Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-05-06
Franconia Captain Tells
of Rescue of Thirteen
Members of Ships Creu
By Associated Press

Boston, Mass. May 6.-The Boston
office of the Cunard Line to-day re-
ceived a report from Captain Miller,
or the Franconia, telling of the rescue
of part of the crew of the steamer
Columb bian. which was burned at sea.
The wireless message, dated to-day,
was as follows:
Georgia, 11.24 a. M, May 4: 'Seydlitz
passed. in 41.27 N. 59.07 W. a large
steamer burning all over. Hull high
out of water, foremast and funnel
gone, no people on board.
AT the same time a wireless from
Sable Island. requesting me to en-
deavor to identify steamer, was re-
ceived. At LIS p. m. I received from
The Associated Press. Boston: Great
alarm over Seydlitz report of big ocean
liner afire. Rescues by Franconia.
Please send Dispatch
AT that time rumor of rescue was
not true.
"On receipt of Georgic's message 7
changed my course to cross given po-
sitton of burning steamer, arriving
there at p. m. Could discern no
trace of wreck, but decided owing to
false report and fearing influence on
other possible rescuing steamers to en-
circle position at six miles, and at $50
p. m. sighted a boat on starboard bow.
Being already prepared, the occupants
thereof were taken on board In a few
minutes. The boat contained thirteen
men and a corpse lying awash in the
bottom of the boat.
Trousers Leg For Signal
The survivors had used trousers leg
from corpse on end of boat hook for
distress signal. Survivors were in a
state of extreme exhaustion and men
tai collapse. Some had been burned
by fire
They state that they had been
adrift forty hours. Six were put under
doctors care in hospital and others
were given brandy and soup, bathed
in hot water and put to bed. They
Immediately fell asleep. Little infor-
nation can be obtained from them.
The carpenter says the ship was
the Columbian, sailing from Antwerp
and about $4,000 tone register. He
was asleep and heard the alarm of fire,
and was coming along the deck and
had arrived about midships when an
explosion occurred under his feet.
which blew him overheard. He was
picked up by small boat.
"A lamp-trimmer's son states that
his father was coming forward calling
for him when the deck blew up and
the lamp-trimmer fell into the burning
hold. A Quartermaster Sayes that Cap
tain Mcdonald, chief engineer, chief
officer and several others were getting
third boat out when big explosion
took place. He does not know
whether the captain and his boat were
saved. The second officer got away
with about twenty-four men ten min
utees before the boat that was picked
up.
Apparatus Wrecked
"All agree the fire started at mid
night Sunday, from cause unknown
IT was first reported by outlook man
who saw smoke coming up the fore
hatch. Half an hour later the whole
ship forward and amidships was
in flames with constant violent eX-
plosions. The wireless apparatus was
wrecked.
1--WE are carrying to Boston body OF
the chief steward, who was frightfulIy
/ injured by explosion and was delirious
! soon after the boat got away. He
died on Tuesday midday. Our doctor
certified that death was due to shock
and exposure.
After picking up the boat we made
another detour. searching fdr other
boats and deeply regret could not find
them, but many other steamers has.
tening to scene of disaster and trust, il
not already picked up, following
steamers will rescue them. Have
| 'Marconied all ships to look out for
two missing boats and received re.
plies from Manhattan, Haverford ant
Marengo."