Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-09-09

Five DAYS Of Agony ON a spar In
Mid Oeean-The Thrilling Expe-
rfence OF q ShipwFeeked fHaFlner.

cred early on the morning of the 18th,
floating on a spar. When he was rescued
he was in a state of imbecility, having been
five days buffeting about atathe mercy of
the waves. Through care and attention he
was partially restored, but on reaching this
port was still in 3 feeble condition,
and was sent to st. Joseph's
Infrmary. The name of this man was Jas.
g. Harris, who proved to be the only surviV-
ing member Of the crew Of the schooner
Mary G. Fisher, laden with coal, bound from
Philadelphia to Wilmington, and which
foundered in the gale on the oath, and went
down.
sHIPwRECKED sEAMAN'S YARN.
Since his stay in the hospital Mr.. Harris,
who is quite an intelligent young man, has
improved wonderfully, aud at our request
furnishes the following thrilling and inter
esting account of his experience:
We left Philadelphia on the 18th day OF
August, 1881, with cargo consisting of 30
tons Of coal, bound to Wilmington, n. G..
lowed as far as Greenwich piers, we then
made all sail and proceeded on our voyage /;
wind very light and ahead. Came to anchor
that evening, when food tide was made,
Just below Chester. Got under way early
next morning and proceeded on our voyage
with fair wind and tide, and sailed on and
out to sea without anything occurring worth
relating. We had pleasant weather, with
fine breeze from the N.NE., and do not
believe voyage was ever commenced I'M
der more favorable circumstances than was
this.
Our crew consisted Of five men-two
seamen, one cook, the Captain aud mate !;
the oldest man on board was only twenty
-, nd az
the time what was coming. We had wind
and weather IS nice as heart could wish for
until we rounded Hatteras. There we met
with heavy sea from the east and some
times light squalls. Took In all the light
sails and went along very comfortably, the
vessel leaking some, until we got as far as
Lookout shoals. There we had the wind
east, with very heavy squalls, and as large
a swell from the same direction as | ever
saw, and looked as If 1t (the windy was
going to the southeast and blow gale. The
Captain came to the conclusion that 1t
would be best to go farther off shore, so we
reefed mainsail, took in flying jib and
hauled off more, expecting the wind to
come from the southeast every minute. We
continued to go off as long as we could, till
the wind carried away our foresail, then we
hove to. The vessel was leaking so bad
that we had to keep pumping all the time.
The wind kept increasing all the time,
as did the sea, until 1t began
blowing a hurricane. Then there was
heavy sea from about east and one from
southeast. We continued to lay to until q
heavy sea broke over the vessel, taking
away the yawl boat, tearing the bulwarks
all off, and doing great damage to the YES
sci. We then sounded, and found four feet
of water in the hold, and it was gaining on
US all the time. Then we took in the main
sail, and kept her away before the hurri-
cane, but could not steer her under bare
poles, so set the reefed jib, and went along
very well under the circumstances until a
heavy sea struck her under the stern,
twisting the rudder head off just below
the decH. | had the wheel at the time 1t
happened myself. The Captain was In the
cabin. 1t threw me down to leeward,
bruised me up badly, and knocked the sktn
off In several places. This brought the
Captain up in hurry, or in time to save me
from being washed overheard. All the crew
| then collected on the quarter deck. The
vessel came to, the jib was carried away and
the seas commenced breaking over her.
The Captain then asked me what was to
be done. My answer was, all hands take to
the rigging and there await death. | set
the example myself, and the Others We're
not long to follow. The Captain
was next to me, and when about two-thirds
the way up the rigging, sea swept over,
washing him off 1.-THE vessel had gone over
then, the lower part of the crosstrees was
in the water). managed to reach him and
pulled him on again. We both reached the
crosstrees and goG a good hold before an
other sea came, as did the remainder of the
crew. Some were In the fore crosstreee,
some in the main. | was In the main my
self. Again the Captain asked me what
to do. / told him to die like a man, not
like a coward, and he said he would,
and did. About that time sea swept over
US and nearly drowned all OF US. l thought
the vessel would right up again before she
went down, but in this l was mistaken. Can
any one imagine how we felt standing up to
our waists In water with one hundred and
twenty feet under US waiting for the vessel
to sink, aud then to be droWned2 ] thought
of my home, Of loved ones and friends, and
ten thousand other things that only man
can think Of who is about to be launched
into eternity. l do not think l was fright
ened. had made up my mind to die. |
did not think 1t was possible that | could
be saved. The thought never once crossed
my mind. / thought my time had come,
and made up my mind to die like man. /
shook hands with the Captain and
bid him goodbye; asked God to
bless us and save US, and then a sea
swept over and the vessel began to sink.
| was under the water some time before /
discovered the vessel was sinking. When |
did let go Of the rigging and commenced
swimming towards the surface, and came
near suffocating before | reached it. The
first thing | did on reaching the sur
face was to get out Of my clothes,
so l could swim better. Then l
saw a piece of white pine scantlirg
floating of. l succeeded in getting hold OF
that, and managed to keep myself sfoat
with It, 1t was about four inches square
and fifteen feet long. Shortly after got
hold Of this the Captain came up. He was
then nearly gone, and did not have life
enough hardly 10 keep his head out OF
the water. He soon sank, and never saw
him more. His name was Enoch Camp, a
native of Philadelphia aged about 81. He
was very handsome. IhaVe been sailing with
him since the lst of January, 1881, and we
were like two brothers. He was single,
but left kind and loving mother. a good
father, two sisters and two brothers to
mourn bis loss. The remainder of the crew
were unknown to me; they were all colored.
The cook, believe was a native of VIII
miDgton, n. c., and has a father and
mother living in that place; his name was
Frank Evans.
except myself, who, through the provi-
dence Of God, was saved.
This happened Wednesday, the Gath Of
August, 1881.
FIVE DAYS AND NIGHTS ON RAFT AT SEA.
'Alone, alone, ell alone,
Alone on a wide, wide sea!
And never Saint took pity on
My soul in agony"
When the vessel sunk, she began to break
up. This was in the very iercest part of
the hurricane. The seas were running very
high, and almost every one breaking. All
this time I was clinging to the piece
CT white pine scantlins, expecting
every minute to be my last. / forgot
to mention l had a dog with me. He
was clinging on to the piece of timber with
me. When the vessel went oyer he was in
the cabin; how he managed to get cut DO
not know. Sometimes the seas would strike
Us, knocking us away from the piece, and
nearly drowning us. When it would pass
away, we would swim back to 1t again. The
poor dog was nearly drowned, and his
master not much better. He would swim
up to me, and put his head on me, and
whine so piteoVsly, asking me the best he
could 10 save aim; and, TO end dis suffer
ings, killed him, and pushed him away
from me. And then lGod forgive mel
tried to drown myself, as ] expected every
moment to be cut by shark, and knew |
could not live much longer that way no.
how, so / let go and sunk. With eyes
and mouth open, / drank salt water
by the pint. | could stay under
very well until l would 90 to draw In my
breath, then the water would rush up my
my nose, suHocating me. Taen ! would
have to come up again. made two at
tempss to drown myself asd then gave it
up and awaited until God saw fit to take me.