The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1884-05-14
ONE TO TELL THE TALE.
MATE JAMES PRATT,s ESCAPE FROM
A WRECK OFF HATTRRAs.
Tho Fonnderina Of the Bark A. a. Jowett
death OF the Crew from Exposure IN
Flooded Bont-Thc single Survivor.
From the n. Y. SUM-


The lookout of the bark Edward
Gushing, on Feb. &c. while the bark was
southeast Of Cape Hatteras, sighted in
the distance dark object which bobbe0
up and down in the rough sea. As the
bark neared it it was made ont TO be g
heavy spar spliced TO an open boat. IL
the boat, which WAS filed with water,
was man clipging to the gunwale. The
bark bore down upon the boat, and the
man was taken aboard. lie was stiff
from cold and exposure, and had not
strength TO speak. When he recovered
he told this story.
On Feb. 10 the brig A. G. Jewett
loaded with coal and machinery, left
Philadelphia bound to Matanzas, Cuba.
She was trim vessel OF 3Gl tons, was
under the command OF Capt. Joseph
Reed, and hailed from Belfast, Me. She
had picked up her crew in Philadelphia
a few days before sailing. These were
the Captain, two mates, six sailors, and
cook.
On the day after setting sail the brig
passed the Delaware Breakwater. On
Feb. 81 and ~ the weather was forobod.
ing, bnt the winds favored the vessels
course. During the night of the 22d
the brig struck tho Gulf Stream, A
strong wind, which had been blowing
from the southeast, turned into violent
gale. The sea rose high and the waves
broke over tho vessel, which labored
terribly. The storm increased in yio-
lence, and tho gale shifted and came
from the southwest. The bufIeting of
tho waves shifted the briggs cargo, and
she sprang leak. The storm was nc
fierce that tho pumps could not be
worked with any effect. At 81 o'clock
on the morning Of the 23d a heavy sen
struck the brig, throwing her on her
beam ends. She foundered shortly
aftcrward. Capt. Reed and the cook
sank with her.
The two mates and tho four seamcr,
swan toward boat which the waycs
had torn loose from the vessel, together
with a spar to which it had been spliced.
The boat ws full of water, and would
have sunk but for the spar The men
climbed into her, and chung to the gun.
wales. Tho waves broke over them
again and again. They had no food,
water, oars, or sails. At daylight the
gale had decreased in violence, but the
water was still terribly rough. 1t be-
came frightfully cold. The men to keen
the upper part Of their bodies ont of tho
water stood on the boats seats. still
clutching the gunwales, which were the
only part Of the boat not submerged.
In tho afternoon Mr.. Clark, the first
mate, said that his strength was leaving
him. He could not stand on the sent
any longer, and sank down into the wa.
tor, his body resting on the boats bot.
tom. For a time no managed to keep
his head and shoulders above the gun.
vale. A succession Of chop seas swept
over his head, and a little while later he
died. His companions, to tighten tho
boat, threw his body into the sea. Not
long after the death Of the first mnte one
of tho sailors died from exhaustion. His
body had hardly been lot over the side
of the boat when another sailor loosened
his grip on the gunwalo and fell back
dead. He also was dropped into tho
water. Only three remained when night
came. There was no moon or stars. Tho
flooded boat was tossed high ono mo.
ment and submerged the next. the
night was terrible, and it seemed like n
lifetime to the two men who lived TO sec
dawn. Tho other had died in the dark.
ness
Al noon on Feb. "a, Second Mate
James Pratt was the sole survivor of tho
crew of the brig A. @. Jewett. For
nearly two days longer he was tossed
around, He had been in tho boat fifty
four hours when he saw the bark
Edward Gushing bearing down upon
him. He was too weak and numb to
mako even signal of distress. Tho
bark was out from Boston and bound for
where Pratt was landed ON
March IA. He was anxious to return to
the United States, but was entirely des.
litnto, all his effects having been lost
with the A. q. Jewett. He told his
story to the United States Consul at AS
pinwall, who sent him home on the
Pacific Mail steamship Acapulco, which
arrived in this port Tuesday.
Pratt is a flne-looking man OF 30
years. He is of medium height, com.
pactly built, and looks like a man who
could endure great privatlons. He has
clear blue Dyes, brown hair, and full
brown beard. His homo is in Gardiner.
Me-, where Ito will return. On her last
previous trip to this port the Acapulco
passed the wreck of the schooner J.
Goodwin at Castle Island Reefs. Pratt
was tho second mate Of this schooner,
md after her wreck went to Philadelphia
md shipped on the A. G. Jewett.