The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-02-12
DANGERS on THE DEEP.
Suferings of the Crew Of the
Sallie M. Steelman.
THEY EAT A NEGRO.
The Brig Carrie Wnsow Sunk by the
British America.
LOST OFF THE LIGHTSHIP.
LOST OFF THE LIGHTSHIP.

schooner Salle NJ Steelmau, VINO were Orought 10
this port yestsr day afternoon the schooner Speed
WELL Is horrible In detail that IL sounds more like
q chapter from sensational novel than stern
reality. For seven days they had sustenance
except coffee, and then of the crow was shot in
row. and the survivors cooked and ate him. Fortu-
nstely they were forced 10 subsist long such
dies they were rescued by the Speedwell on the
following day. When brought on board the Speed
well they were in q very exhausted condition. but
through careful ana judcious treatment they grad
uay recovered their strength, and are now almost
entirely we'll
TIE STORY OF TEE VOYAGE.
The schooner Sallie NJ Steelman, of Somers Point,
n j., 1874 tons, lett Charleston Co. on the 18th OF
phate rock The officers Captain Somers Highly.
Mate R. Somers, and the consisted OF the cook,
Sylvester b. Herbert Dave Barrett anu three colored
men, George Hicks, Waiter Sampson and George Sea-
man. For the first fortnight the weather was quite
mild and the winds light and variable, that thoy
made little Roadway in their voyage. On the after.
noon OF December 80, when about twenty miles to
the southeast OF Cape Hatteras, they caught in
a terrific gale from the north northwest and were
literally at its mercy for seventy hours
During that time they were driven of the land
In a terrific seaway that stove their boat and
wished away every thing that was movable Their
On the Sd OF January the storm abated slightly but
the westerly gales still prevailed as the schooner
was helpless she driited out to sea The sails were
patched up but they proved OF little use, they could
not stand the Storm and there nothing lett Tor
the crew but 10 patiently wait the abatement OF the
gale. Day by day passed away and still the wind
howled through the rigging and the unfortunate
mariners were tossed about the ocean without the
slightest encouraging prospect any relief their
perilous position
THE PROVISIONS GIVE OUT
AS If 10 add to the horror of their situation the
captain was at last forced to reduce rations and
on the morning of the 2ad of January thoy consumed
the last of the provisions Toward evening Of that
day the pangs of hunger began to be felt by these
suffering men, and the vessel searched from
stem to STERN for any PARTICLES Of food that might
have been hidden away. 1t was almost truitless
labor. ana several OF the crew began to despair On
The following day they subsisted on coffee, which
proved very grateful and warmed them up for the
time being, but the want OF solid food began TO tell
on the colored portion of the crow On that night,
january "a, the wind increased to gale
from the west northwest, and the unfortunate
schooner labored heavily that decks started and
she sprung aeak. A new duty now devolved these
weak and starving men, as It became necessary to
Keep the pumps going all the time to keep the water
down. They all took their turns man fully for another
couple Of days. and then the coiored ssamen George
Hicks, Walter sampson and George Seaman gave up
from exhaustion, and left the captain mate, cook and
storm abated somewhat ON the 2sth OF January, and
tie schooner was able 10 get up little SAIL but Their
prospects OF reaching port were very meagre, they
had been driven several hundred miles out 10 sea-
1--WE MUST RAT"
The seven human beings board this schooner had
changed iearluy during the past tow days, their
eyes had sunk their sockets, their CHEEKS
wan and hollow aud they wore suffering IRON intense
exhaustion. The cook still kept up a fire IA the GAL
ley und served out hot coffee, which was eagerly
drank, always afordng Temporary relief through
warmth 10 the stomach. 1t was not coIiee, however,
and, although no one dared to make a
suggestion. there were strange and dreadful
condition OF affairs continued until the morning
Of the 30th when tragedy took place, which
saved the execution Of project 70 which they had
ored man. George Seaman, became almost delirious,
and would occasionally leave ms berth and wander
around The decks haIi mad. Early on the morning OF
tho 30th he turned out Of his bunk and came up on
DECK He first met the Captain, and, after talking In
an inc0herept way, threatened to shoot him. Tho
Captain backed away from him and then Seaman
went 70 the f0recastle When he inside be called
on Walter sampson another coiored man. and told
him TO get up he would shoot him IN
his bunk. Sampson got up and put on his
things and backed toward the door. but before
he got there Seaman put his hand In his pocket TO
pull his pistol aud Sampson snot HIM. The body lay
there Tor some little time without any oil the sx
position should be made OF IT,; but finally the subject
was cautiously approached and one of the said
that as tho man was dead be, for one, intended 70
profit by the accident and try and save his lie.
He cut of portion OF the body and took 1t into tho
galley, wnsre he boiled 1t in a pot. The others had
still horror OF leasing on the body OF one Of their
messmaies but later in the afternoon hunger prevailed
aud the COOK fried some small pieces in a pan, which
we're eaten with great relish.
There appears be slight difference IN opinion al
10 the flavor OF the meat, as Ia giving their descrp
'ons OF the repast one OF the colored men SAID he
moi II tan In I'm rnnk
thought II rather resembled beef. At all events, It
proved wonderful stimulant. as 1t revived Tho
Exhausted men and enabled them to arsist in the
management ofthe vessel.
RESCUE
The 3lst oil January Is day trat will be bered
BY the crew of the Saie NJ seelmup Tor The resi- OF
their lives, as II brought them deiverance from a
horrible death Early IN the morning they sighted
the schooner Speedwell, and although for some little
time they suffered all the agonies OF suspense IN the
that their signals oil distress would not DO seen,
last their minds were set at rest the gallant
schooner bore down toward them. and in n short time
q boat was along sde and relief at hand The sudden
change IRON the gloom OF despair to good quarters
and plenty Oi food almost sufferers crazy,
forced Captain keenc, of Speedwe TO exert great
caution IN resuscitating their exhausted frames They
were only given q litllo nourishment ut time and
they began 10 regain their strength they were al
fowea 10 lena hand in working the schooner. When
they arrived Yesterday they looked In pretty good
condition. but some OF them have received such u
scare that they say they have made their last trip
sea.
THE spEEDwRLL
HERALD reporter paid visit 10 the Speed
well yesterday afternoon and found her at an
Choir OH Jersey CITY. Tho mate deck and re-
ceivcd the reporter very courteousy, volunteering
any Information in his power The Speedwell Is a
three-masted schooner, OF Jonesport, Me-, and lett
Cadz, Spain, on tho 7th Of January, bound TO this
port, with mixed cargo Tue mate OF the Speed.
well made tue following statement We sighted the
schooner Sae NJ. Steelman the 3lst Of january In
latitude ~ deg. 90 min and longitude so deg So MIN
Seeing her IN distress we bore down toward her aud
look of the Captain and five men. The schooner was
abandoned, as nothing could be done TO save her.
The crew were IN very emanated condition, ana had
been without io0d Tor eight days. From what could
learn they had meal oil coIored man named George
Seaman who was shot by Walter Sampson the day
before We sighted them. The shooting understand.
was done In seidefence.
WITH THE COOK.
The reporter then had talk with sylvester b. Her
bert, the cook OF the schooner Sae NJ Steelman,
who Still shows the effects OF starvation. The cook
nd:-We were blown out TO sea In a gale from of
Cape Haiteras ana all canvas was destroyed and
everything on deck washed overheard. Alter about
three weeks oueting about the ocean our provisions
ran out and there nothing Lott 70 eat. had some
cohse, which served out hVt and that was The only
n0urIshment had lett the men. Tho day be-