Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1869-11-03
A WEEK WITHOUT WATER.
The Trade Wind Disaster-Narrativ
IF the Second Mate.

!
From the New Orleans Pcayune. Oct. 10.
Mr.. George Thomas, second mate OF the
steamship Trade Wind, which SINK about
seventy miles southeast Of Southwest Pass,
recently, gives the following interesting &C
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 gig. The most
of the crew and passengers were then in the
other boats. The gig. was not overloaded,
and | putin her what things I thought were
wanted. We got into her and pulled off
from the ship. I then went back to
the vessel to get a sail. After getting the
sail, the Captain told me to throw the life
boat overheard, and the first mate assist
ing, we launched the life-boat and bailed
her out, 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 us the course
and distance seventy miles northwest by
north. We kept together that evening, and
about 4 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,
but that when we We're tired of rowing he
would give us a tow. He etowed 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 us 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 out of water. He said ne 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 rs; his boat
had sprung a leak. We kept the boats
head to sea- and drove before the wind IN
til Wednesday there full days. On Sun
day night our provisions were wet and de-
stroyed. It rained on Wednesday, and we
caught about quart of fresh water. On
Wednesday night the wind 5hifted to the
southeast. We rowed for some time but
finally lost an oar, and werA rendered al
most helpless. We slept and rested two at
a time. We caught, during the tide,
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 II or - o'clock, we
reached the schooner , Captain Den
nison, master, from Galveston to Pensaco-
la 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
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 and 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"