Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-11-26
LOSS OF TIE MTSSOCRT-STATE-
MENT OF TIE FIRST ASSISTANT
ENvINEEp

! MENI Of IHE fIESI dSto4S Nv
! ENGINEER.
/ The steamship Moro Castle arrived at I!a-
vana on the 2lst from New York, by way OF
Nassau the 18th instant. She brings news OF
the safety of another of the boats OF
| ill.fated steamship Missouri, and that John
Freaney, first assistant engineer; Da'iu a.
North. third assistant engineer; Charies SIN
clair. o;ler. Charles Conway, fireman, who
Il survived almost incredible suffering, were at
Nassau and will leave for New York on tie
return trip of the MORO Castle
The following statement from Mr.. tresney
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
began to play the hose from the donkey en-
CINE, but soon found it unayailing, and the
captain ordered the boats lowered. All was
confusion. and at the attempt to lower the first
boat thirty persons jumped into her, but ow-
ing to the Encouragement of the dayits one
end fell into the sea. while the other remained
hanging in the air. All except Freaney and
eight others, owing to the rolling Of the ship
in the heavy sea, let go and were washed into
the sea; nine chung to the boat until some
person on board the ship cut the davts and
the boat which filled with water went free of
the ship. We saw a boat bottom upward with
line and talked awhile with them. Wanted
them to come and Join us, but they considered
their position better than ours, and refused.
One of our men joined the two, and one OF the
two swan over to US, being one OF the saved
We met Mr.. Culmer's boat and asked him to
admit US, we being in a sinking condition but
Culmer refused, saying that he had enough on
board. We told him that his boat could hold
more. Culuer threw us a bucket and we tfleG
intellectually 20 bail our boat. Culmer stecred
toward Aoac. We had four oars. At night
fall we pulled back toward the steamer, hop
iag the fire would prove beacon and that
some passing vessel might pick us up. We
came within half mile OF the Missouri.
About seven o'clock in the evening the steam
er disappeared suddenly. Wethen put our boat
before the wind. On the second and third
days we were still before the wind and suffer
ing terribly. On the latter day we saw YES
sci come within mile of us. We shouted
and hoisted clothing, butwe unable to at
tract attention and the vessel hoisted sail
and steered away. Ga the fourth day one OF
our crew died, and that night two others hay
! ing become crazy jumped overheard. The
boat was always full of water and ourselves
were sitting waist deep. On the fifth morn
ing another man died. We were still before
the wind. That evening was calm and we
succeeded in bailng the boat with two hats
crazy man having thrown the bucket over
board. From three life preseryers we made
a small sail, spread it and steered south, but
our exhaustion was so great that we could do
little On the G.h and 18th days our situation
was unchanged. On the Sth day we sighted
land and succeeded in landing at Powell's cay,
near Abaco in the evening. We had eaten
and drank nothing since leaving the ship, and
laid down on the beach in horrible condition.
After a time OF rest on shore we gathered
strength to reach some deserted houses and
found spring Of fresh water We lay hud-
died 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 little strength and We
launched boat and tried to reach the main
| land, but falling were turned TO PoweiPs cay.
sleeping there. The next morning #e 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
sloop cruising near the island. We hoisted
some clothe on the oars and gain lay down on
/ the beach son of William Curry was on
board the sloop and saw the signal. Immedi
ately Curry came to our rescue ard took and
landed Us on Green Turtle Key, where we re-
manned seven days. -Four days afterwards
we reached Nassau. The Ammercan consuls
at Green Turtle Key and Nassau treated us
kindly.