The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-11-03
Ahoat on Il Pfke-Polo.

The mon OF the foundered steam
barge Oakland in Lake Erie were picked
up recently by the Rod Cloud. After
cruising for that purpose for some time
the mon on the tug discovered far away
OIL Oonneaut something white footing
OH the water. Then came floating
over the water cry for he'll, and flag
was seen to be waved from tho white
object as a signal of distress. Immedi.
nteIy the tugs course was changed
toward tho floating object, and nil eyes
were strained to catch any indication of
life, Nearer and nearer tho tug ap.
proached, until raft of lumber, ccn-
tanning four human beings, could be
plainly disoerned tossing and oareening
about Oh the waves. 10 tho persons on
the raft never did Lake craft move
slower than did the Red Cloud, and
woen it finally approached within hail
ing distance they sent up a shout Of
gladness which was answered back by
the rescuers Oh the tug. On the raft
Were Capt. Stephens. Robert Hanna
Charles Dixon. and another sailor whose
name could not be learned. They were
in most pi'iable plight and almost
completely exhaust I. They had been
tossed about at tue mercy Of the wind
and waves, drenohed to the skin and
almost frozen in the bitter wind which
had been blowing almost steadily. Not
thing had they had to cat or drink.
and 1t r. CURED their every exertion to
keep from being washed from their fra,l
craft by the mad rush of the waves.
All the mon, with the exception Of Capt.
Stephens, had on their clothes, but the
lat or was almost entirely naked, u shirt
being the only piece of apparel to pro-
tect him from tho cold and water. AL
most dead from cold and exposure. the
captain and his oomraies we're lifted on
board the tug and provided with warm
clothing aud food. The tug then head
ed Tor Ashtabula, arriving there shortly
afttrward.
u. Davis, little bright.eyed old man,
who served on the lll-tated Oakland as
steward and cook, and who was among
the eight escaping from the vessel,
was found sitting on the edge Of GOAL
barge on ehe docks recently and he told
the following story: ''About a qual Ter
to 8 O'Clock in the morning we MOTTO I'D
that the Oakland was listing to port-
thut 1e. was keeled over on the port side.
Ghe mate, Andrews, WAS on watch, and
he sent tie watohman down to the
engineer to inquire ii there was any
water IN the hold. The engineer replied
that there was not. Tue vessel kept
listing strongly, and the mate oonoludeu
to Gall the captain, but the latter could
not be found. The watchman hunted
high and low, but no trace Of the master
could be found. Then it was we thought
he had been lost overheard. At that
time, little after O'Clock, the lee
bulWarkD were clear under water and
tho sea was running high. just then
the captain came up stairs from tho
engineers loom, where he had been
asleep, he having gone there because
the slate-room leaked badly. He had
nothing on but his shirt. The waves in
oreased in fury all the time, and the
vessel tossed terribly. The wind was
blowing hard from the north. Just
afler the captain came on deok, two
monstrous seus washed aboard, striking
tho cabin lengthwise aud breaking it III
as though it was but All egg-shell.
Everything III the stewards and cooks
departments, bags and baggage, was
washed overheard, and all the fires
were put out, moulding tue one in the
engine. Then it was that we thought
of leaving the craft to her fate. The
small boat was lowered, and eight
OF us, including the mate, sprang in.
the captain refused to go with us, say
ing tho boat was overloaded and would
founder before we could reach shore.
Three OF tho sailors concluded to stay
with the captain and risk it on tho Oak
land. We bnde them good. bye and
pushed off. For tive long. weary hours
we were tossed about by the wind and
waves, almost every sea that rushed by
striking us and, aside from drenching
us to the skin, filled our little cookie
shell boat with water. Wekept bailing
constantly, and uii were rapidly be-
coming exhausted. We had q pike
pole Oh board, and this was fixed up III
tho bow and attached quilt to it for
sail. This drove us before the wind,
and between 10 and II O'CLOCK we landed
of Conneaut light, turned our boat up
on its side on tue beach and laid down
to recover from our exhaustion. We
mover saw the Oakland but once after we
left 1t, and that was after we had got
about two miles away. Then al we
cou ID 500 was tho oolors at the mast
head floating about two feet above the
water. We concluded then that the
captain aud .he three sailors had been
lost.