Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-11-23
More Survivors of the Missouri Disaster
Eight Days on the Sea Without Food or
WHter-Three Men die and Two 60
Crazy-A Story of Terrible suffering.

HAVANA, Nov. 21.-The steamship Moro
Castle ed to-day from New York, via Nassau
the 18th inst. See brings news of the safety Of
another OF The boats of the ill-lated steamship
Missouri, aud that John Frearney, first assistant
engineer; David A. North, second assistant en-
gineer; Cbas. Sinclair, oller; and Chas Conway,
fireman, had survived almost incredible suffer-
ing, and were at Nassau. They Will leave for
New York on the return trip of the MORO
Castle
The following statement from Mr., Frearney is
published in the Nassau Times. He says:
The ship stopped frequently during the trip,
owing to the foaminG of the boilers. The FIRE
originated around the boilers. We at once be-
gan to play the hose from the don-ey engine,
but soon found it unavailing, and the captain
ordered the boats lowered. All was confusion,
and at the attempt to lower the frStlboat 30 per-
sons jumped into her. but owing TO tue mis-
management of the davits, one end fell
into the sea, the other remaining hang
ing in the air. All except FrearnCy
and eight Others, owing to the rolling of
the ship in the heavy sea, let 90 and were
washed into the sea. Nine chung to the boat,
AMI some person on board tue ship cat the
davitS; and the boat which filled with wafer,
went Tree Of the ship. We saw boat bottom
upward with two men clinging to the keel
threw them line and talked awhile with them.
Wanted them to come and Join us, but they CON
sdered their position better than ours and re-
fused. One OF our men joined them and one of
them swan over to us, being one of the saved
We met Mr.. Culmer'S boat and asked him TO
admit us, we being in sinking condition. He
refused, saying he had enough on board. We
told him that his could hold more. Cumer
threw us bucket, and we tried in
eftectually to bail our boat. Culmer
steered towards Abaco. We had four oars AT
nlghttall we pulled back towards the schooner
hoping the fire would prove a beacon, and
that some passing vessel might pick us up. We
came within hall a mile of the Missouri. About
seven in the evening the steamer disappeared
suddenly We then put our boat before the
wind.
On the second and third days we were still be-
fore the wind and suffering terribly. On the
latter day we saw a vessel come within mile of
us, and hoisted clothing, but were unable to at
tract attention, and the vessel hoisted sail and
steered away. On the fourth day, one of our
crew died; and that night two others having be-
come crazy, jumped overheard. The boat was
always full Of water, and ourselves sitting waist
deep.
On the fifth morning, another man died. We
were still before the wind. That evening there
was calm, and we succeeded in bailing the
boat with two hats, a crazy man having thrown
the bucket overheard From three life presery-
ers we made small sail, spread it and steered
south, but our exhaustion was so great that we
could do little. On the sixth and seventh days
our situation was unchanged. On the eighth
day we sighted land, and succeeded in landing
We had eaten and drank nothing since leav-
ing the ship, and laid down on the beach in q
horrible condition. After a time of rest on
shore we gathered strength to reach some de-
serted houses, and found a spring of fresh
water. We lay huddled together all night
On the ninth day we found few tomatoes,
which we boiled, having found matches and
pot in one of the houses. This produced new
strength, and we launched the boat and tried to
reach the main land, but failing we returned to
PowelPS Bay, stopping there. The next morn
ing we made final effort to reach the main
land, but were so exhausted that we were hardly
able TO stand and then lay down near the boat
in dying condition. Shortly afterwards we
saw small sloop cruising near the island We
hoisted some clothing, and again lay down on
the beach. son Of VIM. Curry was on the
sloop and saw the signal. Immediately Curry
came to our rescue, and took and landed us on
Green Turtle Key, where we remained seven
days. -Four days afterwards we reached Mas
Sau. The American consul at Green Turtle Key
and Nassau treated US kindly.