The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-01-01
FISHING SMACK AND
CREW SAFE AF Ter 4
TEMPEST0US TRIP
THE IDA S. BROOKS, AFTER
SAILING OVER TWO HUNDRED
MILES UNDER Jury RIG" AR
RIvEs AT PENSACOLA.

Reported by the American schooner
Beatrice, which entered yesterday
from Key West, the smack Ida S.
Brooks, sail-less and spar-less, was
found off the bar yesterday morning
and towed to port. AS the battered
vessel, rescued from the very Jaws
of death, came up to the dock, crowds
grew IN numbers, and when Captain
Frank Cooney stepped ashore after
his vessel had been berthed at Pal
afox wharf, he was greeted warmly
by fishermen and by many citizens in
other walks of life, who had read of
his experience.
The Ida S. Brooks was the smack
reported dismasted and without sail,
just before Christmas day, by the
British steamship Jose de Larrinaga,
en- route from England to Galveston.
That steamer sent wireless message
telling of the almost helpless fishing
smack, such message having been
picked up by the wireless station at
Tampa and thence forwarded to Pen
sacola. Later on a letter, written by
the skipper of the steamship was re-
ceived from Galveston, confirming the
wireless message of few days pre-
viously. 1t was then thought the Ida
S. Brooks would make some port, and
it was admitted yesterday that there
was some considerable surprise when
the vessel was reported by the Be-
atrice, some miles off Pensacola, the
schooner returning such report yes
terday. No sooner had the owners
received this report than they des-
patched a tug into the gulf to look
up the smack, then limping toward
her, home port, and known to be but
a few miles away. This tug found
the smack all right, and towed her
to the dock, where she was met, as
stated, by the large number an the
wharf.
Captain Cooney of course was
called on for story of his expert
ences. 1t then developed that the
steamers offer TO take the captain
and crew into an American port had
been refused by Captain Cooney and
his men, all electing to stick by their
vessel to the last.
By remaining with the vessel, it
was freely stated yesterday, saving
of about $1,000 was accomplished by
the smack's crew.
1t was a couple of days to Christ
mas, it was stated, when the smack
was caught in storm which threat
ened to make short work of the
sturdy craft, and such would likely
have been her fate had 1t not been for
| just the seamanship needed at just
such time. AS it was, the captain
reported yesterday, the vessel was
hurled over almost on her side, and it
was necessary to cut away the sails
| to allow the vessel to right herself
and take an even keel. Then the
smack went scudding before the hur-
ricane-force wind, and was tossed
about like cork until the storm sub
sided. 1t was blowing so hard, the
crew reported, that no one could re-
main on deck in safety, but it was
seen that something would have to be
done to keep the vessel afioat and
when the lanyards were cut away,
the spars left the ship like flash.
| The vessel had taken in a large
amount of water up to that time.
For hours the storm ragged, but all
| the time the crew stuck to the vessel,
and even when their ensign, flying
upside down was sighted by the Brit
ish steamer Jose Larrinaga and the
big vessel offered to take off the fish
ermen, there was a refusal, the sturdy
fishermen believing it possible to
reach Pensacola in their own boat,
which they did yesterday, much the
worse for the trip but happy to get
back.