New-York tribune., 1922-12-27
HurricaneBlOws
Rescue Ship to
Sinking Craft
Captain, Crew of Schooner
Dismasted i'm Mid-Atlaniic
Saved When Storm Drives
Menominee OFF Course
Luck of Sea, Says Skipper
The Gordon c. Fudge, Blue
nose 3-Master, From Tor
reviga, Spain, With Salt

The Atlantic Transport freiRhter
Menominee arrived here yesterday with
captain Edward o. Fudge and FIVE men
Of the Canadian schooner Gordon G.
Fudge. who were rescued l.200 miles
from this port, where the small craft
was abandoned after being at the
mercy Of Atlantic gales for almost two
weeks. Captain Fudge declared yester.
day that II II had not been sighted his
helpless vessel would have gone down
with all aboard the following day, when
the gale increased 90 a velocity OF 100
miles.
The Gordon c. Fudge, three-master
OF i4i tons net, sailed on November 20
from Torreviga, Spain, with 2 cargo Of
salt for Vellcoran, Newfoundland, and
had proceeded only about ten days
when she encountered heavy seas. On
December 7 the wind stripped her Of
all Of her sails and as soon as several
Of them we're replaced tore away those
too. The seas swept over her deekf
continuously. One huge eomber took
her rails and bulwarks on the starboard
side and smashed her two lifebosts
into kindling.
In Sea Trough Thirteen Days
She then began to ship water. While
Captain Fudge stcered her the hve men
in the crew were set 20 the pumps.
She continued walowing for thirteen
days, when her rudder was carried away
and she became utterly helpless. Inc
men remained at the pumps ana al
though she was south Of the trans
Atlantic steamship lane, Captain fudge
still had hopes OF sighting a Vessel
that might be able to aid him.
At 2 O'Clock on the afternoon Of De-
eenber 2i the smoke Of the Menominee
was sighted on the horizon. His Brit
ish ensign having been carried away
CAPTAIN Fudge dug out an American
nag, the one she few when fret COM
missioned. hosting il as distress
signal. An hour later the Menominee
was within hailing distance.
"its an in wind that blows nobody
good" Fourth Officer w. S. Mackie OF
the Menominee declared yesterday
"Fortunately for the schooner We had
been blown about twelve miles south OF
our course or VIC would never have
picked up her men.
"When We got within quarter OF
a mile of the schooner / was ordered
bv Captain Ernest Finch with four
members OF our crew TO a lifeboat.
There was a heavy swell at the time,
but, luckily, the wind was not very
strong. In about a half hour we got
alongside. and / informed the captain
that we were ready TO take him ana
his men of, allowing time for them TO
gather some personal effects.
"The men, apparently realizing their
fate. for the schooner was leaking
badly, were nonchalant and went be-
low In a methodieal manner TO get
their belongings. one man was smok-
ing n cheroot when he returned, max
ing me marvel at his composure under
such trying circumstances. Before the
captain left he set fire TO the craft so
that she would not become a menace
to navigation.
when we first sighted the schooner
IL was about . o'clock. Three hours
later we might have passed without
seeing her, for II would have been
dark, and her disappearance would
have added another victim TO the mys-
teries OF the sea. She could never
have weathered the hurricane Of the
succeeding two days
Captain Fudge said that nothing but
seaman's luck saved them. On his
eastbound trip, he said, he also went
through some very heavy weather,
Compelling him to jettisOn 200 of 1900
quintals OF fish that he was carrying
from Newfoundland to Valencia. HE
boat was badly damaged At that time
presaging, he thought, his troubles
with the wintry seas.
The Gordon c. Fudge was built in
Essex, Mass, in 1917, and was orisi-
nally named Msrne. She was owned
and operated by Captain Fudge. He
and his five men, Frank Taibbo,
George Bambrey, Patrick Hickey, Sim.
con Poole and Lemuel Gould. all Of
Newfoundland, will leave here to-day
on Red Cross liner for Halifax, from
which port they will proceed TO their
homes.
The Menominee reported heavy seas
during her entire trip after leaving
the English Channel and was three
days overdue in reaching this port.