The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1872-12-14
OCEAN 1IfSERIES

Late Havana advices bring news Of
the safety of another of the boats of the
iIl-fated steamship Missouri, and that
John Freaney, first assistant engineer;
David A. North, third assistant engi-
neer; Charles Sinclair, oiler, and Charles
Conway, fireman, who survived almost
incredible sufferings, were at Nassau,
and Will leave for New York on the re-
urn trip of the Moro Castle. The fol-
lowing statement from Mr.. Freaney is
published in The Nassau Times;
The ship stopped frequently during
the trip owing to the foaming of the
boilers. The fire originated around the
boilers. We at once began 10 play the
hose from the donkey engine, but soon
found it was un-ailing, and the captain
ordered the boats launched. All was
confusion, and at the attempt to lower
the first boat 30 persons jumped into
her, but owing to the mismanagemento of
the davits one end fell into the sea, the
other remaining hanging in the air. AL
except myself and eight others, oWlne
to the rolling of the ship in the heavy
sea, let 60, and were washed into the
sea. Nine clung to the boat until some
person ON board the ship cut the davits,
and the boat, which filed with watert
went free of the ship. We saw a boat
bottom upward with two men clinging
TO the keel; threw them line, and
talked a while with them; wanted them
TO come and join us, but they considered
their position better than ours, and re-
fused. One OF our men joined the two,
and one of the two swan over to us, be-
ing one of the saved. We met Mr..
Clumer's boat, and asked him to admit
us as we were in sinking condition,
but Gunner refused, saying that he had
enough ON board We told HIM his
boat could hold more. Culmer threw
us a bucket, and we tried Intellectually
to bail our boat Culmer steered to-
ward 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 us up. We came within half
a mile of the Missouri. About Z o'clock
in the evening the steamer disappeared
suddenly. We then put our boat before
the wind
"On the second and third days we
were still before the wind and suffering
terribly; on the latter day we saw yes
sci come within mile of us. We shou-
ted and hoisted our clothing, but were
unable to attract attention, and the yes
sci hoisted sail and steered away. On
the fourth day one of our crew died,
and that night two others, having be-
come cgezy, jumped overheard. The
-. .,,a,SS.,sl;ro s full of water, and our
selves sIfS ne+,,a,- ,-sEep:- On the fifth
morning asIroin faill we were
still before:d wind sllat evening was
calm, and we succeeded in bailing the
boat with two hats, n crazy man having
thrown the bucket overheard. From
three life-preservers we made a 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 1spelmnged. On the
eighth we sighted So and succeeded
in landing at Powe] y, near Abaco.
in the evening. We bad eaten and drank
nothing since leaving the ship, and we
laid down on the beach in horrible
49,. :, &;,..o - ,-...-t -, - 49,,
we gathered strength to reach some de-
serted houses and found spring of
fresh water. We lay huddled together
all night On the ninth day we found
matches and a pot in one of the houses.
This produced a little strength, and we
launched a boat and tried to reach the
main land, but failing we returned to
Powell's Cay, sleeping there. The next
morning we made final effort to reach
the main land, but were so exhausted
that we were hardly able to stand, and
then Law down near the boat IN dying
condition. Shortly afterward we saw
a small sloop cruising near the island.
We hoisted some clothes on the cars,
and again lay down ON the beach A
son of William Curry was ON board the
sloop, and saw the signal Immediately.
Curry came to our rescue, and took us
and landed Us on Green Turtle Key,
where we remained seven days. Four
days afterw.lrd we reached Nassau. The
American ConsuIs at Green Turtle Key
and Nassau treated ns kindly.
Mr.. JOSIAH Mason, of Birmingham,
has received an offer of knighthood from
Her Majesty as a reward for her munifi-
cence in the causes of charity and edu-
cation. Mr.. Mason founded the Erd-
rington Orphanage and the Birmingham
Science College