Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-02-28
ADRIFT ON THE OCEAN.

WAGES, On Wc lSOttOM OF an CptNlae6
Boat.
A New Haven special of the oath tells
thrilling story of nights experience on the
sound. 1t seems that the competition among
the cOal-shovelers at the New Haven docks
became SO keen, under the low prices and
scarce work, that last summer the men hired
row-boats and went out to intercept incom-
ing vessels to make the first bid for the Job
of unloading, rarely venturing beyond the
mouth of the harbor, however. Latterly
they have gone far down the sound at any
time, day or night, when vessel was ex-
pected to arrive. Thus it was that Ambrose
Cummings and John Mullen had an awful
nights experience on the sound, which re-
suited in the death of one and intense suffer
ing of the other.
Late last Thursday night the two men
heard that the Philadelphia and Reading
railroad steamer Rattlesnake was expected
with cargo of 900 tons of coal. Though
the! weather looked bad, Cummings and Mil
Ter determined to hire boat and row out to
meet her, fearing that if they waited till
morning some of their fellow-shovelers
might get ahead of them and secure the job
It was after midnight when they started,
and they had barely got out of the harbor in
their little row-boat before fog set in. It
began to blow with increased force, and
grew rougher. Mullen, the survivor, thinks
it was about four in the morning that the
storm seemed at its height. They knew not
where, nor in what direction to row. The
wind howled and blew gale, the ram fell in
torrents, and huge waves began to roll and
toss the frail boat. Both we're pulling aim
lessly, intent rather on keeping the craft
headed to the waves than on making
ny onward progress.
Of sudden a succession of waves struck
the boat, leaped on it's side and poured in
upon the two men. They became excited
the boat turned, another great wave came
and she turned over. Mullen sunk, but on
rising felt hard substance strike him
which he convulsively clutched to find he haG
hold of the boats keel. He quickly pulled
himself astride of the overturned craft anc
at the same moment he had faint glimpse
| of his companion struggling in the breakers
but ere he could help him the swift tide car
ried him out of sight. His despairing cries
could be heard for some time afterward, an(
as he was an expert swimmer Mullen thinks
it must have been that he was trying to reacl
! the boat. He did not, however, and sool
the survivor had all he could do to look ou
for himself. The waves broke clean owe
him.
It was bitter cold, and Mullen felt hi
strength fast leaving him. He knew no
what part of the Sound he was in, nor how
far from shore. He foated thus, it seems
for hours, when suddenly he was rouset
from that insensibiity into which he wa
fast falling, by feeling the boat graf
on beach, and he had barely strength
enough left to crawl ashore out Q
the water ere he became unconscious
When he came to, it was just a
daylight, and he found that the tide ha,
swept him ashore near Milford. By crawl
ing and half walking, with great exertion h
dragged himself to house some distance of
woke a dog who began barking, and S
aroused the inmates. He was nearly dead
and extreme measures had to be resorted
to save his life. When he could tell hi
story the beach was searched, and sho1
distance from where the boat had bee
driven ashore the dead body of his compar
ion was found. Mullen is great. strappin
fellow, and a stranger to fear: but he say
the few hours he spent in the Sound yeste
day morning, were the most terrible in b
life.