South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-05-18
First Officer of Columbian, One
of Four Survivors, Tells
Horrors of Fortnight in Open
Boat on TraCkIeSS Ocean.
SING FUNERAL HYMNS
FOR II COMP ANI0NS

HALIFAX. y s. May 1s.-The
United states revenue cutter Seneca
arrived here today with four emaciat-
ed survivors Of the steamer Columbian
which burned at sea on May 3. and the
body of another sailor who died after
he had been picked up with his four
comrades from an open boat.
The four live men rescued and
brought to port after they had given
up all hope Of reaching land again are
Robert There, first officer; oscar Ken
dali and Peter Ballenger, seamen, and
Michael Ludwigsen, fireman. The man
who died on board the Seneca was
Peter Triel. a seaman.
There, whose hair had been whiten-
ed by his frightful adventure had suf-
ficiently recovered today TO tell some
thing Of the experiences of himself
and his companions as they skirted the
shores Of death.
When we put off from the Colum-
bian We had only a little food and
water with US, but we were near the
steamer lane and exported to be picked
up sOon." said the seaman.
Signals of No Avail.
THE weather was cold and we
were cramped and stiff in the boat.
I
we could. Throughout the first night
at sea some Of us were able TO get
! little sleep but we set watches TO
| keep an eye open for steamer lights.
On the second day we saw three ships,
! but they were too far away to be sig
nailed, although we tied our coats to
oars and waved them until the YES
| sells passed from view:
| by the end Of the second day near
/ ly all our biscuits had been eaten and
| about half of our water had been
! drunk. but. shortly afterwards il be-
| gan to rain and at frequent intervals
until we were rescued rain fell. This
saved us from the horrors of thirst at
sea, for we managed to catch some OF
the water by spreading out garments
until they were soaked, then we would
wiring them out, catching the precious
drops OF fresh water.
Some of the boys had pipes. but
| they had only a little tobacco and we
| passed the pipes from one man to an
other IT was as lonesome as il could
| be and some of the men began to lose
/ heart when the third and fourth days
passed without any ship coming wi n
in range OF us. Some OF the boys were
getting fighty and began to talk
strangely.
! Sang Funeral Hymns.
Whenever a man died we sang
| hymns and threw the body overheard
! right away. This quick disposition of
/ the bodies was necessary because
when a man is starving and cannot get
| food no one knows what he will do.
| eve wore thick leather boots when
we took to the boat which was a God
send TO us. When the pains of hunger
became uncomfortable we cut the leath-
er into strips and chewed what nour-
ishment we could get from it. This
and the dirty water which we secured
from our clothing when it rained fur
! nished our only sustenance.
"All OF us in the boat were grown
and hardened seamen. save one boy
named Lycjman, who was only 16
years old He bore up bravely. but
| the little chap was one OF the first to
go. One Of the men prayed as we
dropped his body over the gunwale
''It was an experience that lasts one
| for a life time. / had given up all
hope and was exhausted and delirious
when we were saved. / don't know
! as I viii ever recover completely from
| the shock They tell me the boat had
been carried 125 miles from the spot
I where the Columbian was burned
] A message from the Seneca an
/ nouncing the finding of the missing
7 life boat was as follows:
u. :. :. Seneca, 10 a. m, 40 miles
! south OF Sable island Rescued life
| boat with officer Robert There, Sail
/ orS Austin Kendall. Peter Belanger
and Fireman Michael Ludwigsen,
| survivors OF 10 men from Columbian.
| Others who died OF exposure and
starvation were Engineer Margetts.
/ Firemen Anderson. Antonio. Rich
/ man. Gustafson. Jacob: Oiler George
! Hull. Cook Schrim berger. Sailor
! Christensen and boy. Dyckmen.
Leaving Columbian men had only
short allowance biscuit and water.
| Eating biscuit crumbs and boot
/ leather when rescued. Sighted three
steamers first two days. none since.
! Much rain. All doing we'll under
= doctors care.
(Signed) Johnston"
Worn and Haggard.
! The faces OF the survivors. worn and
! faggard. We're covered with long hair
and their eyes had sunk clear into
I their heads No attempt was made to
/ get any detailed story from them.
/ They required the utmost care and at
} tentlon TO bring them around again
and this was given them by the ply
sician. Captain Johnson the officers
/ and all on board OF the Seneca
That these four Of the Columbian's
I crew are living is almost a miracle
1 They had long been mourned as dead
and when they are able TO talk freely
/ OF their experiences they will have
/ terrible story OF the sea 10 tell the
world
Short OF provisions from the outset
/ they had practically nothing 20 sub
| sist on and one by one they were
smote by the hand OF death Gradu-
| ally the human burden Of the boat
having died and their bodies consign-
! 80 tbs. depfhS