Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-08-04
4 TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE.
Sixty Hours at Sea in an Open Boat
without Food or Water.

Sixty Hours at Sea in an Open Boat
without Food or Water.
The steamer st. Nicholas, on her last
trip to Fernandina, had among her pas
sengers from Brunswick two young men
who had had a rough experience and
whose fate had become a source of great
anxiety. They were both printers. Their
names were Dukehart and Westtield.
Last Monday evening they started from
Fernandina, with two other gentlemen, in
an open boat for Cumberland Island.
None of the party knew how to manage
boat, although Dukehart claimed to under
stand the matter when they started. After
reaching the island, the boat was beached
and the two gentlemen walked to their
destination.
Dukehart. however, did not wish to
abandon the boat, and thought that with
Westfield's assistance he could safely
take it back. Upon Westfeld's agreeing
To accompany him they started on their
return trip. But soon after they left the
island the strong ebb tide carried them to
the southeast and trouble began. At that
time a squat came up from the north
west. driving the boat before it. The Oc-
cupants lowered the sail and scudded I'M
der bare poles. Unfortunately the boat
was neither provided with anchor nor
oars, and had only fOur-fOOt paddle on
board, which proved of no account. At
night they were of Amelia
island. near the StrathmOre. but
all efforts to bring the boat in to
the beach proved unavailing. They got
within a hundred yards Of the beach, but
further they could not 20 on account of
the strong current. Dukehart being
good swimmer, could have reached the
shore, but he was unwilling to abandon
his cOmpa Mon in misfortune. Finding all
efforts useless they dashed the Tudder and
laid down in the bottom of the boat. Dur
ing Monday night the wind veered round
To the southwest, and when morning came
they were out of sight of land. To
add to their misfortune, the rud-
der had broken during the night
and they were left entirely at the
mercy of wind and waves. The wind,
which had been blowing pretty stiff, CON-
menced blowing a gale, but the boat rode
the waves like a duck, without shipping
a sea. They began to suffer terribly for
the want of water. As they had only in
tended To be gone a few hours, on leaving
Fernandina, no provision had been made
for either food or drink. On Tuesday night
they sighted a light far to the east, but of
course they had no means to signal. Then
they driiied all Of Tuesday night, and
Wednesday morning had begun to lose
all nope OF ever reaching iduu awe.
Their suffering on that day was In
tense. The rain showers which prevailed
along the coast did not reach them. Late
Wednesday afternoon they sighted a
sneck on the western horizon, which soon
was ascertained to be a sail. Westfield
pulled of his shirt and climbing half
way up the mast, fastened 1t there.
Another day under the hot, bTOIl-
ing sun would be fatal,
and their last hope is on their signal be-
ing seen. Fortunately the wind changed
and drove them landward. The sail was
that Of the pilot boat Glynn, of Bruins
wick, which had put in at Iybee on the
night before on account Of heavy weather.
They were taken on board about twenty
eight miles northeast of DObOy. having
driited a distance OF nearly 100 miles, and
been over sixty hours without foot or
water. They were kindly cared for and
taken to Brunswick and st. SimOn's, where
they were taken on board the st. Nicholas
by Capt. Usina and carried to Fernan-
dino