Norwich bulletin., 1914-01-15
Passengers and Crew of the Cobequid Rescued as
 III-Fated Steamer Was Breaking Up
SAFELY TRANSFERRED TO COASTAL STEAMERS
Benumbed by Cold Many Had be Carried Hotels Up- Arrival at Yarmouth-A Day and Night of Terror For All Aboard Helpless Vessel Pounded on Rocks-Des- perate Efforts to Keep Crippled Wireless Working.

of their experiences tonight One of the officers of the Cobequid said:
 Struck Ledses Tuesday Morning.
 --The ship struck at o'clock Tues day morning, while we were trying to locate the lightship off the Lurcher which prevailed we overShot the mark and brought up on the southeast end of Trinity ledge It was low tide and later in the morning, as the tide rose, it forced us farther and farther up on the Shoai. The steamer began to pound heavily and in a few minutes the en- zine room was filled with water. This stopped the ydnames, putting the lighting system and the wireless appa- ratus out of commission.
 Immediately after the ship struck we had sent out an $. Q. s.. which was picked up by the Cape Sable wire less station. Later, with the engine room flooded, our operators had to de- pend entirely on the auxiliary storage batteries. Then the gale carried away the deck connections of the aeriaIs.
 Able to Get Only Faint Spark.
 "A temporary connection which proved unreliable was fixed up. but an hour later this. too. went by the board. Again we rigged up a connec- ton, but the batteries were growing weaker and we could send only a very faint spark. The puny waves could not reach the Cape Sable station, only 90 miles away, but we were able to pick up their medley of messages re- garding ourselves, and knew that we were being searched for in vain off Brier Island, 40 miles away, in the position we erroneous1y gave before our wireless failed.
 Early today the Canadian Northern liner. Royal George. outward bound from St. John, picked up our feeble cry. and the reScIIe fOllOWe6n
 It was a day and night of terror on the steamer. Lift belts had been served out to all on board and when the seas began to break over the ship all hands were ordered below, where they huddled in the cabins. It was feared that the hull would part. Day. light and the knowledge that their cry for help had been heard gave re- newed hope. but the position of the ship grew more dangerous hourly. Up subsiding. The bridge. charthouse. companionways and everything nov able on deck, including all but four ifeboats. were washed away.
 Fires in Iron Bucket.
 D. H. Douglas, chief engineer. said
 Ten minutes after We struck the engine room was full of water. The fires were extinguished and the lights went out. The ships bottom had been grounded out She Is resting squarely on the ledges and will be q total wreck
 Various expedients to prevent per ishing from the cold were adopted. Fires. were llind1ed in an iron bucket. in which holes had been cut to afford a draft Thi&crude utensi1 was used to heat water and make tea. One of the crew suffered a broken arm, but this was the only accident.
 Courage of Officers and Crew.
 The Cobequid used three Of her own boats in transferring the passengers and the seamanship of the officers and men who manned them challenged the admiration of the rescue fleet. When the Westport hove in sight the Cobe- quid put over small boat in charge of Chief Officer Kirby In it we<a placed nine women and children and eight male passengers. It was dan gerous task to get the boat away, for the falls and davits were coated with ice and it was necessary to beat the running ack1e with marlinspikes to free it from the frozen surface.
 Two other small boats were subse- quent1y safely launched and all three reached the Westport.