The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1910-11-10
II SAVED FROM
WRECKED SHIP

BALTIMORE, MD. -Special-Se,-
enteen members OF a shipwrecked
crew Of the Mastorea were brought
TO Baltimore Monday on the fruit
steamer Juan, Captain I-aisen, from
Jamaica. The seamen were rescued
during a hurricane and had been
brought to Jamaica by the British
bark River Platte, which had saved
them on the high seas on last Sunday
evening. The vessel from which they
were taken, the Norwegian bark, Mas
torea, was abandoned in a sinking con-
dition.
The members of the shipwrecked
First Nate ]. Gundersen, Second Mate
s. Christensen, Steward Olsen, Car
penter Larsdal, Sailmaker j. johann
sen, Seamen M. Johapsen, G. Gunder-
sen, III. Edmund, A. Kudensen, A. Dial.
G. Christensen, Nils Andersen. w.
Reinaas, NJ. r. johnson.
The members of the crew of the
hasSorea went through a most THRILL
ing experience, during which they
faced death time and time again.
Their vessel rapidly filing with water.
the decks mass of wreckage. the
lifeboats disabled and a hurricane
wind still hurting mountainous seas
over the derelict, the seventeen men
had all but abandoned hope when
the River Platte was sighted on the
horizon.
Even with the rescuing vessel close
at hand, it was a hazardous task TO
transfer the imperilled men to the
deck OF the River Platte. This was
nnally accomplished after heroic en-
beavers, during which the rescuers
were themselves in peril of being
swept into the ocean by the great
seas which continually broke over
their vessel.
Gives Graphic Description.
When seen this morning Captain
Andersen gave a graphic description
OF the experiences of himself and fell
low seamen.
He said:
We were bound from Gulfport 10
buenos AyreS via st. Lucia and
everything was going nicely until Fri
cay when we ran into a hurricane.
we We're tossed about considerably.
put gave no concern until one nv one
Things began to disappear from the
uecK OF the Mastorea, which kept up
until everything movable had beep
oIown away. The winds continued m
increase and the high rollers began
10 oreak over our bark until we be-
gan TO feel anxious for her safety.
nave followed the sea for MANY
year opt never in my history have
seen seen such , a gale; All night Friday the
preak OF day on Saturday, when we
thoReu LOT calm, the winds blew even
I--S hSl anu the seas tossed and pitched
greater than on the previous day
TO add TO our already great trouble.
on saturday morning, the wind carried
away our rudder and steering anna ~ =
Sus' leaNing us to float helplesslV he
ro tne winds without any hope OF
maintaining our course.
Next went the rigging and one nv,
Dlles everything on the ships deck was
oloWn away except the foremost
All the nfeboats were smashed and
cane seemed to increase in fnrN- dnrtn.
saturday and Sunday nights
On sunday morning we sighted the
oaFk RIVER Platte and eased our shat
tSfed hopes for rescue to some extent
We signalled for assistance and within
a short time she came near TO ms
this time the Mastorea had five feet OF
water in her hold and was filling mn
although the men were working man
FULLY at the pumps
sighted Rescue Shin.
Il gave instructions to leave the
pumps and lower the one remaining
lteboat that we might be picked M
by the River Platte. To our great dis
may, however, when the boat was re-
leased and prepared to be swung from
it's davits, IL was found that the bot
TOM was stove In, and. IL was a cues
tlon whether or not il would serve us
In this time OF need.
The boat was lowered into the wa
into the damaged boat, which was I'M
10 the gunwales with water and was
only Kept on the surface OF the sea by
the alright compartments. Although
we put away from the Mastorea before
noon on sunday, IL was after s O'Clock
IN the afternoon before the crew of
the River Platte were successful in
getting us to the deck of their shin. The
seas were so great that we could not
get near TO the rescue ship nor her to