The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1878-08-28
A MIRACULOUS EscAPE.

Somebody who remembers things Of the
past contributes the following to the
rolumns Of the Erie dispatch
| propose now to give an instance in
which q human being was shipwrecked on
lake Erie, remained in the water Eve days,
and was finally rescued alive. In the
autumn of 1888, Captain Gilman Appleby,
OF Conneaut, Ohio, was captain and part
owner OF the schooner New Connecticut.
q steamboat was then being built at Con-
neaut (the North America), of which Can.
tain Aprleby had charge and was for many
years her mnster. An aunt Of his. then re-
siding at Black Rock, below Buffalo, was at
Erie on a visit, staying with q brother who
was then a resident of the town. The lady
went to Conneaut in company with q
nephew to visit her brother there. After
remaining for some time she became ex-
ceedingly anxious to get home Captain
Appleby, who was busy with the steamboat,
e~ndeayoredt to dissuade his aunt from taking
the lone journey until he should be going
ont with his vessel, when he would taxi
ner home. His efforts in that direction.
however, were unavailing, and he had her
taken ON board the schooner to 90 to Buf.
falo in charge of the crew. The vessel
being light and the time of the year August,
the captain had entire confidence in tho
ability OF the crew to manage the craft
and land his relative safe at her destination.
Everything passed off quietly until after the
vessel passed Erie, when q sudden squall
struck and rolled her over upon her side.
when she nearly filed with water, but con.
unued to float. The crew, lowering the ves-
sells 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.
T., and made their way as best they could
back to Conneaut. Three days after the
accident, Captain Viking, of the steam
boat William Peacock, in coming down from
Detroit was besought by Captain Appleby
to board the wreck, if he saw it, and II
possible to get the body of his aunt out of
the cabin, and convey it to Buffalo. Cap
tain Wilkins discovered the disabled vessel
drifting down the lake, and after coming
alongside, Capt. William Henton, 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 a
human body was felt, the conclusion was
reached thnt the remains had floated out Of
the cabin into the lal.c, hence further
search was given up. Two days after
wards Captain Appleby came down with
facilities to right the schooacr and tow her
into the nearest port, the Gr.wncd woman's
son being along to assist ia tho recovery Of
the body. Tn vessel wa. finally fighted,
and when the cabin door hid rcarly reached
a level position, the woman walked through
the water and came up the stairs upon
deck. She was caught by Captain Apple
by and supported, while her son wept and
sailors screamed. Five days and nights
had she been in the water, while a portion
OF the time she was up to her armpits.
She could not lie down, and what sleep she
got was in that position, and all the food
she had was a solitary cracker and a raw
onion, which fioated on the water. She
stated that after the vessel capsized and
was abandoned by the crew, she found her
self alone in winter 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 Captain Wilkins
stopped she could hear the boarding party
talk and walk on the vessel, and although
she used her voice to the utmost to attract
she could not make them hear.
She saw the pole thrust into the cabin door
by Captain Henton and asked If she should
hold on to it and be pulled out, but no
answer came, the capain in hearing no
noise other than the FLASHING of the water,
and having not the remotest idea hat the
woman was there, alive or dead. This
sveut occurred forty-fve years ago, and 1
never heard of q parallel case either on the
lake or other waters, and her salvation from
drowning may be regarded as little less Than
a miracle