Rescue at Sea Photo Album

[Jim Kalafus]

Here is an extended series of entries from the photo album of Philadelphia socialite Honore Cahill, who had a series of memorable voyages and near misses during the 1920s. The first voyage in the Album is aboard the Southern Cross, Buenos Aires/NYC in August 1924.

 

[Jim Kalafus]

A few days out from NYC, a raft is spotted-

 

[Jim Kalafus]

It is the crew of the schooner Samuel Hathaway:

6 SAVED IN SEA EPIC; SHIP, CAPTAIN LOST
MEN LASHED TO RAFT ATE RAW FISH TO LIVE

As the Munson Liner Southern Cross, bound here from Buenos Aires, was steaming to port Sunday afternoon the lookout discerned something tossing about on the ocean far off the Jersey Coast.

The something proved to be an improvised raft on which six sailors, tortured by hunger and thirst had been clinging ever since their vessel, the 4 masted schooner Samuel W. Hathaway of Boston had been wrecked in the fearful hurricane the preceeding Monday.

For five days the men, who had seen their captain and two other men drowned as she went to the bottom, her every timber shattered.

Without food, save for a few fish they had managed to capture and had devoured raw; without water, save for a few drops of rain and the thirst maddening sea water itself they had been tossed about at the mercy of the raging seas. All hope of rescue had been abandoned, there lashed to their miserbale raft they were awaiting death with the knowledge that a school of hungry sharks was following eagerly, ready to tear to pieces the first one that fell off.

Then the Southern Cross hove in sight. Too far gone in their agonies even to wave for help, the six despairing men gazed with prayerful eyes at the big liner.

The rescued are Trygyve Gaardner, first mate; Axel Olafson; Wilhelm Weetnen; Fred Melvin, the colored cook; Ingolf Larsen and Harten Hansen. The passengers of the Southern Cross made up a purse of $900 which will be divided between them and the widow of Captain Elliot.

(unknown paper, clipping, August 31, 1924)

Similar photos taken by other passengers were later run in The American Weekly Of Bueonos Aires Magazine for October 4, 1924.

 

[Jim Kalafus]

 

[Jim Kalafus]

The next voyage is a first class passage aboard the ill fated Vestris.

 

[Jim Kalafus]

Which passes uneventfully

 

[Jim Kalafus]

Which is a blessing, since.....

 

[Jim Kalafus]

While they are dining with Captain Carey, Neithworth, their family "seat" is burning to the ground, taking with it "Priceless antique furniture and china, a valuable library, and many art treasures gathered from all parts of the world.

 

[Jim Kalafus]

Honore and parents then embark on a Meditteranean cruise, with a party of wealthy Pennsylvanian families....

 

[Jim Kalafus]

Including this possible Titanic tie-in.....
and, no, they did not sign her passenger list as did the others.....

 

[Jim Kalafus]

A half dozen voyages later, the Cahills sail on another extended cruise aboard the Transylvania. Honore and friends wax rhapsodic at one point about the captain-

.....Times have changed so very much
since our grandsire's day,
and though we work intensely still
we find some time to play.

We stack our press and magazines
upon convenient shelves
and start out on an ocean trip
to see things for ourselves.

(skips some verses)

We've chanced a ride on camel's back
where cooties homes are hid
we did not see them change abode
but we are sure they did.

(jumping far ahead)

and surely we had missed a joy
that nothing could atone
should we neglect our high regards
to gallant Captain Bone.

To him whose chief concern has been
the safety of the cruise
who must through storm and calm alike
our ocean pathway choose.
(I've mercifully omitted 18 stanzas)

 

[Jim Kalafus]

 

[Jim Kalafus]

Later that voyage.....

 

[Jim Kalafus]

Rendering the final stanza of the poem extremely ironic.....

 

[Jim Kalafus]

N Y HERALD March 29, 1929

PASSENGERS SAVED AS SHIP STRIKES ROCK

275 ON TRANSYLVANIA

GRINDING CRASH NEAR CHERBOURG THROWS MANY FROM BERTHS; PANIC ENSUES AS SCORES RUSH TO DECK

 

[Paul Wilkinson]

Hi Jim,

I'd just like to say a big "Thank you" for all your efforts collecting all these fantastic images and for being generous enough to share them with us.

Cheers

Paul

 

[Jim Kalafus]

You are welcome- it is always good to hear that

!