Year: 1876

PIIIABLE TALE OF THE sUFFRRINGs OF THE


CREW OF THE SHIP JACOB v. TROOP.


About two O'Clock yesterday morning a cluster OF
tugs moved slowly into the East River, escorting
ship lying low in the water, and bearing her from
stem TO stern, marks OF hard usage. This was the
ship Jacob v Troop which left Philadelphia on Jlnu-
airy 30 and in the gale OF "Wednesday had been
doned by the steamtug in tow of her. The story OF
hardship sustained during tin last few days as told by
the officers and men is very ptiiu one and several
OF the have suffered SO severely from fatigue
and exposure to be in an exceedingly
precarous condition. There are some too. who reflect
harshE on tho action Of the captain Of the sieamtug
North America which abandoned the ship, water
logged and leaking was in the midst OF severe
storm. IL is claimed, however, that his course
dictated only by necessary regard for selfpreserva
ton, as no tug could live in such Ii appears
from the captains log that the j. " Troop left Callao
on September 8, with cargo of guano, and on Jan
uary 10 she ran ashore on Pecks Beach, which
STATED her going 10 Philadelphia where
portion or her cargo discharged As
she was bound for New York the steam
tug North America was chartered TO tow her At
four O'Clock "Wednesday morning. when thirty miles
southwest by south of the Highlands the gale struck
her and continued with undated violence through the
day The vessels tinbers had been strained when she
run aground, and now it was found that the water
steadily rising the hold The steam pumps we're got
the heavy seas which were bufietng the ship about
and every moment widening the leaks in her bottom





water but the rolling of the vessel impaired the en
cheney OF the pumps and at last high breaking
over the deck washed them away into the lee scuppers
Then all hands we're set to work upon the pumps and
IN the face Of the biting gale, with the washing
around them the crew renamed al their posts strug
Cling against the increasing depth Of water below. At
tins moment the steamtug, which had also suffered
severely, dropped the hawser and parted company,
leaving tue leaking ship rolling about, with the
every moment breaking over her From that time the
suflerngs Of the became intense. Many Of them
had change of apparel and their clothes saturated
with water and stlening in the cold, clung to their
backs and chilled them to the bone. But il life
death for them, and for thrty-six hours
they toicd at the pumps without being able TO spare
aloft Captain Smith was determined not to aban-
don the ship while she could be kept aoat, and he
NAMED on duty encouraging the men and endeavorng
TO put the steam pumps in working order by lashng
them TO the deck. Just as the men were becoming
thoroughly exhausted and dispritea Captain Conley of
the w. w. Story, sighted the vessel and came to her
assistance Part of the Story's crew were put on
board and the morning Of the 4th inst pilot boat
No spoken and sent into the harbor for aid. She
brought TO Quarantine 1--WE sailors belonging TO the
j. v Troop. who had been severely lrostbitten and
who presented pitiabe appearance, the use OF their
limbs beng entirely gone and they seeming utterly pros
trated by exhaustion. They we're sent TO the hospital
at Quarantine and several ugbOats despatched TO
bring the vessel into port. They found her oil the
Highlands and with considerable difficulty succeeded
in safely docking her.