A TRAGIC STORY

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 117, 19 May 1914, Page 7

A TRAGIC STORY

PICKED f UP STEAMER'S MISSING B.OAT. (By Telegraph.— Press Association.— Copyright.) HALIFAX, 17th May. The United States revenue cutter re« ports by wireless that she has picked up the third missing boat of the Columbian, off the coast of Nova Scotia. Four men were rescued, but twelve others were dead from exposure, and their bodies were thrown into the sea. [It was previously reported that thirteen survivors of the British steamer Columbian, from Antwerp to New York, which caught fire at sea a few days ago, were picked up by the Cunard liner Franconia. Another boat containing Captain M'Donald and thirteen of the crew were saved by the steamer Manhattan. The third boat, referred to above, could not be found.] CONDITION OF SURVIVORS SERIOUS. ATTEMPTS TO ATTRACT ATTENTION. * INSANITY, THEN DEATH. (Received May 19, 1 p.m.) HALIFAX (Nova Scotia), 18th May. The revenue cutter Seneca has arrived with four survivors of the Columbian. Their condition is serious, but it is believed they will live. They left the Columbian so hurriedly that they had no time to secure provisions except those they stored in the lifeboat for emergencies. The single cask of water was soon exhausted, but rain fell, enabling the men to avoid thirst. Hunger, however, dominated them, their only food being a small supply of hard-tack. Efforts were made to attract the attention of steamers,, but several passed without taking notice. ■ One j after another the men died, some becoming insane before death, drinking salt water. Their comrades cast over their bodies into the sea with their little remaining strength. Some were badly burned, and collapsed after the first day's The four rescued were found huddled in the bottom of the boat. They were unable to talk. An extraordinary feature of the affair is that a search by five transatlantic liners for several days proved fruitless. NAMES OF THE SURVIVORS. STEAMER AFTER -^STEAMER MASSES BY. (Received May 19, 2 p.m.) HALIFAX, 18th May. Rescued _ are the chief officer (Mr. Robert Teire), two seamen (Kendal and Belanger), and a fireman (Lurwigsson). Captain Johnson, the Senecas commander, states that the survivors abandoned the Columbian in the middle of the night, and kept her in sight owing to the glare of the flames until daylight, when rain fell, and they lost sight of the vessel. The party remained in the neighbourhood, hoping to be picked up. They tried to light a lantern, but the waterproof matches had become wetted. They drifted after that, and saw steamer after steamer pass by on the horizon. A Cunard liner came within plain sight, and headed towards them ; then changed her course and disappeared. Afterwards, much rain and fog prevented them from seeing other vessels. A sailor's coat was hoisted on the boat, and caught the attention of the Seneca's lookout. This led to the rescue.