The New York herald., 1877-01-07
AT THE MERCY OF THE WAVES.
LOSS or THE SCHOONER scoTIA--THnILLISG
STORY OF THE EEscuEp CREW

LOSS or THE SCHOONER scoTIA--THEILLISG
STORY OF THE RESCUED CREW.
Those who Glanced to see l,le party OF ordinary
looking sailors trudging Greenwich yes
terday afternoon. preceded by oniccr in tho half
military half civic drcss OF the British
SERVICE hardly turned their heads to look after the
and certainly never thought OF inquiring who tho
strangers were and what tate had dropped them in
the crowded streets of this metropolis Yet theirs
was truly eventiul history.
WITHOUT QUADRANT Or cmAKr
On che 15sh OF December last small coastpg vessel
sailed out Of the port OF ST Johns, Newfoundland,
bound two days. voyage Catalina, little sea-
por. town. sixty three miles distant The little
schooner loaded with lumber and few provisions
In bulk and carried crew oi six Immediately
after leaving port fog sprang up and strong west
eriy gale began 70 blow with increasing force Like
almost all coasters the sailors board knew nothing
OF theoretical navisation could not even take an OBJ
servation when the out Tor few MON ents
and relied entirely upon their compass and
their practical knowledge OF the coast
Such commonly skillul man
ayers Of their boats and unless they lose their boar
ngs, know every current and shoal within sight OF
land, but are helpless when placed amid novel sur
roundings. The heroes OF tho present tale pointed
their schooner's bow toward Catalina, but when The
storm began 10 drive them TO leeward they found
themselves in n sad plight. When within fourteen
miles OF their haven the storm came on so ercely that
they could no longer make head against II, and were
blown alter bri, and Intellectual attempt to
heat up IN the teeth OF the wind. Every hour found
them further from the shore aud more and moro pow
crIess 10 regain IT, the sharp hiasts tearing
the thin sails rbboGs, and they were being borne
out over an unk nown Their Old sais which
suitable enough Tor careful running along the shore
torn from their bolt ropes aud rent to RAGS.
Nothing WAS left ON t.e littc scnooner nut hc bare
poles. The clumsy Joyboat which they had on board
stovc ~, and hnay picked up bodily by an un
usually heavy sea and carried over the side The seas
washed the deck unmpedcd, aud the crow watched
their constant breaking win a stoi!d indifference.
Not SO, however, when the cold grew more intense
anu tire water began flowed OF the deck.
This new caam,ly lei. by all TO be an imminent
danger, Tor the pumps. which had orcn Kept
The forming ice, had to be constantly watched day
aud night. By constant cxcrton they were kept frce
impossible 10 clear tho decks or hc outside
OF the ship as WE'LL
COATED
Day by day thicker coat formed on the sides aud
deck OF tho schooner, growing upon the masis also,
TIL the vessel literally covered 10 height OF
twenty feet IRON the deck. Al last the chill OF the
cold wind and the icy water in which they were CON-
PEELED to stand became ntoierable that the helm
Iasned windward and the deck Was deserted except
tor the lew hours when 1t was absolutely necessary 10
take u turn at the pumps Once the captain swept
overheard but he caught by chance at the buiwark as
he borne along, and hold on, despite the terrible
strain his arms, iii he could be pulled IN by his
trends Another wrcnchcd of IN like man
her, but no saved by the same strange for
tune which beriendcd the captain. Their ow private
provisions had been used up before they had been
three days out and recourse was had 10 tho supplies
tho hold. These werc principally hard bread aud
beei, with pounds OF hOnr and sugar. Tho
beei hour tncy could not COOK Tor though they
could manage 70 keep up ii.tle fire, they were
unfortunately without supply OF water. On
setting out IRON harbor, tney had few gallons of
u small cask; but some Of his was unuckily
spilled and the precious rcsluuc was oardcd Tor tie
Imperative need. While lying III this helpless
condition lew days alter leaving port vessel was
hall Of them rhc scnOOucrs jack WAS lying ut hall
mast-a signal OF distress-but II was urheeded by
tho Stranger The day somewhat thick, but the
captain certain that his vessel must have been
seen, though he made no complaint OF what seems
cruel dcsert.on.
The vessel WAS beaten about by the winds and sea
for ncen long days. The wInl did not moderate ap
preciably The did fall during ul this time
sail was sighted, and steamer, tne Anconia, Of The
Anchor line, bore down upon them.
THE LONG DELAYED EKScuE.
The six freezing sufferers the schooner watched
with beating hearts the great steamer us she answered
their signai gradually round TO wipdwurd OF
their little ice bound boat. A boat lowered with
out much difficulty and pulling up TO
them. When 1t touched tho SIDE Of their vessel
they threw themselves into II with the impulse Of
perIshiug men, not even going down again to tho
FROST bitten they we're landed on tho deck OF the
steamer and ut oncc received every attention and
kindness IRON hor officers ana crew. Captain Robert
Douglass Munioe brought them safely into port yeser
day and tucy beng cared tor at the British
Sailors Home through the Kind agency OF the British
Vice Consul The names OF the saved George
Reed master; William Reed, first mate; Jose ph Car
pcnlcr William Il. Godyer, Marx Soton, and William
Steed seamen.
VESSELS CRUSHED BY ICE