Perth Amboy evening news., 1909-12-16
is TOSSED
LIKE A CORK
Terrible Expert
e1CeOf Grew Off
Jersey Ccast.
COSTLY CARGO

Carrying the largest and most val~
liable cargo that ever entered thia
port, the British steamer Irisbrook.
now discharging at the American
smelling and Refining Company'a
dock, encountered one of the worsh
storms in its history within a few
miles of this port. The vessel was
tossed about the sea to such an ex-
tent that at one time 1t was practicai-
ly given up for lost and the crew had
life boats in readiness.
The saving of the ship. with ita
crew OF twenty-five men and cargo
valued at S3,000,000, is due to the
presence Of mind Of Captain UlI~
strun and his chief engineer. The
latter stuck to his post. with the YES.
sci rocking fearfully and the engine
room flooding with foot or more oh
water.
When Captain Ullstrun and Mate
Clelland were seen aboard the iris
brook this morning, both told inter-
esting narratives OF the fierce storm
the vessel encountered on Monday.
captain Ullstrun seemed elated over
the fact that he had reached inland
waters safely with his ship, men and
cargo. His cargo, consisting of con-
per bullion, weighed 400 tons ana
could have made three men millions
aires His main object in letting his
snip remein at the mercy of the sea
during such time was to get closer
TO shore before the winds rose higher
during the night After considerable
dlnlculty the captains point was ao@
complisi1ed, but 1t gave him the worst
experience he has had in a seafarinR
career Of thirty-fiye years.
According to Mate Clelland's log
book, high winds were encountered
about 8 o'clock on the morning Of
Monday, December 13, while travel-
ing between Barnegat and SANDY
HOOK, about three miles off the Jer@
sey shore. The winds gradually rose
and very rough sea was encountered
all that day. During the evening the
hercest part of the storm was met
with and the vessel was tossed about
like log of wood. The irnmenra
dead weight on the ship, and the Fact
that the storm struck II on the
weather beam, almost caused ii 10
sink. 1t rocked from side to side and
the tons Of water were tossed fntd
the after well hole. The water
flowed into the engine room, to the
coal bins and MANY other coiunart-
ments
Bars Of metal Of which there wers
thousands aboard, were tossed
around by the heavy roll, and dishes
and kitchen utensils were strewn
about. A peculiar incident. which
Captain Ullstrun mentions, is the ae-
ton Of his parrot during the storm.
The bird was in cage suspended
from the ceiling directly in front Of
the captains cabin. During the night
the cage swung from side to side ana
at times 1t was parallel with the
ceiling. The bird seemed to enjoy
the violent swinging and, when Cap-
tain Ullstrun, with an expression OF
grave concern, was passing, the par
rot laughed at him. That incident
gave him added courage and soon ae~
terward, 1t then being about midnight
on Monday, the ship was anchored OF
Sandy Hook for the night, out OF
danger.
The Irisbrook is one Of the largest
steamers running to this port. 1t Is
a strongly-constructe vessel and.
knowing that, Captain Ullstrun put
faith in IL and allowed 1t to make
for port, with fierce storm raging
and at times threatening to sink 1t,
Had one huge wave landed full upon
the deck 1t would have demolished
the latter and the vessel would have
sunk In eight or nine fathoms of wa
ter.
Members of the crew became
stricken with fear when the big
steamer was at the mercy of the
waves, but they stuck to their respec-
tive posts and everything turned out
very luckily. No men were injured,
although some Of them endured great
hardships. Little If any damage was
done to the vessel. The water which
entered the well hole and various
other compartments was drained out
after the vessel had anchored on
Sandy Hook