The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1878-07-18
A Wonderful Escape.

In the Autumn of 1888 Capt. Gilman
Appleby, of Conneaut, Ohio, was Cap
tain and part owner Of the schooner
New. Connecticut. A steamboat was
then being built at COnneaut, (the
North America Of which Capt. Apple
by had charge, and was for many years
master. An aunt OF his, then residing
at Black Rock, below Buffalo, was at
Erie on visit, staying with a brother
who was then resident Of the town.
The lady went TO COnneaut in company
with a nephew to visit her brother
there. After remaining for some time
she became exceedingly anxious to get
home. Capt. Appleby, who was busy
with the steamboat, endeavored to dis
suade 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 go
to Buffalo in charge OF the crew. The
vessel being light, and the time of the
year August, the Captain had entire
confidence in the ability of the crew TO
manage the craft and land his relative
safe at her destination. Everything
passed off quietly until after the vessel
had passed Erie, when sudden squall
struck and rolled her over on her side,
when she nearly filled with water, but
continued to float. The crew, loosen
ing the vessels yawl, jumped in, and
pulled for the shore, leaving the woman
in the cabin, as they supposed drowned.
The party landed at or near Portland,
Chautauqua County, n. Y, and made
their way as best they could back to
Conncaut. Three days after the acci-
dent Capt. wilkins, of the steamboat
William Peacock, in coming down from
Detroit was besought by Capt. Appleby
to board the wreck if he saw 1t, and if
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 along side, 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 appearances, was full of water. A
pole was employed and it was supposed
every part of the cabin was touched,
and as no object in the shape of human
body was felt, the conclusion was
reached that the remains had fioated
out of the cabin into the lake, hence
further search was given up. Two days
afterward Capt. Appleby, came down
with vessel with facilities TO right the
schooner and tow her into the nearest
port, the drowned woman's son being
along to assist in the recovery of the
body. The vessel was finally righted,
and when the cabin door had nearly
reached level position, the woman
walked through the water and came up
the stairs upon deck. She was caught
by Capt. Appleby and supported, 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, and what sleep she got
was in that position, and all the food
she had was solitary cracker and a
raw onion, which hoated on the water.
She stated that after the vessel had cap
sized and was abandoned by the crew,
she found herself alone in water waist
deep. The cabin door was open but the
flood was two feet above it, and the sea
made constant changes in her position.
When Capt. wilkins stopped she could
hear the boarding-party talk and walk
on the vessel, and although she used
her voice to its utmost to attract atten-
ton she could not make them hear.
She saw the pole thrust into the cabin
door by Capt. Henton and asked if she
should hold on to it and be pulled out,
but no answer, the Captain hearing no
noise other than the FLASHING Of the
water, and having not the remotest idea
that the woman was there, alive or
dead. This event caused 40 years
ago, and have never heard of paral-
lei case either on the lake or other
waters, and her salvation from drown
ing may be regarded as little less than
miracle.