Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1915-03-17
DARING RESCUES
IN GIANT Waves
Thirty-thTeG Persons Saved In
MidOCean Storm.
LAMP FLASHES CALL HELP.

phIa axe Grew from SINKING 0nlP
In Raging Sea-Rescuing Boats Bare
ly Miss Being Smashed Despite Oil
Poured Upon the Water.
By splendid seamanship and under
the most adverse conditions, the
steamship Philadelphia rescued Cap
tain Segebarth and the crew of thirty
two men of the American Petroleum
cOmpanyS tank steamer Chester on
Friday, Feb. 3, in midatlantic. Their
vessel was left sinking.
On Thursday morning at 1 80, ships
time, Captain Mills, on the bridge of
the Philadelphia, telephoned to Jones,
the wireless operator, to establish COM
munication with vessel off to port.
Jones threw in his wireless and gave
several calls, but received no answer.
The captain then telephOned to Jones
to come to the bridge. There he saw
that the vessel, which was almost hid
den in the dark, was signaling with
lamps, using the Morse code.
Signal lamps were brought to the
bridge and Jones soon established COM
munication. The Philadelphia asked,
What is the matter?' and the answer
came back in flashes: 1--WE are wreck
ed! We are sinking, and our boats are
uselessr'
do you want to be taken OFF, the
Philadelphia asked, and the answer
came back quickly, eyes, yes, we are
sinking"
Captain Mills, with the sea running
high and a storm about to break, re-
fused to order boats to the rescue. He
decided to call for volunteers.
Every Man Volunteers.
The officers and crew of the Phila-
delphia were all on deck, and the cap
tain asked who wanted to go. All the
officers and every man came forward.
With great difficulty, owing to the
rolling of the ship, the port emergency
lifebOat was swung over with Chief
Officer Candy and six sailors. For a
time the waves threatened to smash
the boat against the side of the Phila-
delphia. but the vessel worked for
ward, and the boat got clear and disap-
peared in the mist astern.
Two hours later Chief Officer Candy
hailed the Philadelphia and by daring
work got under the lee of the vessel
and was hOisted aboard with twenty
two of the crew of the sinking Chester
and his boat half full of water.
He told Captain Mills that there
were Others including Captain Sege-
barth and officers, on the wrecked
ship, and preparations were made to
send another boat. The men of the
first boat wanted to go back. but they
were too nearly exhausted, and anOth-
er boat. with First Officer Lyons and
seven men, was lowered.
Just as the boat touched the water
a wave broke against the side of the
Philadelphia and half filled it. 1t
seemed foolhardy to go on, but before
the boat could be recalled it had been
lost in the gloom.
The Philadelphia steamed as near to
the Chester as possible, and for time
it was thought that the first officer and
his men were lost. 1t was just before
the dawn, and nothing could be seen
but the Morse flashes of the lamp on
the sinking tanker.
Preparations were being made to
send another boat, but as it grew light
er the lifebOat was seen alongside the
Chester.
Jump For Life Into Sea.
One by one the remaining men were
seen to go overheard from the Ches-
ter, and as the lifebOat rose on the
waves it's crew could be seen dragging
them out of the water.
Four hours after starting First Off
Ger Lyons returned with the captain,
officers and engineers of the doomed
tanker, and they were swung on board
without mishap.
All the officers and crew, thirty three
In number, were saved. Captain Sege-
barth reported that they had encoun-
tered very heavy weather and that two
days before the bridge and chart room
had been swept overheard and the
boats smashed. The vessels steering
gear was carried away, and for forty
eight hours she had been helpless. The
Philadelphia was the first vessel sight
ed. and the Chester, carrying no wire
less, was unable to call for help. Cap
tain Segebarth said he had almost CIV
en- up hope Of rescue, as his vessel was
on the northern route, which is used
by few ships at this time of year. The
Philadelphia was on that route in the
hopes OF avoidiI : the weather that
was reported on the southern route.
Before quitting his ship Captain
Segebarth set the wreck af1re. She
carried 1.850.O0O gallons of oil. While
standing by the Philadelphia poured
oil OH the waves.