The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1879-11-20

The steward was killed by the falling
of the mainmast, which went by the
board as the vessel capsized, and the
only other survivor, strange to say, was
saved by being entangled in the rigging
at the time. The two survivors were,
therefore, enabled to climb to the side
of the vessel then out of the water and
hold on. The Captain, mate, and three
of the crew managed to get into the
long boat just as the vessel went over.
They dared not come near the wreck
for fear of being swamped in attempt
ing to save their comrades, neither of
whom could swim. Ten minutes after
the long boat left the wreck it was lost
sight of. A very high sea was running
at the time and Michel thinks it was
lost.
Up to the following Friday the two
men held on desperately to the wreck,
with nothing to drink but salt water
and the blood of a cat. which they had
killed and ate, dividing six spoonfuls of
the blood between them. Diaz, who
speaks only Spanish, gave your corre-
spondent the following additional par
ticulars. He says he was trying to free
the long boat from its fastenings at the
moment the vessel capsized. At that
instant he lost all sense of conscious
ness. When he revived he found him
self entangled in the main rigging. from
which he extricated himself and climbed
up on the mast. As the longboat drifted
to leeward the Captain called tc
was too far, and he dared not attempt
it as he could not swim.
During the five days they clung to
ba cid, ~ ho uacco1 fhoir nnS
both from hunger and thirst, became
intolerable. The vessel, to whose sides
they clung, still rolled heavily in the
swell of the sea, exhausting every mo-
ment the little strength they had. On
Thursday they sighted bark, to which
they made signals of distress. She
either did not sec or did not heed them,
and so passed on. On Friday morning,
after dividing the blood of the cat be-
tween them with the most scrupulous
exactness, both agreed if assistance did
not appear before night to relax then
hold upon the vessel and drop into the
sea. Endurance could go no fur
ther, and they both reasoned that
death would be easier than the
sufferings they endured. Toward
noon of that day Michel became
delirious, and Diaz found it almost i'm
possible to control him. His mouth
had become sore and swollen from the
use of the salt water, which he would
persist in drinking, and it was impos-
sible to understand what he wanted to
say, even when his delirium had passed
off. Diaz says he was sure assistance
would come in the time they agreed to
| wait for it, and his only way was to
keep his companion in the same hope
full spirit.
Late on Friday afternoon they were
| aroused from the almost despair into
which both had now fallen by the ap-
pearance of a large steamer, bearing
down toward them. Darkness was now
coming on rapidly and they were afraid
that their signals might not be noticed.
They made every effort that their little
strength was capable of to attract at
tention, and shouted with all their
might. The Enrique and its comman.
der had discovered them and they were
saved. Both men lost everything they
had in the world except the clothing
they wore. They are profuse in express
sions of gratitude to Captain De Mugico
of the Enrique, who kindly furnished
them with verything-shelter, cloth
ing, and food. Michel says he has
been twenty-nine years at sea, but had
never experienced anything so dreadful
as his last disaster, although he was
mate of the Robert Ruff, of Galveston,
during the hurricane of September.
1877. Most of the time he has sailed
from New York, where he has many
friends.
1t is impossible to ascertain the
names of the men who were lost, as the
brigantine's papers were not accessible
after she capsized.