The New York herald., 1871-09-08
The Chief Engineers Story
or the Wreck. Isl
A STRUGGLE FOR LIFE
Twelve Hours on Spar in the
Raging Sea.
BATTLING WITH THE BoIsTEROuS WAVES
Miraculous Escape Of The Survivors
Earsh Through tho Swamps.

On the 18th OF August we sailed nom New York
in the Lodona, bound for New Orleans We carried
q full freight, and our crew numbered thirty-three
men, all told Tho weather was fair. ana nothing
unusual occurred until Wednesday. the 10th, when
heavy sea came down on us from eastward. Tho
wind had begun to freshen, and every minute
seemed to increase Its violence. Dark storm clouds
were gathering, aud the night, which was closing
rapidly In seemed to add to the horrors OF the stua
tion. AS the night advanced the sea grew moro
angry, and sudden
ANGRY GUSTS OF WIND
announced the coming whirlwind. When the night
fell the WIND was blowing from the northeast, but
during the night veered suddenly to the southeast
In the meantime the storm had grown In violence
and heavy seas were breaking over the vessels. The
waves were now breaking over her bow, and there
appeared some danger ut each forward pitch that
she would 60 under and be swamped. So imminent
became this danger that at midnight the Captain
sent orders to me TO slow the engines, as the ship
was laboring too heavily. Every moment heavy
seas were shipped, and something like alarm began
to be felt lest the fires should be eXtlnguished and
the ship be left
AT THE MERCY or THE MAD WAVES.
The aspect OF the at this time was awful. Ink
black gloom surrounded the vessel on every slde
except when the nashing lightning for an instant
lllumined the scene and revealed all its horror.
Stout hearts qualed as the roaring winds rushed
through the breaking cordage with savage, relent
less nowf. and the straining ship labored. aud
creaked, and groaned as If In agony. Tossed help
lessly in the waves all command over the ship was
nigh lost ami only an effort was made to keep hef
head I'd the wind. Manruvrlng was impossible.
Such was the 1
FEARFUL FORCE OF THE STORM
thst the sailors could not move about the deck.
But the men remained at their posts, holding on to
the ropes and rails with both hands. While the
ship tossed wildly from side to side, sinking down
In tho trough OF the sea- until there appeared no
escape from the impending wave that rolled on In
terrible md majestic force. caught the breast
OF mountainous bil0w she seemed about TO be
cast INTO the yawning gulf that opened beneath her.
No pen could describe the horrors of that hour
when men felt themselves verify In the hollow OF tho
hand OF their Creator, gallant hearts shrunk small,
and almost became siiled In presence OF the danger
from which no human courage or effort could re.
lease them. Still the good ship held on her course
and Justify bufeted with the waves. and though sue
bent and reeled and staggered beneath their gigan.
tic blows, still she rose again to renew the contest
and dispute the victory to the death. Through
HOURS THAT SEEMED AGES
struggled the gallant ship, and at last the lignt OF
morn began to break like ray OF hope through the
gloom OF that dreadful night. But the light
brought with 1t little relief Heavy waves still
breaking over the Sides but the violence Of the
wind had somewhat subsidized. ana went on deck
to fasten down the skylignts down which the water
was pouring After much trouble succeeGcd nnd
nailed them down, covering them up with boards
ana canvas. As soon as had done this 1
passed rourd on tho lee side OF the deck.
house to seek little rest as felt completely worn
ont by the fatigue ana excitement OF the night.
Meeting the second of1cer remarked to him that
she water looked dirty.
Ke said, eyes; guess wc're In shoal water"
AT that mo rent the snip struck heavily, but was
carried back by the action OF the waves. Again she
ssrucx bottom, and again was she lifted back by the
waves Striking thru time, she was thrown
her beam ends with terrible violence. so grea, was
the shock that was si t i.4
PUSHED OVER THE SHIPS SIDE
into the water. Fortunately mass OF the lee main
rigging that had been torn away during tho night
lay In the water. and was quick enough to catch
hold OF some noating debris. l then hauled myself
on board BY the main spenser bra,la Just ss
reached the deck, almost completely exhausted the
topsa,l and topgalant yards were carried over the
side Of tho ship. At the same moment the captain
was thrown or the lee pilot house aud cast into
The raging 9 sea sd inc me Mass :" ss % and
have struck heaviv against some Of the noating
spars, for he was s
ana disappeared from view. However, there was
little time 70 grieve as every moment threatened "
effort 10 right the ship went forward with nine
others and worked our way 20 the bow of the snip
mast 60, SO That the snip might have q chance TO
r1gnt herself, rs she was lying on her beam ends,
Ry his timc we could see land. as the wind had
again shifted and cleared tile air Of water ana al
distance A panic seized portion Of the crew, and
fourteen OF them sought safety IN the main rigeinE
where they remained until tremendous sea struck
10 o4Sp al
mast aud It's living freight was "i'o swept away,
- rERIsHEp BnrURR OUR EYES -
without our HAVING the power to save ihem; In
few .Asy were s washed wSe out q sn sx
rate tenacity to boating spar upon which he sue
cssded " % aa,3g nn, nmsef. I There The poor fellow
the violence OF Inc sea- not more than sixty ieet OF
the ship and auost within speaking distance q his
''SnaS' 'u' Twelve ~ AWFUL T HUuNs y. 'A
the man struggled against fate, and fought for life
strength gave wav, and no dropped exhausted into
tine furious embrace or The mercileSs sca. his only
9. INN G S
into ..
We now set about making rats for those who
could not swim, az II wos resolved by all hands to
make an effort 10 reach the shore. 10 WAS hard
and the men were obliged to catch the pieces Of
timber As they noatcd about ana tie them tosether
Mooney made up our minds " swim ashore. and
,-.rf PLuN0lNa INTO THE ROLLING suRF,
We struck out Tor land. The surf WAS iearfuliy
lTollsd me about ~ II were ball. Ny pscs bs.
Dcane confused and did not know exactly how
was; Dut sul animated with the one desire con-
tinusd strike out with all my force. Al last was
on the strand, swept up by the surf. had sense
enough to stick nly HANDS IN the sand to prevent
myself being drawn back sgaIn by tns undertow.
While was struggling IN the surf some
ono came 20 my assistance and helped
me up ON fnef strand. sank down
completely exhaustod. beng unable to stand, and
of ar n
a. the man who had helped nus oat 0f the SURF l
snen learned that out Of the number OF men VINO
went overheard Win tho mast two mad succeedekin
reaching the snore--the captains young son andthe
first cook. During The day Ten more reached. the
shore, anu three remained on the wreck nnul next
day. We At once vet about constructing sbelter
with the trunks, barrels. planks ana other hieDrs