The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-08-15
Clinging to a Capsized Boat for
Twenty.fOur Hours.


The yacht Isabel, of Oswego, left here
on the 10Th of July on a cruise down
the st. Lawrence River among the Thou
sand Islands. The party consisted of
c. w. McElroy, Charles w. Murdoch,
President of the Board of Education of
this city, Mr.. Murdock's son, Fred, Ed
ward King, George Schilling, George
Pool, and Frank Schiiling. All of the
party except Mr.. McElroy, Mr.. Muir
dock and his son, came home at differ
ent times, leaving these three to return
with the yacht. At.three p. M, Friday,
the Isabel sailed from Stony Island for
Oswego with these gentlemen aboard.
The wind was easterly. About six p. m.
it commenced to freshen and the Isabels
iib and mainsail were close reefed. The
wind continued to freshen. and shifting
to the south blew lively gale across
the Mexico Bay, raising tremendous
sea. 1t will be remembered that at Os-
wego the gale was sudden and violent,
rising to velocity of twenty-five miles
an hour. Having still too much sail,
they lowered the gaff partly. The boat
was low in the water, and the wind and
sea continued to increase till 6 80 p. NJ,
when the Isabel capsized, about fifteen
miles from Oswego, and about six miles
off Nine Mile Point. Her crew all went
overheard, but her rail being out of
water as she lay on her side, they climb bed
on to it, but found great difficulty in
clinging, as the sea troke over them in
terrific fury. In this condition they
drifted out into the lake, the gale con-
tinuing from the south till about mid
night, when the wind changed to north
west, still blowing furious gale, and
the seas washing over them and break
ing above their heads. At daylight they
found they had drifted back to about
the place where they capsized, and at
seven p. m. were about two miles off the
life-saving station at Texas, which they
Fred. Murdoch became exhausted and
ton the rest of the day. They drifted
down past Port Ontario and then back
again up the lake. About two p. M, Sat
urday, concluding that they would not
receive assistance from the ife-station,
and having seen no sail since they had
capsized. and knowing that they could
not much longer survive in that situa-
ton, they concluded to try to cut away
the mast and right the boat. They sue.
ceeded in getting out a saw from a
locker that was submerged, and with il
sawed off the mast. This job took about
an hour, but as the mast parted she
| righted up, but, still being partly full
of water and well down, the seas con.
tinued to break clear over her. After
an hours exertion they succeeded in
getting her stern to the sea and drifte6
into the mouth of Grindstone Creek
between Texas and Port Ontario, and
two miles from the life-station. They
got into Grindstone Greek, about 6 :3(
P. NJ, Saturday, having been afoa
twenty-four hours. Leaving young Muir
dock on the beach, Mr.. McElroy anc
Mr.. Murdoch, ST., went across the fele
to Port Ontario, where they were treated
with the greatest kindness. A party O.
men started for young Murdock, but HI
had wandered away and could not b.
found. The news of his disappearance
spread, and about twenty men engaged
in search for him. He was found sew
eral miles away from the spot where b,
was left, and in a state of unconscious
ness. The party had passed once within
a few feet of him, where he was sittin.
on log. The party staid at Port On
tario till about nine o'clock, yesterda,
morning, when they were brought t
Oswego in a wagon. The Isabel lies a
Port Ontario, and is not particularl
damaged, aside from the loss of he
spar.