New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-08
SPELL OF HORROR
OVER RESCUED TARS
Continued from page I

also was tossed across the deck by
the blowup.
THE men who hadn't got off In the
first boat ran over TO the other side
ing out Of the portfolios and working
up in the wind to the deck. There
wasn't a real panic. from what l have
learned. but the purpose was to keep
together, the fear being that they
would not be rescued for several days.
But there wasn't room in one boat for
all the men.
The fall in the davit caught her
the men were lowering the second
boat. Matthews, by the way, had
gathered himself together. and though
he was in awful shape. said he wasn't
burned much The others were too
busy TO note his real condition.
THE clogged rope held the boat in
the air for several minutes. II was
about seven feet over the water and in
line with the flames that shot from the
portfolios. Connors tried 10 work the
rope loose, but he coulGn't stand :he
heat, and Olas, the carpenter, took
the axe and sawed the rope. The boat
banged into the water and the sea
was running so that the boat was
whirled on TO a propeller blade and a
hole stove in her.
Jensen and Wranteck came down the
rope after the boat struck the water, and
they climbed in. They started to bale
out the boat, for she was beginning to
fill, when they saw 1t was useless. and
they used some OF their clothing TO Mi
up the hole. But even then the water
came In. and they had TO keep on dip
ping the water out.
For long time II was their intention
to remain BY the burning Columbian to
see what happened to her. for. you know.
a sailor hates to leave his ship in such
circumstances without knowing her fate.
However. the sea was too high, and fear
ing that the small boat would be thrown
against the vessel and the men burned, It
was decided TO head for the open.
Ship Fails to Stop.
Early Monday, the men say they saw
a ship. and two of the sailors. who had
electric torches. used them. but they did
not BRING any response. That discour-
aged the men. they were almost ready to
give up. but Matthews, worse off than
the others, was full OF courage. He
started in TO bale, but quickly became so
weak he had 10 stop.
He was in great pain, and after he
had toppled over his seat in the stern he
became derous. So he was until the
next morning-Tuesday- he got
quiet Some OF the men offered him
water lie didn't answer. | guess that's
when he died.
Three sharks picked the boat up soon
| after that. Connors looked at Matthews
and found he was dead. II was suggested
that the body be tossed over after the
/ sharks quit, but most OF the others
wouldn't stand for 1t. That would make
/ thirteen in the boat They counted Mat
thews as IL he were alive.
/ THE sharks held on for over an hour
until the men stopped rowing and whalsd
them with boathooks and oars.
Everybody was getting weak from
work and hopelessness. Connors said he
l saw a steamer. but when the others
| looked they couldn't make out anything.
/ The fear OF going insane came on them,
and the situation was very bad about the
time We picked them up.
They had used up the batteries IN
their torches and were signalling with
the right leg OF Matthew's trousers. This
they waved on an oar.
Our lookout in the crows nest saw the
boat. and we came up We got them
aboard without much trouble. They told
US about the other boats, and We steamed
back to the spot TO look for them. but 1t
wasn't OF any use. The men were in
such condition they didn't know anything
OF direction. so We gave UP the hunt"
The men rescued by the Francon!a
were:
James D. Drohan. wireless operator
liver Iverson, bostswain's mate; Thomas