Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-05-06
Men AfIoat in Small Boat
Since Burning of Steam
er Sunday Night.
MANY OTHERS MISSING
Capt. Mcdonald Among Those
Rescued-Chief Steward
Dies of Exposure.

having been adrift more than 80 hours,
Captain Mcdonald and Is members OF
the crew of the British steamer
Columbian, burned at sea, were res
cued early today by the Manhattan,
according to a wireless. The Man
haitian was still searching for another
boat containing the first and second
officers and II men.
Yesterday the liner Franconia pick
ed up one of the Columbian's boats in
which we're 13 men and the body OF
Chief Steward Matthews.
The Columbian caught fire Sunday
night, followed by explosions which
killed one of the engineers. One man
was drowned leaving the ship.
In addition to the captain, the Man
haitian also picked up the chief en-
gineer, two officers and the wireless
operator.
Wireless Call for Help.
The Colum bian caught fire when
about 800 miles south of Cape Race.
A series of violent explosions followed
almost Immediately. Captain McDon-
aid ordered the wireless operator,
James Drohan, to send out calls lot
assistance. but one of the explosions
put the wireless apparatus out OF COM
mission, cutting OF the Columbian
.fyun communication with nearby lin
ers which might have gone to the res
cue.
With the vessel belching flames and
torn by the explosions, it soon became
evident that the crew could do moth
ing to control the fire and the order to
abandon ship was given.
The men left the Columbian in two
boats. Chief Steward Matthews was
I'm charge of the first. This boat put
away from the steamer and lay OH LOT
for a time. but in the dense smoke
which surrounded the burning vessel
the other boat was not visible
Suffered in Open Boat.
OF their sufferings during the 40
hours in which they were tossed ABOUT
and of the death of Chief Steward Mat
thews during this time the men could
say little when they were brought on
to the decks of the Franconia-
Food and sleep were matters OF first
consideration, and although sympa-
thetic passengers were ready with Of
fers of assistance to the shipwrecked
ones. Captain Miller of the Franconia
saw to it that they were first given the
required rest
Franconla Captain Reports.
Boston, Mass, May "a wireless re-
mort from Captain Miller of the Fran
coma, regarding the rescue of part OF
the crew of the steamer Columbian
burned at sea, says:
Received wireless from the Georgia
1925 a. m, May 4. Seydlitz passed
large steamer burning all over. NO
people on board. Message gave longl-
tude and. latitude. I arrived at In
afternoon and at $3.50 sighted boat.
Occupants were taken on board In
few minutes. The boat contained 10
men and a corpse. Survivors had USED
trouser leg of corpse on end OF boat
hook for distress signal. Survivors
we're in state of extreme eXhaustlon
and mental collapse. Some hau peeh
burned by fire. They rad been aurlIl
AO hours. Six were put under doc
tors care. Ships carpenter SAID ne
was asleep when he heard an alarm OF
fire. and was coming along the deck
when an explosion blew him over
hoard. He was rescued by Doat-
When the deck blew up lamp TRIM
mer fell into the burning FIRE. Cap
tain Mcdonald and several otners
were getting the third boat out when
a big explosion occurred. The sec
opd officer got away with "a men ten
minutes before the boat that was PICK
ed up.
"The fire started at midnight sun
was in flames and constant explosions.
was i'm flames and contant explosions
The wireless was wrecked.
Sailed From London.
New York, May 6.-The Columbian
sailed fro mLondon, April 10. for Ant
werp and thence. April %, for New
York.
The Columbian was cargo vessci
and is not believed to have had any
messengers on board. She was Oh
.Oss tons gross registry. Az feet Io1g'
AZ feet beam and 81 feet depth. Sine
was owned by F. Leland & Co. Ltd-'
of Liverpool The Leland line Is con
trolled by the International Mercanuie
Marine company. with offices In this
city.