The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1872-11-28
PERILS OF THE SEA.
from the N. Y. SUM-

season or the year, 10 furnished by the
Captain and crew of the ship Crusader
who were brought to this port by the
General Mcclellan. The Crusader was .
British ship, hail'ng from Liverpool Az
ter having made q successful cruise, her
Captain received orders TO call at Caliao
for cargo OF guanO, and proceeded oil
rectly to Cork tor orders. Accord lngly.
early In July, the Crusader sailed with a
full cargo, Il crew Of nineteen men, Capt
Charles Gilbert, his wife, and paby only
16 month, old. The run through the
South Pacific was pleasant until nearing
the Cape, when some heavy weather was
experienced At first the ship behaved
well, but one evening, when nearly two
m npths out from Callao. u fcarfully >hcavy
gale struck her, straining her masts and
carrying away a great part Of her Rigging
and sails. The gale lasted all night. ev-
cry minute Increasing in violence, until
about midnight the bulwarks were stove
in and heavy seas washed the decks, rem
dering it matter Of extreme dagger for
the men o work the ship. Meanwhile
the water had found its Way into the hold
ana all hands were called to bail it out.
For severai hours the men thus stood in
the water, waist high, every lurch of the
ship pouring IN more than they could pour
out
A. length the violence of the gale
abated, and efforts were made to repair
damages. The sailors now began to lock
forward with some apprehension to round
ing the Cape, the ship helrg considerably
strained, aud leaking slightly. The
pumps were used daily, but ut length be.
came Gu ked and useless. As the Crusad
eI entered the Straits OF Masellxa she
encountered another severe gale, and all
on board expected momcntarlly to go to
Davy Jones' locker. -Four days and nights
the ciew, to man, worked braveiy
against the overwhelming odds OF Grip.
pep ship, fearful gales, and raging sea
They succeeded in riding out the storm,
but entered the South Atlantic Ocean in
such disabled condition that the only
hope left those IN board was the chance
or running across some vessel that would
pick them up. The danger to which they
were exposed was fully realized by all on
board, but although they had but slight
hopes of seeing home and friends agaln
they did all that human strength and IN
genuitJ could accomplish. The bulwarks
were all tom away, SIX feet of water was
III the hoN, the pumps all uselr 8, and
the ship 80 unmanageabe as to be left to
run before the wind from whichever
quarter it came. Every effort of Captain
and crew was directed to keeping the
ship afoat in the hope Ga remote one in.
that tiludp) Of succor.
For nearly three weeks the crew of the
Crusader thus drifted and worked, the
weather all the time being tempestuOus,
and death constantly staring tnem In the
face. At length it was determined that
the ship must be abandoned, and prepa-
rations were made for taking to the
boats. On the 9Th of December, when
all was ready tor this last chance of saw
ing their lives, the crew proceeded to get
the boats out but one after another they
were stove inland those on board saw this,
their only hope, snatched from them.
The condition of these poor human be-
lngs was pitiable in the extreme. Out
on stormy ocean, in ship that could
not float many hours and which might
go down at any moment, and without the
laintest means OF escape. the crew became
the ship above water, awaiting with the
calmness of despair the moment that
should launch them into eternity. Sig
nails OF distress were kept hoisted but
there was nothing ON board with which
tn fire sigaSls all the powder being wet
and useless.
On the morning of the 9th of Septem.
her, In Lat 46 "a S., Lon. 81 56 W.,
shortly after 9 o'clock, the cry of "a sail
sail !" was heard, and all rushed franti
cally to the vessels side, intently watch
Ing the approach of their deliverer. Cap.
tain Gilbert guided his sinking ship as
best he could toward the stranger, by
whom he was at last sighted. The story
of their extreme danger was briefly told
by the signals:
81 am In a sinking condition"
"Shall we send boat p
yes"
Those on board the Crusader now saw
that the ship which hadssso opportunity
come to their relief was the General Nc
Clellan, of New York, from which, in
spite of a heavy, rolling sea and d stiff
Dreeze, a life boat was lowered, and,
propelled by lusty arms, was soon along
side.
AS only three or four could be taken
off at time, the Captains wife and baby
and the mate were the first to be rescu-
ed. Calamity did the men of the Gener-
al Mcclellan pa to and fro between the
two ships until all hands were rescued,
the Captain being the last to leave. The
Crusader was so evidently settling down
hat he had no time to save anything.
Many of the seamen were disabled, and
all were completely exhausted, but were
cared for with every attention and kind
ness by Captain Morrison and crew NJ
the General Mcclellan. A few days
sufficed to restore the sufferers. four oi