National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1871-09-22
The LadOna Disaster.


telling the story of her wreck, says, wheI
the vessel grounded the sea swept owe
her fore and aft, and then panic seizeC
a portion OF the crew and II sough
safety in the rigging, where they rem in
ed until tremendous sea struck tn,
vessel and washed the poop-deck away
The mast and its living freight was also
swept away, and the men persisted befor,
our eyes In few minutes they wer,
all washed out Of sight, except one man,
named Miller, who chung with desperate
tenacity to n floating spar. There the
poor fellow remained, exposed to the
violence OF the sea, not more than sixty
feet off the ship and almost within speak
ing distance OF his friends, but nothing
could be done for him. For IL awful
hours he fought for life, but at last
human strength gave way and he dropped
exhausted into the embrace of the merci-
less sea. We now set about making RATS
for those who could not swim. II was
hard work, as the sea was still making
over the vessel, and the men were obliged
to catch the pieces of timber MS they
floated about and tie them together to
make raft. Myself and fireman
named Mooney made up our minds to
swim ashore, and we struck out for land.
The surf was fearfully strong and from
time to time caught me up and rolled me
about as if | were ball NY senses be-
came confused and did not know ex-
actly how / was. At last | was on the
strand, swept up by the surf. | had
sense enough to stick my hands in the
sand to prevent myself being drawn back
again by the undertow. While / was
struggling in the surf some one came to
my assistance and helped me up on the
strand. l sank down completely ex
hausted, being unable to stand, and after
little recognized the first officer of orr
ship as the man who had helped me ont
of the surf. / then learned that ont of
the number of men who went overheard
with the mast two had succeeded in
reaching the shore--the captains young
son and the first cook. During the day
ten more reached the shore, and three
remained on the wreck until next day.
We at once set about constructing a
shelter with the trunks, barrels, pIanks,
and other debris which had hoated to the
shore, and arranged place to sleep. We
had nothing to eat and no water to drink
all day, and there was none within reach
but we found plenty of potatoes and tur-
nips on the surf and with these we
quenched our thirst. Next morning
going to the beach we found barrel of
flour which was only slightly damaged
This was secured.
During the night we had discovered a
lighthouse, and I, with three others.
started to get matches to light n fire. so
that we might be able to cook our food.
After walking along the beach for about
seven miles we reached the light, where
we were kindly provided with dinner and
matches. The lighthouse keeper had
given us ample directions On the morn
ing of the 18th Of August, we set out ON
our painful march and having proceeded
about 20 miles up the beach could find
no good water.
The violence of the storm had driven
the waves over the beach into the lagoons,
and made the water brackish ] then
proposed that we should turn back to get
a supply of water, and was followed by
five of the number, The others concluded
to continue up the beach in hope offind-
we obtained water, and reached the
wreck about l o'clock at night. When
we arrived we found our tents occupied
by the crews of some vessels wrecked
below the lighthouse They had come
on, travelling north, but had given ont
and turned back to our tent, whe ere they
refreshed themselves with the provisions
which had drifted ashore. The next
morning We made arrangements for
some "beach combers, who came down
to the coast in the hope of plumber. |
told them they should not plumber when
we were present, but offered to go away
if they would act as guides and put rs
somewhere so that we might be able to
reach st, Johns river They then took us
in their boats and conveyed us to Sand
Point, where we landed at ten o'clock,
P. NJ, Sunday, the 10th.