Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1869-11-03
A WEEK WITHOUT WATER.
The Trade Wind Disaster-NarratIve
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From the New Orleans Picayune. Oct. 10.
Mr.. George Thomas, second mate OF the
steamship Trade Wind, which sunk about
seventy miles southeast of Southwest Pass,
recently. gives the following interesting ac-
count of his adventures for seven days,
without water, in an open boat his res
cue, ETC.:
'After the discovery of the leak and the
determination to abandon the vessel, the
captain told me to take the zig. The most
of the crew and passengers we're then in the
other boats. The gig was not overloaded,
and put in her what things thought were
wanted. We got into her and pulled off
from the ship. / then went back to
the vessel to get sail. After getting the
sail, the Captain told me to throw the life
boat overheard, aud the first mate assist
ing, we launched the life-boat and bailed
her cut, and got two more men into her.
We got what water and bread we could.
The rest of the boats were at that time
moored and had their stores in them. We
then kept off until the vessel sunk There
were in the boat at that time. myself, Frank
Dillon and Abner Reels. The Captain
took the latitude at IL o'clock. We then
started, the Captain giving Ms the course
and distance, seventy miles northwest by
north. We kept together that evening, and
about o'clock pulled up and took Thos.
Toumois from the Captains boat, making
four of us.
1--WE stayed together until after dark /
then proposed to the Captain that We would
divide the men among the other boats, and
leave the lifeboat. The Captain said no,
bat that when We were tired of rowing he
would give us tow. He towed us, and we
rowed all Friday night. The pilot left us
during the night and made for the bar. We
saw him no more. The Captain brought
us in tow Friday night and Saturday On
Saturday night the wind died away, and
the Captain cast MS of. telling US that when
the breeze came on he would take hold of
us again. He gave us the course and we
started for the Pass. On Sunday morning
the Captain was about six miles astern. and
the mate in the other boat four miles ahead;
saw shipping at the Pass about ten miles
off.
The norther then struck us and drove
us off. We spoke to the Captain and told
him We were ont ofwater. He said he was
out too. He gave us about pint of water
ON Saturday. On Sunday morning we had
no water, but bread and ham plenty. The
Captain said he could not take us; his boat
had sprung leak. We kept the boats
til Wednesday there full days. On Sun
day night our provisions were wet and de-
stroyed. 1t rained on "Wednesday, and we
caught about auart OF fresh water. On
Wednesday night the wind shifted TO the
southeast We rowed for some time but
finally lost an oar, and were rendered al
most helpless. We slept and rested two at
a time. We caught, during the tide, a
small shark and two or three fish. Those
were our provisions. On Wednesday, saw
the smoke OF a steamer to the northwest as
we supposed We suffered severely form
thirst but little from hunger We drank |
considerable salt water without any i'll
effects.
"On Friday. at IL or II o'clock, We
reached the schooner -, Captain Dem !
nison, master, from Galveston to Pensaco-
Ia. She was lying at anchor. We saw her
in the morning. and drifted down to her,
driven by the wind and tide, which We aid
ed with the little strength we had. and with
the aid of the one oar left. We would
have passed her without being able to come
alongside. but the Captain saw us and sent
his boat to our assistance. We were taken
on board, kindly cared for, and taken to
Pensacola, from whence We came
to this city. At Pensacola we learned that
the remainder of the crew and passengers
were safe; and so our adventure ended. The
three men with me never lost heart, nor did
their courage drop Tor moment. Every
man was prompt aud ready for his watch,
and we always kept two chances in view
first to reach the north shore, guided at
night by the stars. and in the day by the
sun; second, TO get picked up by passing
vessel. We were very weak. and nearly
exhausted with sores, commencing to break
out over our hands and bodies, but soon re-
covered and We are now ready for another
cruise"