Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1872-12-05
Terrible Story of Suffering at Sea.

Another of the boats of the ill-fated
steamer Missouri, containing several of
the crew of that vessel who had been
mourned as lost, was recently discov-
cred at sea, and the survivors were
picked up and taken to Nassau, New
Providence. The unfortunate men suf-
fered almost incredible privations. being
eight days without food or water. One
of them-John Freany, the first assist
ant engineer of the Missouri-furnishes
to the Nassau Times the following thrill
ling recital of their sufferings:
The Missouri stopped frequently dur
ing the trip, owing to the foaming of
the boilers, and we at once began to
play hose from the donkey engine, but
soon found that it was unavailing, 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 owing to the mis-
management of the davits, one end fell
into the sea, the other remaining hang
ing in the air. All except Freany 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 davits, and the boat, which
was filed with water, went free of the
ship. We saw boat bottom upward,
with two men clinging to the keel,
| threw them a line, and talked awhile
with them, and 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 be-
ing in sinking condition, but Culmer
refused, saying they had enough on
board. We told him that his boat could
hold more. Gunner threw us a bucket
and we tried Intellectually to bail out
our boat. Culmer steered toward Abaco.
We had four oars and at nigntfall 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 mile of the MIS-
souri,, and at about o'click in the even.
ing the steamer disappeared suddenly.
We then put our boat before the wind.
On the second and third day we were
still before the wind and suffering terri
bly,. On the latter day we saw vessel
come within mile of US, and we
shouted and hosted our clothing but
were unable to attract attention, and
the vessel hoisted sail and steered away.
On the fourth day one of our crew died,
and that night two others, having be-
come crazy, jumped overheard. The
boat was always full of water, and our
selves sitting waist deep. On the fifth
morning another man died. We were
still before the wind. On that evening
it was calm and we succeeded in bailing
out the boat with two hats, the crazy
man having thrown the bucket ovel.
board. From three life-preservers We
made small sail, raised it, and steered
south, but our exhaustion was so great
that we could do but little. On the
sixth and seventh days our situation
was unchanged. On the eighth day we
at Powells Key, near Abaco, in the
evening. We had eaten and drank
nothing since leaving the ship, and laio
down on the beach In horrible condi
ton. After time of rest on the shore
we gathered strength to reach some
deserted houses and found spring o.
fresh water. We lay huddled together
all night. On the ninth day we foune
few tomatoes which we boiled, having
found matches and pot in one of the
houses. This produced little strength
and we launched a boat and tried t.
reach the main land, but failing re
turned to Powell's Key, sleeping there
The next morning we made fna
effort to reach the main land, but were
so exhausted that we were hardly able
to stand, and then laid down near the
boat in a dying condition. Shortly
atterward we saw a small sloop cruising
near the island, and we hoisted some
clothes on the oars and again laid dow1
on the beach. A son of William Curr!
was on board the sloop and saw the sig
nal Immediately. Curry came to on
rescue and took and landed US OF
Green Turtle Key, where we remained
for seven days. Four days afterwart
we reached Nassau. The American
consul at Green Turtle Key and Nassau
treated US very kindly.