The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-10-02
Iwenty-Six Hours in Small
Boats While the Storm
Ragged Furiously.
NOTHING TO EAT
FOR ENTIRE TIME
Pensacola Men Aboard Mar
rowly Escape From the
Maddening Elements.

Somewhere. probably sixty miles
south OF Pensacola, the American
steamship Wasp lies awash. An an.
chor held the hulk when last seen.
"nicn was Sunday morning at "
clock, when the crew, rescued after
twenty-six hours in open lifeboats.
| came on to the city aboard the Wan
rem Companys fishing smack Culebra,
which reached Pensacola about IL .3C
, o'clock Monday morning.
Previous to the arrival of the smack
at her dock, news was received in -
city that shipwrecked crew was
aboard, and scores of friends were at
the dock when the smack tied Il
Ihere were affecting scenes when re-
latives and friends met.
Aboard the Wasp when she went
over were eighteen persons. Captain
Sundberg had his wife along, and ev-
eryone who spoke of the lady's be-
havior. said she displayed the cour-
age of tried sailors. Not once, de-
spite the awfulness of the storm. did
she display the least fear, but even
aided in cutting away the deckload,
launching the life boats, and in many
other ways assisted, her bravery lend
ing courage to every member of the
crew.
Four of the men aboard wer from
Pensacola. Captain Fl. T. Hansen, re-
siding at Ill South Barcelona street,
was second mate; Chester T. Smith,
APO East Gregory street, was second
engineer; and two deckhands, named
Rhodes and an Italian whose name
was known. Capt. Hansen was for
some time .deputy IN the iiarboflnas-
to the Cuban and Central American
ports.
Hunger for 26 Hours.
During the entire time they were
in the lifeboats, it was stated, the
eighteen persons had nothing to eat
but cocoanuts and they drank the
liquid from such nuts. The nrst
boat launched after the Wasp began
to settle, and which was in charge
of Captain Hansen, went over on her
side. and the three who were trying to
get into it came precariously near go
ing into the sea. The boat was later
recovered, however, and just as the
seamen were about giving up hopes or
ever reaching the other boat, the
craft landed in the forty-foot-high
sea and maintained an even keel. Into
this the eighteen piled. After worS-
ing hard they righted the first boat
and the crew was then divided. Ten
remained in the larger boat and Sight
in the second. They were lashed
together, however, and so remained
all night, and were in this position
when the smack was sighted. Sig
mails were set. and at first were not
noticed by the smack. The latter ran
BY for considerable distance when
the distress flags were picked up and
the Culebra came back on tack and
rescued the people in the lifeboats.
They were almost famished, for all
had been without sustenance and water
for more than twenty-four hours, and
all were very weak and cold. The
crew of the Culebra, as we'll as "Big
Tony the skipper, scurried about,
found drv clothing for all seamen as
we'll as for Mrs Lunburg. and hur-
riedly provided food. The smack
thence came on to the city.
Talks to The Journal.
Eve were at Port Tampa Ches-
ter Smith told The Journal last night,
| "where storm signals were displayed
and prepared to remain there until all
danger was passed. About that time
the signals were ordered down, and
the captain decided to come on to
destination. We left Tampa We'd
| nesday night.
"On Friday, at $50 O'Clock in the
| morning, probably ffty-fve miles
| from Pensacola, was when we aban-
doned the Wasp. It was about 8
o'clock that night, however, before
| we left the ship. The wind at that
hour was blowing probably 20 miles
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