Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-12-26
STORY OF THRILLING
RESCUE MADE PUBLIC
Volunteer Crew Braved Death in
Fierce Storm to Take Captain Sui
livsn and Crew Of Seven Men From
Rapidly Sinking British Wreeking
Tug of Bermuda islands.

Captain Thomas Sullivan and the
crew of seven men of the wrecked
British tug Bull Dog, who We're res
cued three hundred miles 10 the east
ward Of the Bermuda Islands by the
United States scout cruiser Briming-
ham on December 10, were tue
guests of the Birminghams crew at
Christmas dinner on board the cruiser
Yesterday IN Hampton Roads. And
right well did the Yankee tars-as
the Britons call them-play the hosts
to his majesty's subjects.
Uncle Sam gives his sailors turkey,
cranberry sauce, celery, potatoes, rice,
peas, tomatoes, plum pudding. pies
and cakes for their Christmas dinner
and the chefs en- the Birmingham did
things up in style III honor OF the
occasion. The feast to which the
British tars sat down was. TO use the
expression of one of the cruisers tars,
fit for King Edward himelf. After
the regular dinner came the hot and
cold drinks that delight the heart and
the palate of the seafaring man and
then the guests were treated to
Christmas entertainment by members
OF the ships crew. These entertain
ments are held every Christmas and
great preparations are always made
for them.
Loud in their praises of the men
of the Birmingham and for the dinner
and entertainment. the rescued tars
from the Bull Dog took their de-
parture from the Birmingham for Nor
folk at O'Clock last night.
Rescuers Go After Crew.
The decision to invite the rescued
sailors to be the guest Of the ships
company at Christmas dinner was
reached by the sailors On the Birm-
ingham last week and yesterday
morning Coxwain A. ID. Genest and
Boatswain Fred Machan, two of the
volunteer crew Of the small boat from
the Birmingham which rescued the
men, went TO Norfolk to invite Captain
Sullivan and his men aboard the
Birmingham.
when the men landed in Norfolk
they asked a policema nwhere they
could find the British vice-consuls
Office and were directed to Main
street. but were unable to find the
Office and they asked three other Of
ficers where it was. They gay that
each officer gave them different ad-
dress. not one Of which was correct.
However, they finally located the Of
fee thmseives and soon had the res
cued crew on the way TO the dock
to take the launch for the BirmiDg-
ham.
The sailors were very angry at the
treatment given them by the Norfolk
police officers, one of them saying last
night that in no other city that he
had visited had he been accorded such
curt treatment by policemen as that
he received from the Norfolk officers
Crew of Rescuing Boat.
Composing the crew which manned
the Birnringhsm's small boat that was
sent to the rescue OF the Bull Dogs
crew were: Chief Boatswar J. W.
Angus; ]. Rcatssky. Z. Shaw, a. ID.
Genest. Fred Mashan, W. J. Wilson,
Patrick Creasey, Frank Rodgers,
Rags" Luft and Happy" Black
The story of the rescue Ct the Bull.
Dogs screw as told in the Birming-
hams log and Captain Sullivan's own
story Of his trip and baTdships until
the rescue were effected were given
out for publication for the first time
Yesterday by Bcatswain 9. Lebb. The
story IS as follows:
Sighted Flare Up Light.
~Abcut . a. m. on the morning OF
December 10, the officer Of deck of the
u. S. $. Birmingham sighted fare
I'D light on the sterbosrd low. The
Birmingham was then about 300 miles
10 the eastward of the Bermuda Is
lands. and was headed for Hampton
Reads. Va. just finishing up the pre-
Iininary test of the new kessenden
wireless system. Realizing that the
fare Nd light was the signal Of a YES
eel in distress. the offer Of the deck
Immediately reported the fact 70 The
captain. who changed his course and
headed in the direction OF the light
TO invest gate. At this time there vas
a heavy sea running and We we're Ger
tain that the vessel showing the light
was . small vessel. and could be seen
only when the vessel was on the crest
Of the Uavee. Upon getting close 10
the light. the forward search light
was turned on. and there on the port
bow was revealed a small steamer. not
much larger than a ships steamer and
a nan franticaliy waving light.
Halls Wrecked Ship
~rpon getting closer the oficer Of
The docscd hailed the steamer with