New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-06

darkness in the weather that was pre-
vailing at the time.
"There was no light Of any sort on
the tank steamship, not even mare.
when darkness set in We lost sight OF
her entirely II she only had a hsh'
on board TO give me chance to know
where she was at all times ] could
have kept at a safe distance from her
until the weather moderated. II was
constantly in fear OF crashing down
upon her or Of having her crash into
us. could not take such risk when
! had lives intrusted TO my care. She
was not under control and drifted
wherever wind or wave drove her.
"If l had had a sesrchlight l could
have cruised around in circle OF four
or five miles and been on the lookout
for her until daylight but it was i'm
possible TO get even her outline in the
darkness.
81 did not resume my course 10 the
north until s p. m. when | sighted the
Georgia. which knew by wireless was
coming to her aid. When ] saw the
Georgia standing by l resumed my
course"
Apparently there had been ten
dency on the part of some vessels to
assume that some other one would at
tempt the work Of rescue. The Job had
first been turned over 10 the Manuel
Calvo on Sunday afternoon by small
cargo vessel that vas standing by
when the Spanish liner came upon the
scene. Captain Bonet could not make
out her name. but she steamed away
with his approach and made no re
Spouse TO signals
The Calvo later intrusted the sinking
craft 10 the good offices OF the Georgia,
which was sighted at p. m. on Sun
day. but meanwhile the Hamburg
American steamship Bavaria. outbound
from Philadelphia TO Hamburg via
Boston, slipped into the fray and took
off the eight survivors.
Tenadores Outmaneuvred.
With the arrival of the United Fruit
steamship Tenadores yesterday It was
learned that she had given the Bavaria
close race TO get to the Oklahoma
and take off her helpless men. The
Tenadores. according to her officers,
arrived upon the scene simultaneously
with the Bavaria.
Both were steaming full speed head
on for the submerged tanker when the
Bavaria suddenly crossed the bows Of
the fruit ship and forced her TO cut
down her speed. It was a pretty
maneuvre, they said. and the German
ship won The Bavaria lost no time
in getting out a lfeboat, and with a
picked crew Of husky German volun-
teers the rescuing party was soon
alongside the sinking vessel.
The Manuel Calvo. according TO her two
wireless operators Edward Feline. an
Engfishman. and Juan Sguier, a Span
lard. first sighted the Oklahoma at $3.50 !
%. m. on Sunday Captain Bonet sighted |
her first and then bore down upon her. |
thinking the craft a derelict. No one on
the Calvo thought there was any one |
alive on board. The Oklahoma was then |
pitching in a wild sea. approximately |
ffty-seven miles southeast Of Scotland |
Iightship.
The Calvo worked in as close as quar- |
ter OF mile and as she steamed at mere |
steerage way the skipper saw three men
come up from below and stand on the
forecastle head. Through the glass they |
were seen 10 make no signals by hand !
The only signal was a flag hanging in the |
rigging OF the foremost. Presently five |
more men came up from below and stood |
with the others. At no time were more |
than eight men seen on the derelict II |
is believed the others had been trapped in |
the after section. which was submerged !
At 4:05 ?. m. Feline. the English oper- |
ator, sent out a distress call 10 the wire |
less station al Sea Gate, giving the posi- !
ton of the derelict. This was picked up
by steamships within range. and later
the Georgia, the Caribbean and the Sen
eca replied they were steaming at full
speed.
Warned Approaching Ships.
Captain Bonet. OF the Calvo. warned the
approaching ships not to come too fast
when they got near his position, as the
tanker had no lights and was danger
Gus wreck to approach in the dark.
Dropping astern OF the Oklahoma. Cap
tain Bonet swung out d lifeboat with
Chief officer Marroqui and six seamen.
II had hardly hit the water when il was
hurled before the steamship and the
Calvo's bow pounded II 10 pieces. The
officer and his men were rescued.
Captain Graalfs OF the Bavaria sent
message by wireless late last night TO
the Hamburg-American Line telling Of
the disaster. According 10 Captain Gun
ter OF the Oklahoma. there had been no
explosion. For some reason. for which
he could not account, the tank steamship
broke in two just aft OF the bridge at 7:ao
a. m. on Sunday. The after part sank
trapping practically all OF the men In the
engine room and those who CHANGED 10
be abaft the bridge
In his report TO the Hamburg-Amer!can
Line. Captain Graalfs said:
ION January 8. at a. m. we sighted
signals Of distress OF a vessel. The wind
was north northeast, with a velocity OF
eight miles an hour. The seas were high
and rough. At dawn we saw the forepart
Of a steamer floating on the water. II
was the tank steamer Oklahoma. from
New York.
at s a. m. we were close 10 the wreck.
iou.1~nd hoat NTH Of man