The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1878-06-28
AWOman's Wonderful Escape

Ever since Lake Erie has been
navigated by civilized people, es-
pecially for the last century, has
she swallowed up large numbers of
human beings by shipwreck, by
fires, and by other casualties, and
while many bodies are recovered
there are hundreds that are never
found and many that float ashore
that are never identified.
l presume now to give an in
stance in which woman ship
wrecked on Lake Erie remained in
the water five days, and was finally
rescued alive. In the autumn of
1888, Capt. Gilman Appleby, of Con-
neaut, Ohio, was captain and part
owner of the schooner, New Con-
necticut. A steamboat was then be-
ing built at Conneaut (the North
Amer ica), of which Capt. App1eby
had charge, and was for many years
her master. An aunt of his resld-
ing at Black Rock, below Buffalo,
was at Erie on visit, staying with
her brother who was then q resi-
dent of the town. The lady went
to Conneaut in company with a
nephew, to visit her brother there.
After remaining for some time she
became exceedingly anxious to get
home. Capt. Appleby, who was
busy with the steamboat, endeavor-
ed to dissuade his aunt from max
ing the home journey until he
should be going out with his own
vessel, when he would take her
home. His efforts in that direction,
however, were unavsiling, and he
had her taken on board the schoon-
er 10 go to Buffalo in charge of the
crew. The vessel being light, and
the time of the year August, the
captain had entire confidence in the
ability of the crew to manage the
craft and land his relative safe at
her destination. Everything pass
ed off quietly until after the vessel
had passed Erie, when q sudden
squall struck and rolled her over on
her side, when she nearly filed with
water, but continued to float. The
crew, loosening the vessels yawl,
jumped in and pulled for the shore,
leaving the woman in the cabin, as
they had supposed, drowned. The
party landed at or near Portland,
Chautauqua county, n. Y, and
made their way as best they could
back to Conneaut. Three days af-
ter the accident Capt. wilkins, of
the steamboat William Peacock, in
coming down from Detroit, was be-
sought by Capt. Appleby to board
the wreck if he saw it, and if posi-
BILE get the body of his aunt out OF
the cabin, and convey it to Buffalo.
Capt. wilkins discovered the disa-
bled vessel drifting down the lake,
and after coming alongside, Capt.
| VIM. Henton, the fret mate of the
Peacock, boarded the wreck and
made search. The schooner lay up
on her side, and to all appearances,
was full of water. A pole was EN-
pIoyed and it was supposed every
part of the cabin was touched, and
as no object in the shape of hu-
man body was felt, the conclusion
was reached that the remains had
fioated out of the cabin into the
lake, hence further search was Civ.
en- up. Two days afterward Capt.
| Appleby came down with q vessel
aud facilities TO right the schooner
and tow her into the nearest port,
the drowned Woman's son being
along to assist in the recovery OF
the body. The vessel was finally
righted, and when the cabin door
had nearly reached level position,
the woman walked through the wa
ter and came up the stairs on deck.
She was caught by Capt. Abbleby
and supported, while her son wept
and sailors screamed. Five DAYS
and nights had she been in the wa
ter, while q portion of the time she
was up to her arm.pits. She could
not lie down, and what sleep she
got was In that position and sII the
j food she had was solitary cracker
and raw onion, which doated on
the water. She stated that after the
vessel capsized and was abandoned
by the crew, che found HERSELF alone
in water Wefst-deeps The cabin
door was open, but the docd war
two feet above it and the sea made
constant changes In her position.
/ When Capt wilkins stopped she
could hear the boarding party talk
and walk on the vessel. and although
she used her voice to the utmost "a
attract attention, she could not
make them hear. She saw the poIe
thrust into the cabin door by Capt.
Henfon, and asked If she could hold
on TO il and be pulled cat, bat no
answer came, the Capt. hearing no
noise other than the splashfng 81
the water. ana having not the re-
hottest idea that the woman was
there, alive or dead. This event
occurred foEty-fve years sgo. and
have never heard Of q parallel easI
eitheR on the lake or other waters
and her salvation from drowning
tmay be regarded IS little less tha1
] Ia miracle. -