hanging to the anchor on
the outside of the vessel until the
flames died down.
Two stowaways, who were forward,
endeavored to escape by making their
way along the Jumper stay, which ran
from the foremast to funnel. One of
the stowaways reached the stem in
safety, but the other stowaway was
less fortunate. While he was climb
Ing to the jumper stay the foremast
began to totter as its foot was burned
away and he was hurled to the bottom
of the hold.
Finding the steamer was doomed,
two boats were launched Sunday morn
ing, one containing eight men, while
the other boat carried II. Immediate
ly after leaving the second boat was
swamped and all on board were
drowned. The other boat drifted away
and as the oars had been lost from the
boat, its situation was desperate
Three of the crew went mad while
they were tossing helplessly about on
the waves. Although the boat was at
times half full of water, it remained
afioat through the efforts of the Others
of the crew who bailed continuously
When daybreak came the st. Cuth
bert was seen still afioat and afire
miles away. By stepping the mast and
rigging a sail, the men succeeded in
returning TO the steamer, but in round
ing her stern a wave threw the life
boat against the steamers counter
sinking 1t and tumbling all the occu
pants into the water Lines were
thrown from the steamer TO the mer
In the water and six were rescued
The other three were drowned.
Shortly after 8 a. m. Monday the
Cymric hove In sight. Her appear
ance was the signal for a great cheer
from the sailors, who nearly went wild
as they saw a prospect of rescue.
The captain of the Cymric signalet
that he would send lifeboat as soor
as the sea moderated. BY afternoon
the weather having moderated a little
a lifeboat was launched from the Gym
ric. 1t made three trips and rescued
all of the st. Cuthbert's crew.