The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1872-12-03
THE ILL-FATED MISSOURI.
Additional Details of the Disa.ter

81
Additional ID eiaiIs of the Dis;,ster.
ANOTHER BOAT SAFE nAR-
Dor,
In,eresstnf Statement Of One of
the Survivors,:
HAVANA, Nov 2l-The steamship
Moro Castle arrived to day from New
York, via Nassau the 18th inst. She
brings news of the safety of another of
the boats of the i'll fated Missouri, and
that John Frearcy. first assistant engi-
neer; David A. North, third assistant en-
gihcer J. Charles Sinclair, oiler: and
Charles Conway fireman, who survived
almost incredible suffering, were at Mas
sau, and Will leave for New York on the
return trip of the Moro Castle. si
The following statement from ,Frearey
is published in the Nassau Times: "He
says the ship stopped frequently during
the "trip, owihg to the toaming of her
boilers Thetire originated around her
boilers We at once, began to play the
hose from the donkey engine, but soon
found it was unavailing, and the Captain
ordered the boats to be lowered All
was confusion, and at the attempt to
lower the first boat, thirty persons jump
ed into her, but owing to the misfnanage-
hrent Of the davits, one end fell into the
sea, the remaining end hanging in the air.
All except Frearyan eight Others, ow
ing tp the rolling ofathe ship in heavy
sea, let go and were washed into the sea;
the nine clung to :lie boat until some per
son on board the ship cut the davit, and
the boat, which was filled with water, went
Hee Of the ship We saw boat, the
bottom upward, with two men clinging to
the keel; we threw them line ard talked
awhile with them; we wanted them to
come and join us, but they considered
their position better 'han ours, and re-
I One of our men joined the two, and
one of the two swain over to us, being
one of the saved. We met Mr.. Gu umer's
boat, and asked him to odmit us, we being
in sinking condition. but Culmer refus-
ed, saying that he had enough on board.
We told him his boat could hold more
Culmer threw us bucket, aud we tried
Intellectually to bail our boat. Culmer
steercd toward Abaco We had four
oars; at nightfall we pulled back toward
the steamer, hoping the fire would prove
a beacon, and that some passing vessel
might pick usup. We came within halt
mile of the Missouri. About Z in the
evening the steamer disappeared sudden
ly. We then put our boat before the
wind On the second and third days we
we're stm before the wind and suffering
terribly
"On the latter day we saw a vessel
come within mile Of us and we shouted
and hoisted our clothing, but were unable
to attract attention,and the vessel hoisteu
sail and steered away.
"On the fourth day one OF our crew
died, ,and that night two Others, having be
come crazy, jumped overheard. ;rht
/ lnat was always full of water and our
selves sitting waist deep.
"Op the fifth morning another mar
, died We were still before the wind
: hatevening was calm, and we succeed
J ed in bailing the boat with two bats, {
crazy man having thrown the buckle
overheard. From three life preserVer:
we made a small sail and spread it and
steered south, but our exhaustion was Sc
great that we could do little .fa q,..E
, "On the sixth and seventh days our sit
uation was unchanged. On the eigth day
we sighted land, ,and succeeded in landing
at Powell's Cay, near Abaco, in the even
ing. We had eaten and drank nottins
since leaving the slip, and laid down o,
: the beach in horrible condition. Aftel
|, a time of rest on shore we gathered
strength to reach some deserted houses
and found spring of fresh water. W.
lay huddled together all night On tht
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 boa
and tried to reach the mainland, but fail
ing we returned to Powell's Cay, sleeping
there n
"The next morning we made final ef
fort to reach the mainland, but were sc
} exhausted that we were hardly able te
stand, and then laid down near the boa
in dying condition. Shortly afterwart
we saw a small sloop coming near tn
; island. We hoisted some clothes on oar
and again laid down on the beach. A sol
of William Curry was on board the slool
and saw the signal. Immediately Curr.
: came to the rescue and took and landed
us on Green Turtle Key. where we re
. manned seven days. Four days afterwart
we reached Nassau The American Con
suIs at Green Turtle Key and Nassau
:, treated us kindly"