Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-10-18
4 TRAGEDY OF 'SEfE SEA.
Romantic Rescue OF the Surviy0rs
as ykrecI


"ehb on Tuesday morning last, when 20 miles
of Block Island, passed close by a 1iOating
wreck barely showing above the surface OF the
water. No signs OF life were visible, but the
yaWl was got out and pulled close TO the bow
OF the vessel. BY the light of the moon il could
be seen that il was bark lying completely on
her beam ends with but a small portion OF her
port side above water. 4 man Sprang from the
yawl on 10 the wreck and trod upon what he
supposed TO be pile OF wreck stun and cam
vas. but TO his astonishment and fright the
mass rose up with
CRY OF ALARM.
In the pale moonlight ii appeared so much like,
an apparitfon that the crew OF the yawl were
for a moment scared completely out OF their
wits. Recovering themselves they looked
again and saw not ghost, but two human be-
ingS wrapped ia canvas and reaching out their
hands for help. The poor fellows. when they
realized that dehVerance was at hand, pointed
10 the side OF the vessel beneath their feet and
said, in broken English.
''oNE MAN INSIDE
Tie pil0tmen put their ears TO the SnOt indi-
Gated, and heard tie voice OF a human being
calling in heartrending tones FOR help. After
TWO hours inceSS3nt toll the sailors succeeded
i'll making a hole through which they could
speak 20 the poor fellow within, who cried 0lli
that The water was rising and almost strangling
him. Redoubling their efforts they finally made
Il hole large enough 10 admit OF the passage OF a
man. and drew from the darkness below the
swollen and almost lifeleSs body OF HenIique
GancaYis. When asked if any others OF the
crew sun survived he answered, No, they are
all dead"
story Of the Wreck by a Survivor.
Taking the sufferer into the yawl the party
returned 10 the pilot boat and did what they
could TO aid the rescued sailors. from one OF
whom, Joseph Reis they obtained the following
story or their Shipwreck ''Our names are JOS
q. Refs, Manuel Alvis and Henrique Gancavis
all OF the Cape de Verdi Islands. Last Saturday,
October 18th, we shipped on board the bark
sarah" Of New Bedford, for whaling voyage
OF TWO years. The crew numbered 25 men. all
told. We left New Bedford saturday morning,
MI hn fhsap 4 Igf firNn tGnl-
ing very stormy-wind, northeast, blowing
stin breeze, which at pm. increased TO a gale.
We commenced to take in sail and reef. At
half-paSt we hove TO on The port tack, the
wind blowing hurricane and frightful sea
running. About two hours later tremendous
sea struck the bark and capshed her on her
in the fOEecaStle at the time. The sea
rushed in and filled the fOrecastle i'm
moment, cutting off our escape TO the deck.
We struggled for life and managed TO keep our
heads above water by clnging to floating chests.
We called to each other and found that there
were six Of us alive, five men and one boy. One
man, a brother OF Avis, died little while after
The boy died the next morning. The four OF US
yet alive clung TO the sail tier with the water
up TO our chinS. BY prying open the lid OF a
floating chest we found a small bottle OF sweet
wine and about eight apples. We ate the apples
and each or US took drink OF wine. The cook
was dying. He begged for more wine. We
gave nm another swallow, and a htfie While
after he died. We pushed his body down under
the water, as we wanted the space. There was
only about eighteen inches to two feet or space
between the water and the side, and the float
ing chests and stuff Jammed our heads and
bruised our bodies dreadfully. We had fresh
air enough through broken deck light. which
occasionally rose above the water. Believing
we must die il we remained in this horrible
place, we decided TO try and ind the Scuttle
and reach the deck. The Scuttle was about ten
feet under water from where We were clinging
Manuel tried first and on the second attempt
succeeded in reaching the open air. This was
on Sunday afternoon. tried twice and was al
most drowned before could get back again. | |
had hard struggle TO get my head through the
floating boxes. didn't try it again that day.
but the next day CMondayI L made another
attempt, and after desperate struggle GOT ont
and found Manuel ciinging to the upper Side of
the vessel. There was dead man DOS. Barro)
laShed 10 the rigging. cut him adr1ft. as he
made me feel bad. Manuel said he saw
steamer about eight miles on the day before
we pulled some pieces Of canvas up to where
we We're ciinging and wrapped ourselves I'm IT,
we caiied 10 Henrique, who was stil In the
IorecasIie, 10 come out, but the poor fellow
coQidnT swim and wouldn't try. We tried to
cut through the plank with knife, but could