Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1914-05-20
a. SOUTH CAROLINA, WEDNESDAY,, MAY 20, 1911
GUTTER FINDS -FOUR VICTIMS.
Picks Up Survivors of Sea Disaster.
Two Weeks i'm Open Boat.


Halifax, Nova Scotia. May H.
After l3 days of terrible suffering in
an open boat, four survivors of the
Leyland freight steamer Columbian.
were picked up in the North Atlantic
by the United States revenue cutter
Seneca to-day.
All OF the survivors were in a state
OF complete mental and physical eX-
hauSton as the result Of their terri
Die experiences in the open boat at
sea. This was reported to the reve-
nue. cutter service here tonight in a
reloNed wireless dispatch from the
captain of the Seneca
The report stated that the Column
bian's boat had been picked up at
10 o'clock this morning in latitude
1875 and longitude $3.50.
Those reported saved are, the first
officer, one fireman and two seamea
Eleven Died at Sea.
Eleven others Of the boats crew.
which left the Columbian when she
was burned south Of Sable Island on
May 8, had succumbed to injuries
and privations and their bodies had
been thrown overheard. The death
roll OF the lost freighter now stands
at fifteen.
Twenty-seven other members Of
the crew were saved by the Cunard
liner Franconia and the steamer
Manhattan after two days Of eXpos-
ure.
The survivors had lived on few
ships biscuits and cask Of water,
which long since had been exhausted.
They had gone the limit of human
endurance. Hope for this missing
third boat had been abandoned after
the dozens Of transatlantic liners
searched for five days within a wide
radius OF the spot where the Colum-
bian burst into flames.
To seafaring men it seemed i'm
possible that small boat could pass
through the series of gales that since
have swept the waters in which the
boat has drifted, and the news that
the Seneca had picked up survivors
was received almost incredulously
here
Although the survivors were too
weak from their suffering to tell the
story completely, the revenue cut
ter's officers gathered that some of
the sixteen who had hastily piled into
the third boat had been so badly
first few days. 1t was decided to
tighten the boat by casting the bodies
overheard.
Some who had tumbled from their
hunks at the first explosion and had
rushed on deck half clothed succum-
bed to the cold; others. weakened
by hunger and thirst, gradually sank
INTO lethargy tNat was scarcely to be
distinguished rom death.
Only -Four Left.
Somehow the survivors MANAGED
to keep the boat head-on to the seas
when the weather became rough, but
for the past few days little or no eff
fort could be made to guide the craft.
Day by day the number dwindled
until the four. who were left sank
Imply to the bottom OF the boat and
awaited the end.
When the lookout of the Seneca,
scanning the horizon for bergs on the
ice patrol, sighted the small boat
through his glasses, not a sign Of life
was seen. The Seneca put on all
speed, and, racing to the life boat.
sent her gig alongside. The enact
ated survivors were quickly trans
ferred to the deck of the cutter and
brandy forced between the lips.
ES all the men were in apparent
need OF hospital attention. the Sem
eca was pushed under forced draught
to Halifax, the nearest port.
Chewed Leather and Drank Rain.
Boston. May 17.-Four survivors
Of boat load Of fifteen who escaped
in the third boat Of the Columbian,
burned at sea May 3, were picked up
to-day by the United States revenue
cutter Seneca forty miles south Of
Sable Island, according to disnatch
received here from the cutter to-
night.
The dispatch from Capt. Johnston,
Of the Seneca, follows:
Ten a. m. Forty miles south Sa-
bic Island, rescued life-boat with Of
ficer Robert Teire, Sailors Oscar Ken
dali, Peter Belanger, Fireman Ma
chael Ludwigsen, survivors Of fifteen.
Oiler Geo. Hull died 10th: Peter
TTiel to-day. Others between. All
died exposure and hunger. Short
allowance of biscuit and water. Fat
ing biscuit crumbs and boot leather
when rescued. Saw three steamers
first two days, none since. Much
rain. Fine to-day. All under doc
tor; dong well. Johnston"