Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-04-12

unteer sailors VINO witnessed the HdlI
crazed men on the ST. Cuthbert being
held back by the chief officer who
threatened to shoot the first man who
attempted to get into the boat be-
fore the captain and the sailor who
were severely burned about the face
and hands, and absolutely blind for
the time being. Sixteen men We're
rescued by the first boat load The
Cymric had then to make a complete
circle to obtain a favorable berth for
launching the life-bOat again as she
had drifted out of position.
AT minutes past the second launch
ing was made, Chief Officer Stivey
again taking charge. Nineteen men
We're rescued this time. The third and
last journey was made at $50 BY that
time the wind had increased and the
darkness was accompanied by heavy
snow squalls. Great anxiety was
felt on board the Cymric for their gal
liant chief officer and the noble crew.
Green lights were burned and horns
were blown at intervals in order to
show Stivey on his return through the
binding snow, the steamers position.
At 6.22 Stivey signalled his success by
burning red fiareup light in the life
boat, which was soon alongside the
Cymrc, the occupants Immediately
hosted up by many willing hands. The
entire crew We're safe and sound and
the life boat had made its last journey
in more than one sense, as the buffet
ing about and the hard knocks against
the sides of both steamers had dam
aged hei SO badly that she was half
full of water and Captain Finch cast
her adrift. Three lights We're left burn
ing on the st. Cutbert, and as she was
4 danger navigation the sea-cocks were
opened before the crew left, and it was
anticipated that she would founder
within eight hours.
The greatest praise is due to Chief
Officer Stivey and his brave volunteer
crew. He had been the chief factor in
reScuing the master and the 40
members OF the crew of the st. Cuth
bert from a perilous position, with no
mishap, which was due to his coolness,
skill and nerve under very trying cir
cnmStanceS.'
The same mascot which had over
looked that rescue strutted solemnly
about during our trip across. 1t was q
cockatoo whose crest became like so
mach celery when Cocky got the least
bit excited. During certain hours of
the day he would give an exhibition
before the adi1iring passengers. When
he was held by one foot, and took his
daily exercise no further invitation
was needed, for his tapping outstretch-
ed wings would ventilate the whole
room. His two greatest accomplish
ments We're to eat tobacco from a pipe
and drink water from a bottle. His
language, however. was limited to
"Cocky wants drink and a diaboli-
cai laugh which always came in at a
most oppoftune moment With such a
mascot no wonder we had pleasant
voyage across, in that steady cattle
ship, for the Cymric is a cattle ship
though one was hardly aware of the
fact, so little did the cattle inconven-
fence the passengers.
1t vas quite a fad to visit the ship
from top to bottom. Some day after we
had our sealegs on. a party of us start
I'd on our exploring expedition. We
took the worst part first first, going
down, way down to visit the wonder
full machinery that sent US speeding
over the waters at such a rate. We had |
to go down vertical ladder-like flights |
If narrow iron stairs 1t was a dizZying
descent. but at last we saw the 40 boil |
ers which sent their power through an !
air shaft connected with the propeller |
On Our ship there We're two air shafts, |
so that if one was disabled the other |
would be used. My greatest sympathy |
was with the poor StOkerS who feed |
hose hungry furnaces. There were 81 |
n all, as seven go on duty at time. |
We were glad to be above once more |
out Of that temporal inferno.
On our way to the cattle pens we |
passed through the kitchen where they |
were making our luncheon and where |
was as neat as it could be. |
The $50 cattle We're as comfortably |
housed as in any well-kept barn. They |
ooked as contented almost, as if they |
we're in pasture. 1t is the pride of the |
ships authorities to deliver these cat
lie in as good condition as when they |
anne On board the ship; that is why |
he boat plowed along so steadily. The |
majority Of the cattle boys We're Har-
.ard and Yale students who serenaded |
is as we went through, with the song
We're Here Because We're Here" |
The hardest part of their task is the |
of the cattle which occurs |
vice a day and must be done by car
wing buckets of water back and |
'orth as they have no convenient ar
'aneement.
! The cattle were in the forward part |
If the ship and aft We're the thrd-class |
They had a fair-szed |
promenade and seemed to be enjoying |
throughout the trip, having |
numerous impromptu concerts. In their |
quarter of the ship was the station for |
he MarcOnigrams. All during cur voy-
age we We're in constant communica-
ion with the mighty sea rovers.
In the very stern we saw the log |
by a string and dragging in |
he water. The revolutions of a wheel |
which revolves in the water are regis
cred there. enabling them to estimate
approximately the number of miles that |
he ship goes in an hour, although they
10 not wholly depend upon that but
ire aided by the heavenly bodies
Astern in the ship also is the i'm
nense rudder. The intricate machinery
hat regulates it and makes the rudder
urn is manipulated by the pressing of