Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1872-01-19
The Story Of a Wreck


Tt. r.uhrr .r ehirvrerl,s and disasters AZ
sea is relatively tar below what it formerly
was. Imur5yGt marine architecture more
accurate instruments. and saperi0r know
I ed-c of tho art Of navigation. assist 10 keen
ing down the avera-e of calami.v. and the
arrl.catian of steam. the use of iron ia ship
building-esreciallv on the c1muartment
u~iucirIc-and the increasing stores Of rQete-
oralorie9I and t1r9rrauhical information
within reach of the seaman. all tend to safe
IT, N0H and then. however. we hoar Of a
catastrophe that recalls thc disma. expert
cuce of the past. Such an instance is that
of the iU-fated brig N4etb5F. which was
found floating w4tcr-l0-ged in the Pacific
/ near the Sandwich Islands, some weeks ago.
/ The wreck was seen one morning by the look
out on board lhe Steamship Moss TAILOR,
T from japan, bound for San Francisco. 4 SOL
irary man was taken Off the brig. the only
suryiylr 0f the crew and passengers. lie was
the Captain OF the S.a.el5f, Luder I0pkcu.
and although. when rescued. he was at the
very door ctd death, he has recovered So fir as
o. be able TO tell his story.
The Siet4af cleared from san Francisco
for CallaOon the 23j of July last. Her cargo
consisted of lumber. and her crew of the Cap
tain. two mates, q steward. and four sailors.
There were likewise four passengers. Rough
but not dangerous weather attended the be-
ginning ofthe rls5age. but on the LIST of Julv
there was q dead calm. The master employ
eI this iu o. way common ou slirblari, 6v
painting Bis boats and otherwise setting
things .n order. Tn clearing away for the
purpose De had the hawsCr clilei up AMI
slowed To the orecas.le. and this act was
rr5videnuany the means Of saving the CAP
tain's life and of proonsins the lives Of 9TH
ers. On the 81 Of july the ship was over
taken bv heavy SQUALLS. Canvass was rqpi3-
Iv shortened. until 40 last hv nighthu the
Netlof was under bare poles. But even
this br5ucht no safety. The wind and sea in
creased 10 pr3ligi0us violence, and it became
evident that the vessel was caught in a cv-
clone On the morning of the 4th Of july
the Sleti1F was on her beam ends, the sea
makiuga clean breach right over her. It
seemed certain that she would founder. and.
hut for the lumber. she doubtless would have
done SO. BY night with Infinite labor, the
masts were cut away, ana the ship partially
righted. But the lumber on the tween
decks had got loose. and carried away the
skv-li.hts, whccl-house, and c0mDani0n-way
and had ilmmei up the entrance TO tho cab
in. @ was found that this was quite imm0v-
able. and thar it was impossible to get at
either provisions or water Meanwhile the
brig was filed by the sea, and her stern,
where there was less lumber. had settled
deeply. and was completely washed 10y every
wave.
In this desperate condition, without food
OF drink. OF control OYER their vessel. and ont
Of the track of any probable passing s4I it
is lt.le wonder that the luekIess mariners
thought their case hopeless. Still, they bat
tied vigorously for life. A barre. Of ton CUES
and Sounds hoated up to them. Tnev man
aged to get from the hold two hall barrels Of
salmon and box Of starch The water-butts
were stove 10. and not a drop could be had
from them. A sail was, however, rigged in
such way that some rain water could be
caught. Tae lumber being lighter than the
vessel. and the latter full of water, now be-