The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1916-10-06
RESCUE EIGHT
FROM BARGE
Survivors Tell Thrilling Story
of Hardship
SAILED FROM CHATHAM, N. B,
Men Of Freighter Sycamore Saved
Seven Men and Woman From
Sinking Barge off
Cape Sable.
SAILED FROM CHATHAM, N. B,


rescued from the sinking barge
Alex Anderson by the crew of the
Warren liner Sycamore, off Cape
Sable, Sunday afternoon were
brought TO Boston Monday aboard
the steamer.
They told thrilling tale OF their
sufferings, after the barge had been
cast loose from it's convoy, the
steamer Gettysburg, when the latter
became disabled in violent storm.
All Of them, especially the woman.
Mrs. Sadie Roberts of Port Huron,
Mich, bore marks of their priva-
tions.
The party besides Mrs. Roberts
included her husband, Ross Roberts,
Capt. John r. Carr, Mate William
Bonnah and Seamen II. ID. McCoig,
Angus McMullen and William Sheri-
dan of Detroit and Jean Pocket Of
Marine City, Mich. Mrs. Roberts.
when taken from the wreck, had
hardly sufficient clothing to cover
her and was shoeless.
The Anderson and the barge Ara
nae left Chatham, n. b., Sept. % for
Portland, Me-. in tow of the Gettys
burg. When a terrific northwestern
swept down on the three vessels
Saturday night the barges became
such a strain on the steamer that
her engines were disabled ,and they
had to be cut loose to prevent them
from fnnlinu aaph nt hnr and h
Ing 10 pieces in the giant seas.
The Anderson's planking soon
started and the water poured into
her hold faster than it could be
pumped out. Only the barge's cargo
kept her ahoat, and the seas which
threatened to send her to the bot
tom at any moment. The crew took
refuge in the forward and after deck
houses and in this manner became
separated, since it was impossible
to walk along the deck between the
herself in the after house, with the
captain and mate, while her husband
and the other seamen had sought
shelter in the forward house. There
was not food or water In either
cabin, as the first sea aboard ruined
what little store had been provided.
The Sycamore hove in sight early
Sunday afternoon.
Capt. Fenton manoeuvred the big
liner to the windward of the wreck
as close as he dared and dropped
anchor. Attempts to get line
aboard failed, and Third officer II.
L. Webb called for a volunteer crew
to LAUNCH a life-boat. For more than
two hours the officer and his crew
fought their way through the boil
ing seas, which threatened at every
instant to swamp their little craft,
and were finally successful in reach
ing the after part of the wreck,
where the woman and two men
could be seen clinging. The life
boat time and again was hurled
against the side of the barge and
nearly dashed to pieces. but by skill
full work they managed to get Mrs.
Roberts and the two men on board.
They then attempted to rescue the
other five members OF the crew, who
had taken refuge in the forward cab
in, but their efforts to reach the bow
of the barge were unavailing and they
were forced to return to the Saga
more.
Meantime a second volunteer crew
of firemen and hosemen had been got
ten together by Second Officer w.
Whitaway, and, accompanied by Capt
Carr, who had just been rescued. they
succeeded in getting so close TO the
wreck that the five men decided to
jump into the water. They were soon
picked up and the boat started on the
return trip.
The crew of the Aranac were TAX
en- eff by the Gettysburg. which In
turn was picked up by the Leyland
liner Canadian and towed into Var
mouth. where she will undergo ex-
tensive repairs.
Portland. Me.-The Coast Guard
Cutter Ossipee has left to search fol-
the abandoned barge Alexander An
derson, which became water-logged
in the storm off Cape Sable. n. S.
Saturday. while bound here with pull
from Chatham, n. b., in tow of the
tug Gettysburg.