The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-01-03
Terrible Suferings Of the Dismasted
Brig Louisa'S Crew.
A WEEK OF STORM AND THIRST.
Drop by Drop-Four Tablespoonful Of
Water Day.
RESCUED AT LAST.

ourselves by grouping, as best we may, the fragmen
tary details which the surviving actors are able to
give Ships have ioundered, crews have starved or
gone mad with thirst and have risked their lives
to poor wrctches pcrishing before their eyes TIL
new story Of this sort seems almost like twicc-told
tale Yet II is not often that u narrative OF more va
ricd suffering and incident has been told than The fol-
loving which was carefully taken down as 1t Toll from
the lips OF the captain of the brig Louisa, with now
and then one of his crew Ginning IN TO supply some
slight omission In the story.
THE LouisA's VOYAGE
The brig Louisa OF ST. kits. sailed from La Have on
the 10th Of last month, bound TO Barbados with
cargo OF lumber She had on board the owner OF the
vessel Mr.. Gilbert Sanderson, and passenger Mr.
John Wilson, besides the captain and crew OF elgSt
men, Immediately alter leaving port they met with
series OF fierce westerly gales which compelled them
to take In all the spread except what was ABB
solutely necessary TO keep steerageway high sea
was running which shook tho heavily freghted YES
sol in every plank sending her pitching and rolling
from one wave 10 another.
LEAKING.
On the second day out the brig spraug leak and
tho water began gain fast in the hold Tho pumps
were manned, and although tho breaking sent
tons Of water cascading the decks, som etimes
nearly wrenching tho men from their hold, the crew
steadily persevcred and had tho satisfaction OF know
ing that they were gaining on the leak. During the
dav heavy southeast gale was blowing, which held
from the quarter til tho afternoon Of the next
day, the 23d. Then it turned very squaly, veerlng
sharply from southeast to northwest, and tho vessel
was hove TO, with only portion OF her maintopsal
spread to keep her head to the wind.
BEAM ENDS.
This was mort difficult thing to do, however, with
the wind changing 80 suddenly and the sea striking
cause her to fall of more less every moment. In
ono OF these urchcs to leeward, an unusually heavy
gust struck the brig and threw her instantly on
her beam ends. Then the seas made clean sweep
over the Deck tearing away everything which not
securely fastened and fairly burying the who had
set to work TO tho lanyards OF the shrouds which
supported the foremost BY watching their time,
however, holding on for their lives and hacking off
tho ropes with hatchets as the brig rose with the
waves they finally succeeded in sevcring the weather
shrouds
RIGHrED.
Instantly the foremost went by the board, swapping
of short about feet from the deck and carry
ing with it the maintopmast When this heavy top
hamper was gone tho vessel rightcd; and when the
wreck of the masls cut clear she loated moro
easily for time though still pitching and rolling with
tremendous violence The gallo Increased, however, at
tho sun rose on the next morning. the 24th until s
blew perfect hurricane. The put had been manned
during the night, but such weak
efforts as could be maae TO clear the ship
seemed then absolutely futile Tho crew did not desst
from their labors however till there werc ten feet OF
water the hold and tho cabin was filled to tue level
of the deck Then they began to think Of their own
safety, and it certainly time The seas were surg
ing without intermisson over the vessel, splitting
open decks, saving In the boats and washing out
the STERN Over the whole length Of the brig fore and
aft, food OF water was sweeping, al times making
clean breach the vessel and buryng her till it
seemed she would never rise again.
wATERLoGGED.
The cabin, which was built partly above and partly
below deck, nllod with dead weight of water,
which would be hurled with tho of caaput against
its sides whenever tho brig surged from ono wave TO
the other. Mo human handiworK could long stand
such terrible blows and the stern bcaeE out
till the waters within and tho waves without met and
mingled. Then the deck aft began to be forced up by
the waves which would spirit through the chinks in a
long kissing ne ioosenlne the pianks one alter she
the Captain and the others on board had taken
refuge the top OF the orecastle or forward store
room, and there had lashcd themselves With lines
attached 10 tho stump oil the foremast Then with
what patience and endurance they could muster they
looked down at the RUN beneath them, the breaking
decks and tho raging waters Nor was their post
spectators particularly cnviablc one The sea would
now and then break over them also, drenching them
to bone aud chilling them TO the marrow as the icy
water dripped from their clothes while they stood In
cramped positions, uDcomorably hudded together.
That night, just as the sun was going down,
British bark sighted long distance to lceward
OF them, but evidently beating up toward the brig.
Before the darkness had finally closed them this
unknown vessel had come within quarter OF a mile
OF the laundering ship, and every effort was made TO
communicate with the stranger flag oil distress had
been nailed the mast before the brig had reached It's
then terrible condition, and it was thought by all on
board that the bark must Lave seen it lying.
TORCH DISTRESS.
Not content with this. however, an extraordinary
signal hight was manufactured by wrapping woollen
rag from the jacket of one of the sailors about
long handed iron spoon, saturating II with Kerosene
OIL and then setting II on fire. THIS torch, held aoit
by sturdy arm, and waved TO and iro Ia swaying
circles, would burn two or three minutes before IL
went out II repeated by being resoaked ana re-
lighted and Tor two long hours the ptiiu taper, the
lode star, however, OF so many anxious eyes was
nal OF help or recognition. and held on hcr
course apparently needless OF the mute bat touching
entrcaty OF the hapess group on the sinking brig
About eight o'clock In the evening shc did show, In
deed red ami two white lights, and the hearts OF
posed SIGN, and their answering torch was waved with
fresh courage Tor some time longer I'LL they rested
patiently expecting that tho coming day would bring
relief.
ABANDONED FArs
When day broke, however, not q trace OF the un-
known snip could be disco ned, and although they
kept up miserable prccnce OF hope TIL tho middle of
the day II before long changed 10 bitter despair
"What did you think OF the conduct OF tho Captain
OF the barkY" was asked Of the Captain.
"Think, SIR. Ny God! What could man think,
except that he would Ike to have his heart out soon,
however, with true sallor's magnanimity, he added
"Perhaps after all he not so much to blame. The
sea running very high, and he might not have
dared TO risk boat anu his men. He probably did
what he thought was BEST but he ought TO have stood
by till morning at any rate, to see the gale did
not moderate by that Time That neglect is AL that
wish TO find fault WITH"
The sailors around assentcd, with varying express
sons OF Enforcement.
SOMETHING TO EAT.
The condition OF these deserted men can DO hardly
imagined. Bound to a sinking hulk In the midst OF a
bong sea, with the wind shrekng In their ears lkca
pitess ate they stood prepared Tor the death which
threatened each moment to engulf them. As tho
deck broke up, however, portion OF the brig which
comparatively out OF the water Was lightencd
apparently, and the able TO descend ono or
ut t,ne, into the flooded sorcroon and attempt
to bale out by degrees. sometimes for
moments the doors OF tho room could be thrown
open, and the men baled out tho water then with
whatever vessels wero nearest at hand. As II was