The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-01-06
FIVE MORE MEN OF OIL STEAMER CREW RESCUED Seamen. Nearly Frozen When Rescued By Pass
 ing Ship MANY LOSE LIVES AS VESSEL BREAKS APART
 ities As Oil Tank
 Craft Sinks

New York, Jan. 6-Five of the miss ing 80 of the crew of the oil tank steamer Oklahoma which broke in two off SandyNHook early Sunday, were brought into port alive today. They were picked up in a 1ifeboat Sunday afternoon by the steamer Gre gory, after having been adrift in the
 bitter cold fer six hours
 The rescue of these men accounts for 16 of the Ol<lahomas crew of 38, eight others having been rescued by the liner Bavaria. and thre found dead in nfeboat by the revenue cutter Seneca,
 Hope that eight more of the crew of the tank steamship Oklaho ona, which sank about 50 miles south of Sandy Hook on Sunday might have escaped death in an open boat in which they left vessel was abandoned today on the receipt of a wireless message from the captain of the rev enue cutter Seneca.
 Captain Graalf, of the steamship Bavaria, which picked up Captain AL fred Gunter and seven of the Okla homa's crew of 40 men, reported by wireless that a boat containing eight before she sank. This is believed to be the same boat referred to by the Seneca's captain. The message from the Seneca follows: s FkCk0Q up one or the OklahOKnaS 8 boats with three bodies in it. Have seen nothing of the steamer. John son.
 The other men who left the Okla homa in the boat picked up by Cap tain Johnson are believed to have been washed overheard by the waves.
 Mrs Sumter, wife of Captain Alfred Gunter.s of the Oklahoma, told today of having received a wireless message from her husband. swIlo is aboard the Bavaria enroute to Boston. Mrs Gun ter had made plans to join her hus- band when the Oklahpilia left this port on her last voyage Captain Gunter feared bad weather, she said. and persuaded her to remain at home. That the plight of the Oklahoma Ecaused by the unusual occurrence of a ship breaking in two following terrific battering of the seas, is the impress sion of shipping men. After breaking in two. her after half, burdened with boilers and engines, went to the bot tom. The forward part floated on her buIkheads which were apparently nearly watertigft.
 The Bavaria with the survivors aboard, is due in Boston this after noon.
 The five brought in today confirm
 the story that the great tank ship parted amidships without warning
 The weather was very stormy and enormous seas were breaking aboard
 when, with an agony of groans and creaks the vessel buclled, apparently suspended on two huge waves at stern
 and stem The engines were racing
 and could not be stopped. All the en- gine-room force and those of the crew aft who were able rushed to the decks Two boats were got away. One was
 crammed full. This presumably was the boat in which the revenue cutter Seneca nd
 alive. The other boat-the one in
 which the five were picked up-con-
 tained Il when it gor away. Six were subsequently drowned after the craft had repeatedly capsszed When the five were finally taken aboard the Gregory their condition was pitiable.
 Both boats were in peril from the moment they were lowered over the side of the ship. The seas smothered the crews, threatening to smash the boats to matchwood
 As they drifted away, soon to be separated, they saw Captain Gunter and others afnidships of the Oklaho- ma. The five rescued knew nothing
 of his fate until they reached New
 York and were surprised to learn that he and seven others had been saved
 by the Bavaria
 About 1:30 p. m.. the Gregory hove in sight. They made frantic signa1s and rowed toward her. Eleven men were III the boat at that time. Nearing the steamer the boat cap- sized and all were thrown into the icy water. They succeeded in fighting her and all, nearly frozen, painfully climbed in again. This happened again and again and, by: the time they got alongside the Gregory, all were on the verge of collapse. Almost at the Gregory's side the craft again went over. This time six sank, never to appear again. The Gregory had now lowered a boat which cruised about searching for the lost None were found.
 The five survivors, narely conscious were taken on board and placed in care of the ships surgeon. He worked over them heroically and it was hoped today that all would recover, although the suffering they went through left them weakened and shaken.
 The boat was only seven miles from the wreck when the five were picked up The steamer cruised, about for some time searching for the other boat but no trace of. it could be found. Finally the Gregory steamed close to the sinking Oklahoma, but could see no one aboard. She then made for New York and having no wireless equipment, could give no news of the part she had played in the disaster until she reached quar- antine.