The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-07
PERILS OF THE DEEP.
FREEZING TO DEATH IN MID OCEAN.
Narrowing sufferings by Shipwrecked Crew
Collision OFF Cape May and Dastardly Flight
Of the Uninjured Vessel Perishing from
Hunger and Cold Timely and Gallant
Rescue by the Steamship Albemarle.

The recent heavy gales Will doubtless cause many
serious disasters along the coast, and the public
may be prepared for tales OF suffering, owing TO the
piercing cold which prevails. 1t Is some consola-
ton, however, to think that the ocean Is still
traversed by some noble seamen, who, when chance
Providentia Intervention throws rescue in their
way, no risk or pain or hardship win deter them
from at least attempting to save their suffering
brethren, whom i'll luck or accident may have lett to
perish in the storm. And yet there are Others hap
PLY small minority who destitute Of all feeling
and wrapped up in their own se1shness, care little
what becomes Of the drowning mariner, and would
scarcely go point out OF their course to respond to
the cries for help and succOr. case In point Is
furnished by the sad catastrophe which befell the
schooner Harry Conrad. The sufrerngs Of her ship
wrecked crew are described as narrowing in the
extreme, and had 1t not been for the
HUMANE, PROMPT AND MANLY ACTION
OF Captain G. M. Walker, commander OF the steam
ship Abemarle OF the Old Dominion line, they must
have been lost 1t appears that the Albemarle left
Norfolk on Monday evening, at four P. M. Four
hours later 1t commenced to blow gale from the
northwest and continued in violence until the fol-
lowing evening About one p. M. on Tuesday Cap
tain Walker, when Off Cape May, sighted three
masted schooner, sunk. bearing north by west.
without hesitation the captain at once ran down
towards the schooner and, to his surprise, found
small boat made fast TO one OF the mass containing
Six men and one woman, all OF whom were stark
and sf, while the little boat itself was constantly
shipping water and tossing about at the mercy OF
experience has Captain walker peheld such heart.
rending spectacle. fhe occupants OF the boat, who
were almost doubled up, were rapidly sinking into
A STATE OF UNCONSCIOUSNESS,
ana 1t was evident That not already gone to their
last home their hours were numbered. AS the AL.
bermarle drew nearer 1t was perceived that every
person in the boat had coating OF Ice on over half
q loot thick, and. already benumbed and frost
gatores. AT length Captain walker came up quite
close to the sunken schooner and, with stentOrian
voice. hailed them to cut adrilt AS II aroused from
deep slumber, and many OF them were already
doing prior to dissolution. gieam OIL hope bright
ened Tor moment the prospects Of the lying crew
the effort TO relieve themselves they fen
on One man. wno sat- S the
bow, reused 20 last desperate attempt to save his
by one vigorous stroke, cut the rope that so long
had enchalned them to death. Thus freed, the little
se s ey
the port on the lee side. They presented most
HELPLESS AND FORLORN SPECTACLE
and 1t was thought that very few OF them would
survive the terrible ordeal through which they had
passed. But the usual remedies, including stimu-
lants ana the rubbing OF Ice on the hands and feet
Of the sufferers, quickly applied and with the
great and unremistipg attention bestowed upon
them by Captain walker and the Purser Of the Abe
marie the poor patients gradually returned TO con.
scousness. And then came the story Of the wreck.
The vessel lying IN seven and halt faith
Oms OF water was the three-masted schooner
Harry Conrad, Captain Parker, bound from Batl-
more to New York, laden with coal. AT eight
O'Clock on Monday evening, when IN the midst OF
the storm, she was run into by an unknown
schooner and in an nOur and half afterwards went
down. Deserted by the instrument OF their destruc-
tiOn-for after the collision the unknown schooner
made OF, her captain, indifferent to the calamity
he had caused-the crew OF the Harry Conrad were
compelled to take to the small boat; but, unable TO
row IN the Storm attached ner to one OF the masts
20 await the dawn OF day. The gale did not sub.
side, and as 1t was freezing bitterly, the suffering
OF the crew commenced near midnight. and
for sixteen long hours they sat starving
ana pershing from the cold. Their last
hour had come wien rescued by Captain Walker,
and It Is needless 10 state that the timely and
generous action OF that humane commander VIII
win the admiration OF the community, while the
cOwardiy fight OF the craven who did tho damage
will doubtless bear its own reward 1t to be hoped
the name OF the unknown schooner will be discOv-
cred and the censure placed where 1t Is DUE Cap
tain Walker, by the way formerly commanded the
steamship Fulton and enecte d the clever capture OF
the blockade runner Margaret and JESSIE The AL
Demare arrived here yesterday and landed the rOst-
bitten crew. The woman was the daughter-tn.law
OF Captain Parker, who owned So 900 IN the Harry
Conrad, the total value OF which $780, 900, unin-
sured. Most OF the crew were forwarded to Connec-
ucut, where they reside Captain Walker states that
the sunken schooner lies north by west eight miles
Oh Cape May IN seven and a-half fatnOms Of water,
right In the track OF vessels going up and down the
enu