The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1878-06-07
Il MIR4CULOUS ESCAPE.
a WOMAN'S EXPERIENCE on LAKE ERIE
FORTY-FIVE YEARS AGO.

Somebody who remembers things of the
past contributes the following 10 the col
umus of the Erie Dispatch:
Gpropose 1ow to give an instance in which
a human being was Shipwrecked on Lake
Erie, remaining in the water i've days, and
was finally rescued alive. In the autumn
OF 1888 Capt. Gilman Appleby, of COnneaut,
Ohio, captain and part owner of the
schooner New Connecticut, y steamboat
then being built at Conueant (the North
AmeriCa), of which Captain Applehy 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, stay
ing with brother who was then a resident
of the town. The lady went TO COnueaUt in
company with a nephew to visit her brother
there. After remaining for some time she
became exceedingly anxious to get home.
Captain Applehy, who was busy with the
steam5o boat, eudeavored to dissuade his aunt
from taking the home journey until ne should
he going out with his vessel, when he would
take her home. His efforts in tha: direction,
however, were unavailiug, and he had her
taken Gu board the schooner 10 60 to Buffalo
in charge of the crew.
The vessel being light and the time of the
year August, the Captain had entire conf
dence in the ability of the crew to manage
the craft and land his relative safe at her
destination. Every thing passed off quietly
until after She vessel had passed Erie, when
sudden squall struck aud rolled her over
upon her side, when she nearly filled with
water, but continued To float. The crew,
loosening the vessels yawl, jumped in and
for the shore. leaving the woman in the
cabin, as they supposed drowned.
The party landed at or near Portland,
ChauIauoua county n y aud made their
way as best they could back TO COuneaut.
Three days after the accident Captain Will
kins, ot the steamboat William Peacock, in
coming down from Detroit, was besUuEht 10y
Captain Appleby to board the wreck, If he
Il. Asr..1a 81
aunt out of the cabin aud convey it 10 Buff
falo Captain wilkins discovered the disa-
bled vessel drifting down tho lake, and, after
coming along side, Captain William Henton,
then first mute of the Peacock, boarded the
wreck and made search.
The schooner lay upou her side, and TO all
appearances was full of wafer. pole was
employed, and il was supposed every part of
the cabin was touched, aud as no object in
the shape of human body was felt, the con-
clusion was reached that the remains hal
fiOated out of the cabin into the lake, hence
further search WAS given up.
Two days afterwards Captain Appeby
came down with a vessel with facilities TO
right the schooner aud tow her into The
nearest port the drowned woman's son be-
ing along to assist in the recovery of the
body. The vessel was finally righted, aud
when the cabin door had nearly reached a
level position, the woman walked through
the water aud came up he stairs upon deck.
She was caught by Captain Appleby and
supported, while her son wept aud sailors
screamed.
Five days aud nights had she been in the
/ waller, while portion of the time she was
| up 20 her arm pits. She could not lie down
! and what sleep she got in thar position,
aud AL the food she had was a solitary
| cracker aud raw onion. which ti5ated ou
= the water. Size sta.ed that after h- vessel
! cans I'D and was abandoned by IA" ere "
, she found herself alone tn water walSt-dt-ei'
rn. cabin door was open hut the iuid a.
. two feel above it, aud the sea made constant
changes IN her position.