Middletown transcript., 1877-04-14
AN AWFUL nxPEn1EHCE AT SEA.
The Story OF the Only Survivor OF the
Brig Roanoke

The schooner Addie Todd, which ar
rived at Boston yesterday, from Surf
nam, reports 9th ultimo, latitude 49,.
90, longitude 1890, fell in with th'
wreck Of the brig Roanoke, from Phil
adelphia for Porto CabOllo, and took Of
William Mcguire, seaman, who hat
been on the wreck nine days. Th'
balance of the crew, eight in number
and three passengers, Mr.. and Mrs
Dollett, of New York, and a Spanish
gentleman, were washed overheard anC
drowned. Mcguire. the rescued man
makes the following statement:
Left Philadelphia March II, on brig
Roanoke of Kingston, Jamaica. com.
manded by Captain Wilkie, crew nine
men and three passengers Clatter named
Mr.. and Mrs. Dollett and a Spanish
gentleman bound for Porto Cabello).
with general cargo and mails and spe-
Gle. At 2 P. NJ, Sunday, March 1S
left Delaware BrsakWatsr. Monday
afternoon westerly gale sprung up,
shortened sail until II o'clock midnight,
vessel running under storm staysail,
main staysail, foretop sail, and foretoE
mast staysail. At 1230 she could moi
be steered, shipped heavy sea. filling
decks full Failed to get the vessel Of
before the wind again cut away main
mast, which fell athwart deck, break
ing cabin, deck, &c Then cut away
foremast, sea now making clean breach
over vessel, washing away forward
house, BOBBY matches, and nearly filling
hold with water, leaving her entirely
unmanagsable All hands got aft Oh
quarter, sea still making clean breach.
On Tuesday, March 20, Blowing gale
from southward /; saw sail, and at 9 A.
NJ, saw a two-masted schooner. She
ran down, and we made signals to lay
by us, but she continued on her course
The wind was mederating then, and
after noon was finer Had she laid by
she could probably have saved all hands.
We got little preserved food that day
and some lager. On Wednesday.
March 21, weather was pleasant A
bark passed to leaward, but did not see
u.s. In the evening there was severe
gale from the northwest, with a heavy
sea- Thursday, %. heavy northwest
gale, sea breaking over US clear fore
and aft The vessel had commenced to
break up. The captain wished to take
to the boats and save life, but was per-
suaded not to do it. In the afternoon
Mr.. and Mrs Dollett we're exhausted.
They shook hands with the captain and
mate, bade them goOd-boys and ex-
pressed the hope that they would all
meet in heaven. Mrs. Dollett took her
waterproof and wrapped it around her
head, and they embraced each other
The sea soon swept them overheard,
and they were drowned The Spanish
gentleman shortly followed. He said
bis prayers, wrapped quilt around his
head, and leaped overheard in a deli
rious state. Soon after this a heavy
sea carried away the afterdeck. The
captain, steward, one sailor, and boy
we're on it, aud drifted away with it.
They were seen no more. The stern
broke away and went next, with the
mate and second mate. The mate was
seen to drown nearly alongside. The
second mate was on a piece of the stern
when last SEEN Only two men were
then left with myself Everything was
gone down to the lever deck. We we're
lashed to stump Of mainmast, and
suffered terribly from thirst. A brig
passed close to US, but did not stop.
We got some tallow and ate it, but suf-
fered fsarfully from thirst. 1t blew
gale all night. On Friday the gale
continued A bark passed near, but
did not stop. The weather moderated
that afternoon. On Saturday had fine
weather, and saw a square-rigged vessel
to leeWard. Got some candles and a
tin of sardines, but no water. On Sun
day it was blowing a gale from the
southeast One man became crazy from
thirst and drowned himself. On Mon
day there was a gale from the south
east, with some rain, but the sea was
breaking SO that we could not get any
fresh water. On Tuesday the gale still
continued from the southeast. At day
light saw a schooner, which proved to
be the Addie Todd, and, making sig
nails, she lay to, but it blew too hard for
her to assist US. When the gale lulled
she beat back to the wreck, and after
trying FIVE times I succeeded in catch
ing line and was hauled on board
While the schooner was lying to the
other man became crazy, and leaping
overheard, was lost.