The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-18
MEN THOUGHT DEAD
PICKED Up AT SEA
Four of Missing Fifteen Of Col
urnbian's Crew Found
Alive in Boat.
BOOT-LEATHER USED AS FOOD
Others Succumb to Terrible Pri-
vations During Two Weeks
Exposure on Ocean.

Boston May 17.-Four survivors Of
boat load OF ffteen who escaped in
the third boat OF tho freight steamer
Colurnbian burned at sea on May 3.
wcre picked up to day by the United
Statep revenue cutter Seneca forty
miles south OF Sable Island, according
TO n dispatch received hero from the
cutter tonight.
When their short allowance OF biscuit
and water had failed the men main
taIned ilfc by chewing boot leather
tack. Rain water served them when
their water cask went dry. The first
TWO days after drifting away from
tine Columbian they saw three steam
ers too FAR away to be slsnaied.
Tho dispatch from captain Johnston,
OF the Scnaca. follows:
Ten \. ri, forty miles south sable
Island. rescued lfeboat with officer
Robert Tcire. sailors Oscar kendall.
Peter BeianSer Fireman Michael Lud-
wigson. survivors OF fifteen piicr
George Hull d;od 10th. Peter Tricl
today. Others between. All died e>-
poSure and hUuger. short allowance
biscuit ana water Eating biscuit
crumbs and boo; leather when rescued.
Saw three steamers first two days. none
Slll't hUtn lH4I. ! !'l. Ao-nRN- - IL
under doctor doing we'll.
,Sign.d) JOHNSTON"
ELEVEN OTHERS Oi' CREW
SJtCtMB To PI..IATIONS
Eleven others OF tH. boats crew
which left the Columbian when she
was burned south OF sable Island. May
,. had succunbed 10 injuries ana pri-
yations. and their bodies had beeii
thrown ov>rboard. III. death roll OF
thc lost freighter now stur,.s at nj
teen.
Twenty-scven o1her members Of the
crew We're saved by the Cunard liner
Franconi;, and the steamer Manhattan
after two days OF exposure The Sen
&c" reported that She expected 10
reach Ilalifa& tomorrow morning.
Tne survivors had lived on few
ships biscuits and a casl< of water.
which iong since had been exhausted.
They had gone the limit of human en-
durance. Hope for this: missing third
boat had been abandoned after a dozen
transatlantic liners searched for five
days within d wide radius OF the spot
where the Columbian burst into iiames.
TO seafarlng men it seemed impos
sible that a small boat could pass
through the series OF gales that since
have swept tho waters in which the
boat has driftad, and the news that the
Seneca had picked up survivors WAS
received almost iucredulousiy here.
~i'R>tNOH~ 500 WEAK
rO TELL. COMPLETE STORY
Al:rough tho survivors wcrc too
weak from their suffering TO tell the
story completely. the revenue cutters
officers gathered that some OF the SIN
,cen who had hastily piled into the
third boat had been So Dadiy burned
thas tncy died within The first few
days. |, was decided to tighten the
boat by casting the bodies overheard.
some who had tumblcd from ihei"
hunks at tho rrst explosion and hao
rushed on deck half clothed succumbcd
10 the cold: others. weakened by hun
%er and thirst. gradually sank into
ietharl:y tnlt was scarcely TO be dis
tiueuiShcd from death.
somehow the survivors managed 10
keep the boat head-on to the seas
when tile weather became rough. but
for the past few days little or no et-
fort could be made 70 guide the craft.
Dav by day, the number dwindled until
the five who wero left sank Imply to
the bottom of the boat and awaited the
enH.
When the lookout OF the Seneca,
scanning tho horizon for bergs on the
!cH patrol, sighted the small pot
through his glasses not a sign or life
':as seen. The Seneca put on all speed
ana racing to the lifeboat sent her
Gig alongside. The cmaciated sur
vivors were quickly transferred TO the
deck OF the cutter and brandy forced
bf'bNc lIit IDS.
NESCTED MEN IN TERRIBLE
STATE: OF EXHAUSTION
These men were in n terrible state
Of exhaustion when picked up. Half
c"azed from thirst, hunger and cx-
posnrc. they presented an awful sight,
when the stalwart bluejackets from
III" Seneca reached tho side OF the
littlo craft. The men were helpless,
pcir% scarcely able to movc hand or
foot, and their voices had failed az
most To a whisper. They were in de-
SOAR. having given up all hopes or
rescue. when the boat from Seneca
cane 10 succor them.
fpndcrly the limp forms OF the sur
fering men We're lifted Into tho Scncca.s
boat. and all haste made for ths. cut
ter, which had steamed close to The
sccno OF the rescue. The faces OF the
survivors. worn and haErard. were
covered with long hair and their ewes
had sunk clear into their heads No
attempt was nado to get any detailed
story from them. They required IN.
utmost caro- and attention TO bring
them around again. And this wzs
given them by the physician. captain
Johnson. the officers and all on boor,
jhc Seneca.
THAT these four or the Colurnb,a.s
men are living IS almost q miracle.
They had long been mourmed ns dead.
and when they are able to talk freely
IF their experiences they will have =
terrible story OF the sea to tell the
world
short Of provisions from the ont
set, they had practically nothing to
subsiSt on, and one by one they were
smitten by the hand OF death. Gradual.
ly the human burden OF the boat he
came lcssened. eleven Of the men hav-
Ing died. and their bodies consigned
to the depths.
After rescuinG the men the Seneca
starte" !uli steam ahead, and she IS
expected TO reach Halifax some time
tomorrow with the survivors. The
exact time OF her arrival has not vet
been announced.
Rcport to Washington.