The New York herald., 1878-11-16
LOSS OF THE THATCHER
Springs a Leak and FOUNDERS
in a Storm.
SAVED IN A SAILBOAT.
Terrible Suffenngs and Proydential Res
cue Of the Crew.

thoticaly related yesterday by Carl Anderson, chief
mate of the American schooner George E. Thatcher.
which was lost the 10th of October last while on
her voyage between Boston aud the west coast Of
Africa She went down in latitude 81 deg. north and
longitude SO deg. west.
The Thatcher was three nasted schooner, OF some
500 tons burden. and hailed from Boston. She
left that port the 5th Of October last her way to
Almina and intermediate stopping places along the
coast Of Africa taking on board cargo Of rum,
sobacco and provisions. The voyage went on pros.
porously, the weather being moderately favorable
ill the thirteenth day out October Isl when it
began to blow very hard from the northeast.
The wind continued to increase in force and
fury all that day. and in the afternoon it
blew perfect hurricane The force OF the tempest
lashed the waves to- whiteness. They came on with
the strength Of moving mountains. and their jagged
crests dashed into icy spray by tho driving
blast. The mate, who told the story spoke with
Norwegian accent. and he went to describe the
fearful scene Of the storm his shaggy brows became
contracted his flashing blue eyes. his sandy
beard quivered with excitoment and the man whole
hame swayed to and fro as If moved by the motion
OF tho vessel at the time of which no spoke.
SPRUNG LxAK.
It about five o'clock in the afternoon. The
schooner laborng heavily and the seas frequently
washed her decks. when the mate discovered large
hole In the port bows about three feet above the
water line 1t seemed to him il the port had been
struck by powerful spar or other timber and
the planking knocked out, leaving opening about
three feet square for the angry waters to rush
through. Anderson looked upon the frightfu1 sight
with dismay-all the more 30 because the vessel
1t the time on the port tack, which brought the
yawning chasm in her bows under water every lurch
she gave. The schooner under bare poles
rcpting trisail on the mizzenInast, which remained
up so to balance her.
Anderson was tbs first to discover this disastrous
leak. and fearing to alarm Captain johnson. he went
up quietly to him where he WAS standing on the fore
Look here, Captain, there's . hole in the port
bows; the old port has been knocked in"
.-Oh. my God replied the captain. I'VE are sink
The mate said. encouragingly 1T is not very bad
yet; the planklng is not started yet" After some
This is place for u.s. msy be knocked over
board"
'.Yes, that is So" said the captain.
While this was passing both skipper and mate were
% ,e d M Va & t v 70
and an inch and half plank. stretching the cloth
across the hole by the aid of some OF the and
wedged the plank between the stanchions and
beams to keep ali snug. just he
turned on deck from his effort to stop
the hole heavy sea came along. carrying
destruction before it, smashed the forecastIe
Anderson ran up to the wreck OF the forecaste but
all sides but could not see his superior officer He
i've of the crew ON the lee side working hard TO
pull on board; lie thought it must be the cap
tain; the man was soon brought on deck and he
proved To be Frenchman. Paul De Bois. The fear
rul truth now flashed upon the minds Of all that
Captain Johnson had been swept overboard and that
while they rcscuing Of their shipmates from
the jaws of death their commander struggling
OF them got the spars and al tried their best
70 mud the missing captain. thinking he might be
aoatng about and that II would still be possible to
rescne him. He was never more seen.
GOES down IN THE STORM
The mate assumed command OF the doomed
vessel and the crew seconded his efforts in
doing all that could be done for the
mon safety under .such singulary trying
bulwarks aud smashed the cabin door; another more
frghtru STILL in curling its green, serpentine
folds till it overopped the spars of the nlated craft
and bursting with all its might upon her. almost
buried vessel and crew in the caves Of the
The Thatcher. as if struggling for life.
the foary flood and renewed ber battle with the bill
lows. One If the boats stove in the ruddcr was
gone the jibboom broken and the working gear
the pump smashed In aword the schooner lay
helpless wreck, buieted about by the relentless
storm. The gearing OF the bge pump was shifted
to the other pump, and fruitess attempt was made
10 work II.
At this supreme moment came a calm which lasted
for about ten minutes. The vessel not being able to
steady herself. pitched about like chip. MY
eyes. how she rolledi'' exclaimed the mate; sshe
looked like a cork in a storm, and seemed as il sho
would RON al the sticks on. Of her." He saw the
danger OF letting her toss about in this fearful
fashion and, seizing an axe. began to cut away
8lete this duty till the wind set in with
renewed strength from the southwest. The mate
diyed into the cabin and looked At the barometer
down 25.7. All hands placed the
pumps. bat the water, which had not been kept
continued to gain and a. everything was wet in the
hold il impossible to sound the vessel. She
sinking gradually. BY eleven O'Clock at night the
mizzenInast was carried away amid the howl of
the winds which swept the rigging. The wreck
around the fallen mast cleared
away. At halfpass O'Clock the fore and main
asts were broken like reeds. aud the vessel began to
settle down fast Then. In the dismal darkness Of the
wind. the crew bethought themselves Of the remain.
ing boat. 1t successfully launched the cabin
boy put into 1t TO keep the oars and at two O'Clock
the followed. They had time to any
thing but what their backs. Tlrccquartcrs OF
barrel Of bread and ham composed the stock Of
provisions that saved from the whole cargo
water at hand. and in addition to these stores
the mate able to add his sexant the ships chro
nometer aud few other nautical Instruments. The
boy in the boat held on to the thwarts and tho
maindcr of the crew jumped in as best they could.
The Thatcher was now at the mercy Of the elements.
and the in the boat had hard work 10 keep away
from her account OF the suction. The had
not been long Of the schooner when she struck in
the counter by heavy and then gave great urch
70 lee~ard before she plunged head downward into
the fathonless depths.
AT THE MERCY on THE WAVES.
The storm continued ~ rage till day when tho
wind began 10 lul The waves calmed down. The
crew were in mid ocean, in ships boat. with only
three-luariers OF barrel of bread among them,
water and death staring them In the face. They lay
drifting about from Saturday till Monday. but no san
tnc almost certainty of al agonizing death. In this
dreadful time the men kept cool and behaved well.
They suffered like martyrs and resolved TO die like
men, About three O'Clock on Monday morning a fair
breeze set In from the northeast aud the hope
Of life Logan 70 revive in the breasts OF the Suffering
mariners. A blanket and a sailors coat, which should
have been mentioned NJ among the articles In the
boat were made into sort Of sail, aud with this
spread OF sail the boat bore away for the track most
frequented by vessels plying between Europe
America and the West indies. The island Of Trinidad
believed be the nearest Land ad that was LOCO
miles away. The suherings OF the crew were fearful
Exposed to the inclcmency OF the weather, IN stark
starving condition. their tongues swollen and lips
parchesL with an excruciating thirst that became
Almost unbeMable time aud again they fervcntiy
prayed for relief in death.
SIGHT
On Wednesday, October 70, al hafpast ven in tho
morning. the splendor Of the ASCENDING sun showed
them the unspcakably welcome sight 81 sail bear
ing away before the wind her starboard tack
Then went up TO the skies q mad shout of gadncss,
sent aloft with all the remaining strength Of the