The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-12-28
LOST AT SEA.
PeriIs of the Ocean-A Story of Hard.
ships.

The bark Seaward, Capt. McGregor, of st.
John, n. B. arrived at this port yesterday from
London the 14th of October, via Sandy Hook.
The captain reported on arriving here that he
left Sandy Hook the 18th inst, and on the 18th
while sailing for this port sighted vessel off
Cape Sable. As the colols were flying union
down the captain at once sailed in the direction
of the vessel, which was several miles distant.
When within quarter of mile of the vessel,
the bark hove to and lowered boat to board
her The first mate, German named Got
treid r. Frankfort and four sailors manned
the boat and went on board the vessel which
proved to be the brig Wild Horse reported
lost. No one was found on board and all the
nautical instruments and the clothing of the
crew had been taken off. Three large auger
holes were found in the deck on the port side,
and she was about half full of water. The
holes were plugged up and it was thought best
to take her in tow, but soon after the holes
were stopped the water began TO come in at
several places and it was decided that she was
not worth towing. Accordingly the mate re-
turned to his vessel and so reported to Capt.
McGregor. The captain was not entirely sat-
isied, however, and asked the mate to return
and make more careful examination. The
boat was again lowered and seaman named
Peter Anderson and the mate Frankfort Jumped
in and bad just left the bark to return to the
wreck when sea rolled the bark causing a
strong swell which filled the boat The mate
succeeded in bailing out the boat and was just
getting underway again when sea struck
Anderson, who was stsrding up in the boat,
and capsized it. The captain cried to the sea-
men TO cling to the boat and they succeeded in
crawling on the bottom of it. In the mean
time the bark had gone some distance from
them but the accident was plainly seen by
them and boat was at once lowered, manned
and started TO their rescue. Bat after search
ing for long time they were obliged to return
to thesbark without seeing any trace of the un-
fortunate men or their boat
The captain appeared to keenly feel the loss
of his men whom he praised for their bravery.
After telling his story at shipping Office he
started mp town, when what was his surprise to
meet his mate face to face apparently as we'll
as himself. The feelings of the captain can
be better imagined than described. The mate
was taken on board the vessel at once, where
he received perfect ovation from the crew.
He told the following story of his recovery:
When the boat was capsized both be and the
sailor crawled up and chung to the keel. They
could plainly see the bark and saw the boat
when it was low cred aud when it returned af-
ter searching for them in vain.
The fact that he could see them and they not
see him is accounted for by the sea which was
very heavy late in the afternoon. Then he
saw the ship as she sailed away, leaving him
self and his companion alone in mid ocean on
the bottom of the sea. In short time Ander-
son began to freeze and slipped from the boat
several times in his stupor. The mate would
pull him back as often, until. at last he was a
corpse and soon foated from the boat, leaving
the mate alone. Then the mans courage be-
gan to shake, but he held OF hoping every mo.
ment that vessel would come in sight He
warmed his face aud hands in rather novel
manner and one perhaps that might not be
thought of by everyone. When his face would
get very could he would duck his head into the
water and in that way take out the frost. He
treated his hands in the same manner and re.
marks that no one will ever know until they
have tried how much warmer salt water is than
the air in the winter.
When his hope was nearly falling him the
man discovered boats crew boarding the
wreck of the Wild Horse. He then watched
and saw the men go up into the rigging to set
the sail. While there they discovered Frank
fort in his perilous condition. A dory was sent
to the man and all he remembers was that he
caught hold of the side Of the dory as it came
along beside him and he was pulled 10 to it by
the fishermen. The next thing he knew he
was in the captain berth on the fishing schoon-
er Augusta johnson of Gloucester. All that
could be done for any man was done for him
by these kind fishermen, and as the strong man
was reciting his adventures yesterday, he wept
like child to think how kindly he had been
treated Strange to say he was not frozen in
the least and only suffered as might be expect
ed from such An exposure. The schooner ar
rived in Cape Ann Saturday evening and ne
was kept until yesterday morning when he
arrived here on the same day his vessel did.
1t was a remarkable escape for the man and is
another evidence that truth is stranger than
felton,
Anderson who was lost was young Swede
who shipped at London. 1t seems very strange
that the crew of the Wild Horse should have
their flag of distress flying to deceive passing
vessels.