The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1868-04-17
LOSS OFTHE STR. SEA BIRD
lCone,uded FROM Second Page. ]


| who think ives one of the crew, sat or the
rim running round the boat just forward of
the gang way TIE sides OF the vessel had
burned right up to where he had pl@ ced
himself, and tie heat to him soon became
unbearables At this juncture he cried out
to me to throw him rope, aud supplicated
my assistance, saying that he could not
swim or he would Jump into the water. l
told him that | could not help him, as my
rope was no, long enough Shortly after
this, he jumped into the water aAd swan
to the bow OF the boat, and proved, contra.
ry to his former assertion, that he was
good swimmer. He caught hold of a rope
which was swinging in the water jusc few
feet below where stood. He held on this
for come three or four inmates, and then,
completely benumbcd, le. go, and sa "
him no more. Then [ hauled up the rope
| that my last companion had had hold of,
and reeved it through che anchor chains
below the ring to which had the halyards
hitchcd. After fastening it in this manner
coiled it twice round my chest. In very
few minutes after this arrangement had
been completed, what was my CONSERVATION
on finding that the upper end of the rope
was burning. | reached up my hands and
bis:cred them somewhat in trying to put
the fire out. Seeing that this mode OF
procedure was of no avail, and that the rope
was likely to burn out of the ring, which
was beyond my reach, [ took the other end
which was coiled round my body, and fast
ened it securely in the anchor chains below
the level of the fire. The two anchors over
my head were gradually settling into he
wreck, and began to fear new disaster
from this Vucf of the
espied a sail between the wreck and the
land. Trembling beneath hope and fear
whether she would hcave 20 and lend me
aid or 60 by and leave me to my fate,
placed my feet against the side of the yes
sci and commenced waving my cap vigor-
ously as signal of distress, and to let her
people know that there was a survivor ON
the wreck. This vessel turned out to be
the Cornelia, Capt Yates, and it would ap-
pear that he had discovered me some time
before l had commenced to make signals,
by the aid Of his spy>glass. When once
knew that my signal was seen, | felt quite
confident of being saved, as my hold was
good for all day. When within about a
mile of the wreck the yawl boat of the
schooner was lowered and manped by the
first mate and three seamen. They reach
ed me in about fifteen minutes, but, owing
| to my state Of suspense, it seemed to me as
so many hours. l had become entangled
| in the folds of the rope to such degree
that l found pyself perfectly unable to
loosen myself without the aid eff knife.
This one of the hands in the boat quickly
loaned me. The time consumed in cutting
the rope seemed to me an age. At last |
managed to saw through it, strand by
strand. AS the knife parted the last fibre,
| so greatly was my strength exhausted that
fell like dead man in the bottom Of the
yawl
The mate asked me if there were any
alive about the wreck. told him | was
confident there was not unless it was one
man, whom / had seen clinging to gang
plank, but had f1oated out of sight He
had thrown it overheard When the fire first
broke out, and [ saw him in the water on
1t from my post, standing up, holding on
by rope which was attached to it, and
swinging the other hand in the air and
brl- glng it against his body to keep himself
warm. When he had swung one hand in
this manner for some time, he would take
hold of the rope with it and swing the
other. He did this all the while | saw
him. On our way to the schooner we saw
him about mile off, still standing on the
plank. The men rowed as fast as possible
towards the schooner, which>was reached
in the course Of twenty-five minutes. and
putting me on board, they went after the
other man and rescued him. He proved to
be Edmund Hennebury. / had not eaten
anything since tho evening before, and was
in very exhausted condition. | went be-
low and after eating what was provided by
the Captain, went to Sleep We left the
wreck about clock. Hennebury belongs
in Sheboygan Falls. He is a sailor, and
was on his way to Chicago for the purpose
of shipping. His fingers we're frozen very
badly when they brought him on board.
lie was wet through. and had no hat on
his head. He threw the gang plank over,
and then jumped over and swain to it. He
was very near dead when they reached
him. When on board he was provided
with dry clothing by the Captain, and
was brought to himself again by the use of
restoratives. All Of those who Jumped
into the lake We're benumbed by the cold
water, and consequently unable to swim
apy distance, but Immediately sank. If
che weather had been mild there is no
doubt but that many could have clung TO
tie floating planks and boxes until aid ar
rived. l tied the life preserver around nv
body, thinking if the boat would break in
two, might be able to keep above water
ard swim to plank, and thus secure pos>
ition that could retain until assistance
came. heard one of the walters ask the
second mate if he should take of his boots.
The mate told him he could swim better by
doing so-if he could get them off. They
Jumped over, but we're soon drowned. The
boiler must have contained an unusual
quantity Of steam, as it was kissing terribly
and feared the boiler would explode, but
1t did not. The corpses in the water pre-
sented CHASTITY appearance. The faces
and bodies were burned and scaldei, and
having no clothing on, were horrible to
look upo.. Captain Yates, of the schooner
Cornelia, who re scued Hennebury and my
sell, acted nobly. and / wish to express nv
heartfelt gratitude to him and the crew.
for their kindness in rescuing me from the
wreck and providing all that was necessary
TO make me feel comfortable while on
board their vessel.
STATEMENT OF EDMUND HENNEBunY.
am sailor by occupation; am tven.
ty-two years old, and / live at Shebovean-
where spent last winter. At Z a clocE on