Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-25
THE WRECK OF THE NORA
BAILEY
The Experiences of the Wrecked Crew
and What They Have to Say About the
CaDtafn

The Experiences of the Wrecked Crew
and What They Have to Say About the
Captain.
GIBRALTAR, Feb. I've, the under
signed crew of the wrecked schooner No
"a Bailey, of Bath, Maine, U. S. A, do.
we believe, owe our lives to the strength
of the Nora Bailey and her perfect build,
for which we have to thank her builders,
Messrs. A. Sewall & Co, of Bath, Name.
and we think that there are very few YES
sells with frames sufficiently strong to
bear all the knocking she encountered
and also TO her commander. Captain d.
W. Barker, for the skillful way in which
he handled and navigated her, and brought
her through the many hurricanes and
gales we met with when blown off the
coast of Newfoundland, and for the en-
enlargement be gave us after losing our
masts. When we were almost in despair.
hungry and exhausted, he managed to
give US new hope, and induced US to rig
jury masts, patch together the remnants
OF our sails that remained, and shape a
course for the Western Islands. and when
we grumbled about the amount of our al
lowance, he would say: BOYS. YOU nav
think it hard Of me, but l am doing the
best | can, and you Will thank me for it
yet before we part, and l have great hopes
we Will be relieved before long" At this
time we We're reduced to almost skin and
bone from working the vessel in cold,
stormy weather, and very small allow
ance, and almost more than all. from the
thought that we should never survive to
gain the land. During all this time there
was not one of us that did not feel the
greatest sympathy for Captain Barker,
who was very much changed and worn
in L. IL
be known lie had grown so thin and
wasted looking, and no wonder, for during
the tOrty-twO days from the time we first
left st. John until we were dismasted,
there Is not one of us can say that he once
stood at the wheel, night or day, that the
Captain did not come on deck to watch
the vessel and take advantage of every
breath of wind that would be of use to us
in gaining St. John, where he intended
to get new sails, as all our sails were gone
to ribbons in the fearful hurricanes we
encountered. and the wreck was CON-
plete, both Of captain, crew and vessel,
when the spars went over the side, when
we had almost reached st. John, being
only Is miles from Cape Spear on De-
cember -, when a dreadful hurricane
came upon us, in which the brigantine
Blanche, of st. John, fOundered, and
many others dismasted and received other
"a ANos 0tAl liz INC MuOlt Wy age AdIll.
Barker kept strict discipline on board his
vessel. for which we are now grateful, for
If we had been allowed to get at the few
remaining stores we would have 1eYOured
them all at once and would, by this time,
have been dead of starvation. After we
were dismasted we were % DAYS on the
| wreck, endeavOring by every means in
/ our power to get her in to the Western
/ Islands, but without avail. We could not
spread enough sail on the vessel to keep
her away from the sea, and when running
ran the risk of being engulfed, or having
our stern stove in, which was the case
with the brigantine Blanche, which YES
sci. after giving us provisions eleven hours
before, fOundered in the same hurricane in
which we were dismasted, and which would
certainly have been our fate had we not
contrived to get out a haWser with a beef
barrel attached on the weather bow to
keep ships head to sea. We wish Capt.
Barker all the success his ambition de-
sires.
OF the . days spent on board the Nora
Bailey ten of them the allowance of food
did not exceed ounces of bread and one
of beef per man daily, and for some DAYS
! before beng taken off we had been catch
ing and eating gulf sea weed in our en-
beavers 10 allay the awful pangs Of hun
ger.
before cOncluulng, we would Wish TO
call attention to the heartlessness dis
played by masters of steamers-tWO in
particular, one of which passed us quite
close in the daytime; when we signaled,
hosting the British ensign, but did not
attempt To come and speak, but, if any
thing, kept away. The other we perceived
at night, SO close to us that we could hear
the beat of her engines and distinguish
men on her decks; but, although we burnt
/ our distress light and hailed repeatedly,
she paid no attention, but steamed away.
On the 18th of January, 1884, we were
taken of by the schooner Excelsior, OF
BriXham, England, Capt. J. +. Hatswell,
who, IL appeared, could not do enough for
us, and whom we shall always bear in re-
membrance. Capt. Hatswell has already
been made the recipient of two medals
for like acts of mercy, and we hope he
shall have all the success his kind heart
makes him deserving of. We have also
to thank his officers and crew for many
kindnesses experienced at their hands
while on board their vessel, and we hope,
Mr. Editor YOU will Oblige US by the in
sertion OF this, as it is our only means of
showing our gratitude.
WILLIAM BOOTE, Mate.
ALFRED BBLAN, Second Mate.
GEORGE L. YOUNG.
e.. STERNRLAS.
JOSEPH STEELEY.
w. j. (X) HALsTON.
JOHN (X) russell.
TAYLOR (X) JOHNSTON.
GEO. c. DEwS.
The Nora Bailey was owned by the
Bailey Brothers, on the Satilla river, Ga.