The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-11-07
WAVE TOOK THREE TO DEATH
NONJS'S CHIEF OFFICER. NEW
PORT GRADUATE AND 4. II. =;
Lifeboat Went Down the Gale After
Them, but II Was Hopcless-Hard
work saving Its Crew-Ship's F1ag st
Half Mast when She Comes In

A mighty sea crest tip Of cumulative
wave. that roared aboard the Morgan
liner Momus on Friday afternoon when
she was pitching and rolling in the Florida
Straits Just south Of Miami, Fla, carried
to their death Chief Officer II, f. Boesch,
Boatswain J. p Lcery and r. Nordberg,
b Capt. John Boyd called for and
swiftly got volunteers to risk destruction
in the ferment in a lifeboat to try to save
the luckless mariners. but it was hope
less. and it was with much trouble that
the lifeboat's s crew got back to the Momus.
The ship arrived here yesterday with the
tale Of misadventure.
As the Momus entered the straits a
whole gale out of the northeast struck her
and her speed was reduced to about
seven knots. The blast and the seas that
it piled up loosened the hoods Of the ven
tilators forward and the starboard anchor
began to get wabbly Chief Officer Boesch
went forward with Bos'n Leery. who
was a graduate Of the schoolship New
port. and Seamen Nordberg. Sutherland
and Gibbons to make things fast While
they were putting extra lashings on the
starboard anchor the lofty comber hit
the ship. Boesch Leery and Nordberg.
weighted with oilskins and rubber boots
were hurled athwarships and over the
port side into the tumult Life buoys were
sent flying to leeward after them. They
were seen TO roll over few times in the
combers and then disappear.
Seaman Sutherland was thrown down
the steerage companionway and was
badly hurt. and Gibbons found himself
quite alive but bruised on top Of the winch
house. to which he clung until shipmates
removed him.
The speed Of the liner was checked
by the onslaught Of the giant sea and
| simultaneously the cry Of MAN over
board" prompted Junior Second Officer
Munigkiet. who was in charge of the
bridge to bring the Momus to full stop.
| Capt. Boyd had seen the accident and
! hurried to the bridge to take command
cutting off "A few lifebuoys on the way and
throwing them overheard. The second
officer volunteered to do what seemed to
be "A foolhardy feat-launch a boat in
seas that were breaking at times higher
than the main deck of the Momus. The
| skipper manpuvred 50 that the second
officer and the boats crew. made up of
Quartermasters Thompson and Ander-
son, Seamen Ludwig Hamilton and
u
Cook Hochheim, were able TO launch the
boat in the ships lee. The moment the
boat struck the water there was trouble
The sea crests came aboard in floods and
most of the boats crew were bailing
thereafter. Capt. Boyd saw the hopeless
ness of the quest and ordered the life
savers back That was a more dangerous
problem than launching the boat
Capt. Boyd made lee for the lifeboat,
a very sloppy lee, and all the while the
Momus was rolling heavily. IL was i'm
possible TO take the boat aboard by the
davits and IL looked for a few minutes
as II the crew itself might be sacrificed.
The boat was finally made fast to line
thrown from the Momus and then other
lines were hurled TO the men. They
| looped the lines under their shoulders
and were hauled aboard by shipmates
The empty lifeboat was also brought
back by pure main strength and lashed
on the deck forward, where it was when
the Momus docked. 1t will be restored to
its proper place on the davits to-day.
The Momus came in with her ensign at
half mast for the three lost.
First Officer Boesch was % years Of
age and hailed from Wakefield, Mass.
He had been seven years with the line
and was complimented for his bravery
and resourcefuness when the Momus
was afre at sea last July. Seery was 81,
a six footer and a navigator. He was
born in this neighborhood and lived while
In port with his parents at Bay Ridge