Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1925-05-11


after an all night battle in their
surf boat with unusually high
seas.
Captain W. X. Hartwig of the vessel
came back back with Captain Reed, and
planned to leave Point Isabel for
Brownsville this afternoon to make ar.
rangements for tow for the boat The
ship left Puerto, Mexico, IA days ago
with what was thought to be plenty Of
fuel, but the oil was later found to be
badly watered.
Nineteen men comprise the crew Of
Ell Amigo. The ship several time mar
rowly escaped being beached, being
saved only by the fact that most of the
ships furniture and much of its wood
work was cut up in order to make a
little steam to enable the vessel to avoid
the beach.
Captain Reed said that although the
weather is squally, the crew has
brought the vessel to anchor in what is
believed to be safe position.
First information Of the ships serious
plight was brought to Brownsville by
James B. Hammond. past owner of the
boat, who managed to reach snort along
with Captain Hartwig. He reached here
late Saturday. night.---.------r@.z
Y Arrange for Tug.
Arrangements are being made today
by James B. Hammond, in charge Of
cargo on the stranded boat, and mem
ber of the Hammond Oil Co., which owns
the boat, for a tow to take the vessel
~ n~lx
other port on up the coast.
The boat is in no danger, and is
heavily anchored" Mr.. Hammond said.
Captain Hartwig left yesterday with
food for the crew of men, still on the
ship, and will 60 down with the tow
when it comes. am in communication
with several tug boat companies now"
The boat was anchored Friday night
about 35 miles down the coast from
Point Isabel and seven miles off the
shore, after foundering around for eight
days with little headway due to the fact
that the oil contained water, and would
not produce heat enough to make steam.
The captain, Mr.. Harmon and
sailor left the ship in small boat and
made their way to the shore, which they
south side of the mouth of the river.
The three men stayed there Friday
night, and Saturday morning. when they
we're preparing to leave for Matamoros.
were surprised to see large body OF
Mexican officials, including Matamoros
customs and immigration officials. ru-
rales and soldiers, approaching.
Officials Appear
News of the boats being stopped on
the coast had reached the officials
when the men landed on the coast, and
"they evidently thought we were a
party Of men bringing arms to start a
revolution or something" Mr.. Ham
mond said. However, when we showed
them our papers, they laughed at their
suspicious, and took us on in to Mata-
moros.
Mr.. Hammond and the ship captain
made arrangements to come to Browns
vile and reached here Saturday night.
Captain Hartwig left here Sunday morn
ing for Point Isabel where arrange
ments to take a supply of food down
to the men were made with Captain
Reed Of the life guard station, and
boat sent down.
The boat carries no cargo, and was
making return trip from CoatzocoaI-
cos, Vera Cruz, Mexic, to Freeport to
secure cargo. 1t is a freighter, and
carries miscellaneous freight.
I'VE were in no particular danger, al
though there was possibility that we
might have been, with no fuel suitable
to give up power" Mr. Hammond said.
At present the boat is heavily an
chored and in no danger"
Mr.. Hammond is suffering from Sc
we're burns on his feet and legs secured
from the hot sun while the boat was
foundered.