The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1868-09-18

from Benton Harbor to st. Joseph, states
that she was filled wit D freight. The main
deck was stuffed with peach baskets. and
the hurricane deck IS crowded With them.
While towing down he Hippocampus rol>
led very considerable; so much 50 that her
hatchways were seseral times under water.
She stuck on Tire bar in the passage down,
but got off s.cer two hours effort.
She was last seen by the Schooner Petrol
at o'e.ock Tuesday mornlng, twenty miles
south of ST. Joseph, and about seven miles
from land. She is reported to have been
riding finely atthat time, though there was
quite q gale from the southeast and hea>
Wy sea running.
LATEST.
From the Chicago Times of the 18th we
learn that Capt. BROWN and fourteen
other survivors of the Hippocampus were
picked up by passing vessel and saved,
after remaining in the water twenty-five
hours. The following is Capt. BROwN's
statement:
l was commander of the Hippoc,mpus
on the night of Sept. Z, having been en-
gagged by Capt. Morrison, the regular mas
ter, to take charge of Ter on that trip.
We left Benton Harbor at 10 o'clock p.
M, having on board 1000 packages of
peaches.
A heavy sea was running from the
southwark. The wind steadily increased
from the time of our leaving, and at o.
clock the boat began rolling badly, but
nothing alarming occurred until about halt
past O clock. / then went to the engi-
neer's room, and looked into the hold, to
see if any water was in it, but found none
there. In company with the wheelsmaD,
Charles Morrison, with lantern, went
to the peak below, to see If any was there; but
found none. We went on deck, and found
she was rolling heavily, and the wind was
increasing. | remarked to Morrison tn at
we would have to light her OF her cargo.
told him to take some of the crew and
throw the peaches overheard from the
promenade deck. | spoke in tones so loud
that the passengers heard 1t, and rushed
out on deck In great confusion.
In the meantime the vessel was settling
rapidly, and, before any OF the freight
could be thrown overheard, water had
commenced coming iu through the after
gangway and through the englne-rOom into
the hold. Within FIVE minutes from that
time she had gone on her side and was to-
tally submerged. The passengers had re-
tired, but had most Of them come from
their berths and run out on the weather
side of the cabin. There was intense terror
among them. | told them to help tear
away the life-boat but no one started to
obey Not one stirred. They seemed para
lyzed with tear. The life boat was no
filed with peaches. 1t was ready for use
at this time. | was on the pilot house try
ing to launch the boat, and ordered the
wheelsman to put the helm hard port,
and he did so, but to no purpose.
| saw nothing could be done to'save the
vessel, and came down and started forward.
l got within two feet of the hatch but was
unable to reach it. | let myself into the
water, and got hold of the mast, and foated
along, hand over hand, until | got to the
masthead at the crosstrees. was in fear
of being entangled and sucked down with
the sinking vessel, and SO struck out about
10 feet, and got hold Of a desk, and kept
afoat with that for while. The vessel
then sank, sinking with a suddenness which
lett no time for preparation. just then
Morrison cried to me to come to him. l
QlQ 50. L got Oh his RAFT, WHICH, WAS Olc
side of the cabin. The passengers and
crew were struggling in the water on every
side; all holding to pieces of the vessel.
l think the schooner Humboldt was pass.
ing halt mile off at the time, and we hailed
her. Those aboard the schooner evidently
did not hear our cries for help, and passed
on. Soon after myself and Morrison bad
got ON our raft, another raft, with Trum~
Bile, Hatch, Riford and others upon it,came
near US. We remained near each other iii
daylight, when We picked up Fuller, and
kept the RATS together by mutually clinging
to pole.
About o'clock on Wednesday morning,
we discovered light, and hailed it. We
thought we were heard, and kept On haleo'
ing until she at length came to US. Her
captain, I. j. johnson, was from Chicago,
and bound for Saugatuck. Ee sent out =
boat and took us on board. The schooner
cruised about, looking for others who had
been in company with US, and after cruis
ing an hour the life boat of the Hippoca M
pus was discovered bottom up, and taken
on board.
We cruised about still longer, bit failed
in finding anything, and, about Q o clock,
started for Saugatuck, where We arrived at
6 0 clock on Friday morning.