Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1878-11-22
A MORSE SEA KING.


sented himself on last Saturday morning Il
Commodore Febiger at that gentleman's Office
IN the Washington hayward, and reported
that he was VIM. Buder, ,ore Of the Huron
crew, whose bones were supposed ere this Il
have mingled with the dust, il created genera
sensation. But, though the man told stor,
as marvellous as il is true, yet as he brought
forward fact after fact to prove bis identity
incredulity gave way to beliefand the wonder
ing hearers were forced 10 accept as true the
story to which they listened. A rigid cross
examination failed 10 shake Bidders testmo
mony, and he was consigned to quarters on
the receiving ship Passaic. In the meantime
Com nodore Febiger made an official report tc
the Secretary of the Navy, rehearsag Buder'
statement and requesting that the records bt
examined to establish if possible the man
identity. In response to this, Secretary Thomp
son, accompanied by Commodore Shufeldl
visited the hayward Saturday afternoon -
| Questioning the man closely as to his time il
the service, the date of transfers from variou!
vessels, etc., the Secretary found that the an
swers returned TO his inquiries agreed with thu
facts as recorded in the papers he had brought
from the department. The description OF
Buder, as found in the descriptive list, agreed
exactly, even to certain marks about the body
which were indelibly printed in India ink =
ment was used, but with no avail aud the
Secretary, as well as the crowd of curious and
interested naval officials were satisfied beyond
doubt that Buder was telling the truth.
reporter Of the Post was detailed last
night to hunt up Buder aud get from him the
story of his escape from death. Reaching The
Passaic the Post inquired Of weaher-beaten
tar who stood at the gang-way, where Buder
was to be found. There's your man." WAS
the immediate reply, and following he direc-
ton Of the sailors hand the reporter saw in
the dim outline of human figure, leaning
like statue against The rigging, the object Of
his search. Buder WAS speedily induced to
seek the more hospitable cabin, where, in
quaint, broken English, he told the reporter
his thrilling experience.
"Tell me something about yourself, Buder, -
said the Post
"My name is William Builder; | was born
on Christmas day, 1855, and am, therefore,
twenty three years old; am a native Of Nor
wav. and was born in Christiansand | en-
listed in the United States service abeut the
23rd day of August, 1877, and went Ga board
the receiving ship St. Louis in Philadelphia !;
| was transferred TO the Colorado .sw days
afterward, and remained on board until about
tie 18th Of November, when | was again
transferred to the Huron, which was lying al
the Brooklyn Vineyard; we sailed in day
or two for Norfolk, on the 24lh the Huron
started on her fated voyage from that place,
bound for Port Royal
"Where were you when the Huron struck 2"
~ was in my hammock had been on the
starboard watch, stationed in the foretop, I'M
til midnight, when turned in. 1t was about
clock when the vessel struck. rushed on
deck, and at once tried TO get the balsa or life
raft loose. | found | could not do SO, and
then endeavored to go down stairs to get an
axe from the carpenters chest Twice the sea
caught me, aud it was only by maiE force
saved myself from being washed overheard
Here is the key | used TO unlock the chest"
said Buder AS he drew from his pocket an iron
key such as is 10 general use III the navy. 81
then made for the balsa again and while was
trying TO get it loose, s;altese sailor, Antonio
Williams, kicked me iD the side and drove me
away. He wanted it himself don't know
whether he was saved or not"
"Then what happened p
81 climbed up the main rigging, where
others had also taken refuge. Presently n
great spar broke Off and made a jump for it
as it passed by, for | thought ! would be
drowned anyway and might rs well be drown
ed trying 10 save myself as stay in the rigging
and die. The water vas cold, icy cold, and
numbed me for a moment. But reached the
spar, and as caught it, another sailor, Jesse
Roll, a Chiian, seized it and we clung together
to the mast. As the waves washed us from
the Huron could see forms indistinctly in the
rigging"
'And then ?" interrupted the interested re-
porter.
'Then, good God how suffered" and
the man shuddered with the remembrance Of
that awful night ''My body ecame perfect
~ cold, aud my legs and arms swei;ed up and
panied me fearfully. But had at first dashed
myself TO the spar with my black silk seaman 5
handkerchief torn in two strips, and but for
this could not have held on !"
''Was Roll lashed 10 the spar also ?"
mo, but he chung with n desperate energy.
All through that night and the next day and
the next night he never spoke, but only looked
at me, while his great black eyes grew whittier
and whittier The next morning, just AS n
ship appeared, he threw up his hands three
times aud slowly sank. | clulehed at his long
black hair, but had not strength enough 10
hold him, and he went down"
"Did the ship come to you.
eyes; held up one hand, and | saw The
skipper point his glass at me. Then, after
had been tweniy-four hours dashed to that
spar, the vessel came down to me and took me
on board. Immediately became unconscious
and remained so several days. Then found
was on a Norwegian bark, which was bound
for Chris,ansand my native place. | reached
home, but was six months in the hospital
there, coming out on the LIST of May. ! then
went 10 see my parents, after which, finding
that the same bark (Forto was the name ofthe
the vessel WAS about sail, having been laid up
for the winter (it was destined for Antwerp
engaged as seaman, and from Antwerp sailed
for Baltimore, where we arrived about two
weeks ago"
"What made you come here ~
"To report for duty, SIR, and let them all
know that was alive. Aud want TO tell
you, sir, that there was Russian Finn,
named August Anderson, who told fortunes
on the Huron He foretold its fate, and was
so certain that he told the truth, that the
night OF the storm ! did not undress, for |
expected to be wrecked. These are the very
clothes | wore that night" said Buder, point
ing to his suit.
''Have you any relatives In this country 2"
'My sister, Anne Builder, who married a
Jacob Handson, lives somewhere in Washing
ton. but don't exactly where"
do you know any sailors about the
yard 2"
ayes, sir; a seaman the Passaic here knows
me- His name is Bonner"
"Send VIM. Bonner here, "said Commander
Graham.
Bonner appeared, and upon being question
ed, identified Buder AS a mlu with whom he
served when on the Colorado. This was new
link 10 the chain Of the mans identity which
had not before been discovered.
So impressed is Secretary Thompson with
the mans story that to-day he will issue an
order for years wages to be PAID him. and
also for the survivors, money and gift, amount
ing to Sl4O, granted by Congress - WdskiRg-
ton Post Of Noe. Is.
An assassin has just been sentenced TO death
at Madrid for attempting TO kill the yo ung