The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-03-12

Loss OF ME. SCHo0NEE--Ihe CreU 1acen-
to- Three Days on the Wreck 1t is seldom that
more thrilling narrative of shipwreck and suf-
fering at sea is recited than that given " Capt
Squirting, of the schooner NJ. F. Varnum. of
Bucksport Me-, who, with his crew, remained
twenty -three days on his vessel, after she was
completely wrecked and disabled, before assist
ance came to him. He, with two of his men
arrived at New York on Saturday, on the
schooner SedOna, which brought them from
Bermuda, where they had been taken by the
English ship Sedburg, which rescued them.
The account of the wreck and sufferings of
those on board, given by the MASTER is sub
stantially as follows:
"The schooner NJ. F. Varnum, stanch and
reliable craft, which had only seen two wears
of sea service, left Bucksport Maine. Deem
Der 26, with an assorted cargo, for Pensacola,
Florida. Her captain had followed the sea for
many years and her crew were a picked body
of young but experienced and hardy men
Her voyage opened with steady nOrherly
breeze, which strengthened, and the north
west gale of January Eth burst upon her in all
its fury The vessel was then off Cape May
Calamity she struggled, but at 1. A NJ, amid
binding snow storm, away went her fOremast
1t snapped off about four feet above the deck
as clean and smooth as the breaking of pipe
stem, and with sail and spars went bounding
into the sea, not so much as grazing the bull
| warks. 1t was but moments work to cut the
ropes and letit go clear of the ship, SO that it
| should not punch a hole into her side or bot
tom and endanger sinking her. But there was
one mast and her jibs left. With these she
| continued to weather the storm, which, it
will be remembered, instead of abating, grew
more furious, and under the circumstances
believed he could make Bermuda. For ,thir-
| teen DAYS no vessel was spoken
On January 19, the schooner X. T. Fisk, from
| EastpOrt Me- for Cardenas, came near and
offered to lay by and take off the the crew as
soon as the weather moderated. This hui
name promise Captain Squirting, though fully
approaching it, did not think it best to accept,
as he still had faith he could save his vessel
and cargo, and bring them safely into port.
On the succeeding day he also spoke the brig
Kate Stewart, from PHILADELPHIA for Rio Jan
GIRO, the captain of which repeated the same
liberal offer. which was also declined At this
time the storm had somewhat lulled, but it
soon broke out with seemingly redoubled fury.
There was no let up. The storm continued
day and night. On the 23d another disaster
| befel the vessel--the loss of the mainmast, for
/ which the loss of the foremost paved the way,
through the slackening of the head-stays.
| Not daring to trust this mast under much sail
on this account, the captain at this time was
sailing with only jib, and using his main
throat and peak halliards as stays to support
the mainmast The force of the hurricane
may be imagined from the carrying away
of this mast with no sail on her The
vessels upper works were now
greatly damaged the wrenching of the mast
at the bottom had set her leaking, her rudder
had become disabled by the heavy seas, and
she was an utter and hopeless wreck. All that
could be done was to let her drift, work at the
pumps to keep her from sinking, and, with
signals of distress flying, keep an incessant
look out for passing vessels. 1t continued bit
terly cold which made the incessant working
at the pumps terribly severe. But the crew
did their work most uncomplainingly. The
captain took hold of the pumps with them. II
was work for life or death, and all saw it and
knew it. Who can describe those days and
nights of toll, suffering and anxiety. There
was no sleep nor rest for any. Clad in icy gar
ments, the men worked at the pumps. No
food could be eaten only such as could be has.
tily snatched and swallowed. The water gain,
ed on the pumps; at any moment she might
sink. She had been so strained by the contin.
uous lashing of the waves that she seemed but a
shell. Every eye was on the lookout for sail
A far-off sail would now and then be seen, hut
nothing could attract their notice Glimmer-
ing lights would CLEAN at night in the dim dis
lance, but, instead of coming near, they soon
faded from view. All this time the vessel was
being carried further away to sea. The men
were becoming more exhausted. 1t was evil
| dent, unless help soon came, all must find O
common watery grave. .ss,. 4 boss --s-f
On the afternoon of January 90 q sail was
seen. Here was chance for their lives. The
weather, fortunately, had moderated good
deal. A small boat pushed off to head off the
vessel and succeeded in doing so and in at
4 tracing attention to the wreck The vessel
| proved to be the ship Sedburg, Captain Kneall
from Liverpool for Bermuda The captain
came promptly to the schooner's aid. Ii was
then nearly dark, and the sea was rolling sc
heavily that with the utmost difficulty the men
were rescued from the wreck. They could
take nothing but what they wore, but they fell
inexpressibly thankful for the preservation O.
their lives, after the severe and protracted
hardships they had undergone. When rescued
the schooner was in lat. 81 26 and lon. 81 q
west, or about one hundred and eighty miles
east of Bermuda. After being abandoned
and pumping stopped, it is probable she did
not remain above the water long.