The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-03-11
ROMANTIC sHIPMREcK STORY.
The Experiences of n Crew ON the Sound
-Heroism OF n Light Keeper and His
Daughters.

The Experience OF n Crew on the Sound
-Heroism OF a Light Keeper and His
Daughters.
rFrom the Springfield (Nlass.) Republican
The story of the Norwalk Conn. pro-
peller E. A Woodward during the recent
ice-blockade in Long Island Sound issone
of the most interesting chapters of the ter
rible experience of the seamen on the New
England coast. The vessel started from
Providence for New York Feb. 3, but was
soon driven into Newport harbor by a vio-
lent gale. Next day she started again, but
was forced to seek shelter in New London
harbor. Having coaled up, the propeller
passed into the sound on Sunday, the 9TH,
but was met by Immense ice foes, tossing
about with restless force. The vessel was
approaching Falkner's Island. little
more than miles from Guilford Sunday
night, when Captain Bartlett spied what
he took TO be buoy, and he steered d.
rectly for it. When it was too late. the
object was found to be the sharp point of
ledge, and the vessel struck upon it with
a tremendous shock. this rock piercing
the hulk and holding it fast. Ii was high
tide, and so, when the water ebbed, mass
of ice was thrown upon the ship. The
crew abandoned their vessel and made
their way through the darkness TO the
! lighthouse.
For five days efforts were made to save
something from the propeller, the crew
going on board several times, with diff
Guilty They had boarded her on Friday,
the l2th. when, during the afternoon, II
| terrific gale sprung up, the ice piled up 10
feet high to the windward, threatened TO
fall and crush them, and they were with
out food. Capt. Brooks rushed to the
1 lao fnh ,ial
by his two daughters, Mary and Mamie.
| Is and 20 years old, who aided their father
in dragging his heavy life-boat from the
opposite side of the island over to the
shore near the wreck. Although the mer-
curry was at zero, witt biting northeast
wind that the hardy seamen were scarcely
| able to withstand, the two young ladies
bravely helped to bear the boat over the
ice-cakes TO the open water, where 1t could
be launched. A rope was thrown to the
ship and made fast TO the deck, and also
secured on shore, and by its aid the boat
was rowed over the stormy waves TO the
vessels side. The sailors were all taken
of, and the life-boat returned in the same
manner. All were completely exhausted
when they arrived on the island. But for
the noble efforts of Capt. Brooks family,
the crew must have persisted. The day
ended with terrible snow-storm. The YES
sci was soon carried out to sea and lost. The
Captain and crew, imprisoned on the is
! land, communicated with the mainland by
means OF solar telegraph, but no aid could
| be sent, because the sea was so rough. On
| Wednesday, the 18th, they got desperate,
! and, setting out in life-boat, reached shore,
after rough experience with the ice-cakes.
| They had been separated from the world
/ alax,at1 Havs Tho araU cnpak with the
greatest enthusiasm of the lighthouse peo-
pie, who so imperiled their lives to save
| them.
Capt. Brooks, the light-keeper, is about
| 81 years old, and has been in his present
position for over twenty years. He has
received gold medal from the New Y ork
Society for the Preservation of Life as a
reward for former bravery, and, a few years
ago, the citizens OF New Haven presented
him a silver set to testify their appreciation
of his services. The two daughters, who
| have shown themselves as brave as their
father, were both born on the little island,
and are well educated and cultivated.
| They are provided with many of the lux
uries of the city, and they entertained the
| sailors in their little stone tower with
music on the piano and guitar. They say
| they are perfectly happy in their strange,
sea-washed home, and prefer its quiet,
monotonous enjoyment to the pleasures OF
| the social world. The Captains wife, with
| a nephew in his teens, complete the house
hold. Capt. Brooks is somewhat a lover
! of science, and he has in his museum
probably one of the finest collections OF
| stuffed birds in the country. He was a
sea Captain until he retired to Faulkner's
| Island,