New-York tribune., 1920-10-06
sl,50O,OOO
Saved Board;
Award, $4,000
Only $1,000 Offered Capt.
Lihz fcs' Salvaging the
Jekyl, Drifting Helpless
OFF the Azore Islands
To Press Claim in Court
Rescue of Vessel Effected AZ
ter Nearly Weeks Work:
Hope Almost Given Up

ter Nearly Week S Work:
Hope Almost Given Up
AZ saved the Shipping Board mill
son and half aal they offer me
Il 400 for salvage I'D the members
.fthe crew month pay apiece I am
.,;ar to let the courts decide the case"
s.ys Captain Alex Lihz. formerly mas
tsr Of the Shipping Board steamer
Eastern Sun, which rescued another
government steamer. the Jekyl, off the
Azores last February and got her into
mort. after slX-day struggle with the
seas.
Seven times during those six days
The hawsers with which the Eastern
Sun was towing the Jekyl snapped and
It was necessary 10 pick up the tow
again. Finally all the steel hawsers
on the two vessels were used up and
the Jekyl was brought into harbor with
the last available towline-a seven
inch manila hawser.
The Eastern sun was $50 miles north
Of the Azores or February 2 last on
her way back from Liverpool in the
service Of the Waterman Steamship
Corporation Of Mobile Shortly after s
o'clock that night her wireless picked
up distress call, reading:
steamship Jekyl, latitude 1925
north, longitude 27:o5 west. Both
boilers out entirely. Being unable to
steer, ship is rolling heavily. We are
drifting considerably.
"LOBGER, Master"
Wireless Appeal Answered
The Eastern Sun was then about $50
miles from the Jcky and wirelessed
back that she was coming. At 10 y. m.
the following message was sent to the
Jeky:
"Will have YOU in sight by . a. m.
We have $50 fathom hawser. If you
have any, have ready TO save tine while
good weather.
''LIHZ, Master
1t was o'clock the next morning
however, before the Jekyl was sighted.
and after two hours work she was taken
IN tow. II was found that the Jckvl.
when was beng operated by the States
Marine ompany. o. New York. had
peen handicapped by boiler trouble Tor
some time, and n addition to beinr
unable 10 get steam 10 operate the
steering gear had broken part of her
gear and was therefore unable to steer.
Ihe steam steering gear of the Eastern
SUN was a.so disabled, bat the meehan-
ISM was not broken, and it was there
lore posslole 10 steer her by hand. To
40 lniS, however, it was NECESSARY 10
have SIX men assigned to the wheel at
tine
Hope Almost Abandoned
Two hours after the Jekyi was taken
IN tow, the towline broke and il was
not possible TO get line between the
'|o vesse for eight hours. This time
'ae towine held for three DAYS. but at
midnight February the Jekyl broke
away and from that time until port
was made, in the Azores. there was
Almost constant trouble On February
., III me forenoon Captain Lobger Of
me JeAyl wirelessed:
~t0 sc-ttig clOSe 10 the beach,
am gong 70 try to get off bit again
ana use what little steam / have"
rive minutes later the Eastern Sun
Mashed back:
very poor hopes to get alongside. as
our snip doesn't answer her hem in a
nesVy swell. If YOU see you are get
nhs close to beach better get in boats
III ~ Iine ana VIC Will try to pick you up"
,,I1e ne wireless response to this was:
ne can keep her off the beach as
lung as the steam lasts. Might last
~ minutes or maybe an hour longer.
0@'' Tell
ONLY Half Milo Ofslore
>
"A! lnls time the Jekyl was only half
so ..''e Oh sHore ana wireless calls were
.Sn INV @ oos .Ol Ulher vessels TO come to
1"G iescue. Noae responded, but the
9sSyI steam held out long enough for
1t was not until two davs later. how
bor ~ 49, 5',0 E, T"s Io~ eu l'''0 'ne mar
"Tho 1el,'.il s'I lS'"nu; i,,aa ,ooo
tons Of rbosnb ','0lGNeu zoo s'0o9
con5er COM Ian n'0spnorslaPnl'e' i0O noo IONS OF
Of cyljndcr oil any n,ber aeneral 10 ,er'
chadise" savs Can+ain ~ ..Half
million dollars woi,ld he conservative
valuation for tho cargo Of the Jekvl
which was built by the Submarine Boat
Corporation and was worth at least a
million dollars.
Immediately upon reaching Horta I
took ~ the question of salvage and
made the necessary depositions in the