The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-07-11
A Miraculous Escape.

Somebody who remembers things OF
the past contributes the following to
the columns of the Erie Dispatch: ]
propose now to give an instance in
which human being was ship
wrecked on Lake Erie, remained in
the water five days, and was finally
rescued alive. In the autumn of 1888
Capt. Gilman Appleby, of Conneaut,
Ohio, was Captain and part owner OF
the schooner New Connecticut. A
steamboat was then being built at Con-
neaut (the North America), of which
Capt. Appleby had charge, and was for
many years her Master. An aunt of his,
then residing at Black Rock, below
Buffalo, was at Erie on a visit, staying
with brother who was then q resident
of the town. The lady went to Con-
neaut in company with q nephew to
visit her brother there. After remain
ing for some time she became exceed
ingly anxious to get home.
Capt. Appleby, who was busy with
the steamboat, endeavored to dissuade
his aunt from taking the home journey
until he should be going out with his
vessel, when he would take her home.
His efforts in that direction, however,
were unavailing, and he had her taken
on board the schooner to 60 to Buffalo
in charge of the crew.
The vessel being light and the time
of the year August, the Captain had en-
tire confidence in the ability of the crew
to manage the craft and land his rela-
tive safe at her destination. Everything
passed off quietly until after the vessel
had passed Erie, when sudden squat
struck and rolled her over upon hel
side, when she nearly filled with water,
but continued to float. The crew,
loosening the vessels yawl, jumped in
and made for the shore, leaving the
woman in the cabin, as they supposed
drowned.
The party landed at or near Port.
land, Chautauqua County. N. Y, and
made their way as best they could back
to COnneaut.
Three days after the accident Capt
Wilkins, of the steamboat William Pea
cock, in coming down from Detroit
was besought by Capt. Appleby t.
board the wreck, If he saw it, and il
possible get the body of his aunt out Of
the cabin and convey it to Buffalo
Capt. Wilkins discovered the disabled
vessel drifting down the lake, and, after
coming alongside, Capt. William Hen.
ton, then First Mate of the Peacock,
boarded the wreck and made search.
The schooner lay upon her side, and,
to all appearance, was full of water.
A pole was employed, and it was sup.
posed every part of the cabin was
touched. and as no object in the shape
of human body was felt, the conclu.
sion was reached that the remains had
ioatcd out of the cabin into the lake,
hence further search was given up.
Two days afterward Capt. Appleby
came down with q vessel, with facilities
to right the schooner and tow her into
the nearest port, the drowned woman'a
son being along to assist in the recov-
cry of the body. The vessel was final.
y righted, and when the cabin-door
had nearly reached q level position, the
woman walked through the water and
came up the stairs upon deck. She was
caught by Capt. ApPleby, and support
ed. while her son wept and the sailors
screamed.
Five days and nights had she been in
the water, while portion of. the time
she was up to her arm-pits. She could
not lie down, aud what sleep she got
was in that position, and all the food
she had was . solitary cracker and q
raw onion. which floated ON the water.
She stated that, after the vessel can
sized and was abandoned by the crew,
she found herself alone, in water waist
deep. The cabin-dQQr WA oman. Init