Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-02-05
THREE PERISH AT SEA.
Schooner Emily E. BirdsaII Is Cut
 In Two by Steamship.
FIVE OF THE CREW RESCUED
SearchIight Shows Brave Work of Saving Men by Lifeboat Buffeted by Floating Railroad Ties and Hamper ed by Heavy Sea.


 Floating Railroad Ties and Hamper
 ed by Heavy Sea.
 New York, Fp. 5.-Frederick Bange the second ofid was on the bridge of the Old Domiu liner Jefferson when going at full speed, she cut in two and sank the schooner Emily E. Birdsall off Winter Quarter shoal, on the Vir- ginia coast. While he will have to ex- plain how he happened to run down the schooner, it is largely due to his almost superhuman efforts that the captain and four of the crew of seven of the schooner were brought to port last night on the Jefferson. Two men were drowned and one died of exhaus- tion on board the ship.
 According to the men on the schoon- CT, it was one of those nights when one could see plainly the lights of a passing vessel mile away. Captain Joseph A. Rietta of the Birdsall said he saw the Jefferson long before she struck him. He was running along parallel with her and heading north east by north. While he was on watch she sheered and came crashing into the Birdsall on the starboard side, cut ting her in two between the main and mizzen rigging.
 The schooner was loaded with rail- road ties valued at about $5,000, and these were strewn broadcast about the scene of the collision. She soon filled, listed to port and sank rapidly.
 The moment the steel bow of the Jefferson plowed into the schooner Bange sent for Captain Hulphers, who had turned in at midnight. Once the captain was on the bridge Bange rush. ed aft, and in four minutes he lowered lifeboat No. [, with five men, and was heading for the crew of the schooner. The water was full of railroad ties, and heavy sea was running.
 This hampered the men in the life boat. The Jefferson trained her search light on the wreck, and four men were seen clinging to the main rigging. The news of the collision soon spread on the ship, and, although the morning was exceedingly cold, many passengers came on deck and for two hours saw the second officer fight against wind and heavy timber strewn sea to get to the men in the schooner's rigging.
 As the Jefferson backed off after the impact the man who was at the wheel of the Birdsall tried to climb over the steamships bow, but he slid down the ice coated side into the sea. He clutched at the railroad ties about him and managed to work his way to the lower part of the main rigging, but was washed away again among the ties.
 As he was about to sink Bange saw him and ordered the men in his boat to pull hard for the helpless man. Bange, who had on a cork jacket, leaned over to help him into the boat, but the man clutched at him and pulled him into the water. The second officer swan with the man for ten minutes and finally got him safely into the lifeboat.
 After taking the man to the Jeffer- son the second officer lowered lifeboat 5, which was bigger. and went back to the crew cllnging to the mainmast of the Birdsall. At the end of three hours, after third boat was sent out to help him, Bange got back to the Jefferson with the captain and four of the crew of seven men.
 The crew signed at Norfolk. and Captain Rietta did not know the names of his men except Herbert Rob- Inson, the mate, who was drowned. The other man who was drowned was known as Otto the Finn"