St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-01-24

not seen afterward At neatly the
same instant McGarry's brother was
pulled into the boat. Capt Wright
was among the last to leave the ship.
Two men, who We're frozen SO stiff
that they were unable to reEinqnish
their hold on the rigging. were the
only persons remaining on the steamer
excepting the captain. Lieut.. Rhodes
asked him to jump, but be shouted
''Save those men first" "Thev are
The captain then jumped, and al
though he could not swim u stroke. he
was rescued by Lieut.. Kennedy.
Lieut.. Rhodes performed IA heroic act
which ELECTS hearty commendation.
Fwo men hung in the rigging, Unable
to- move from exhaustion. The officer
determined to save the men at the
peril of his life. Returning 10 the cut
ter he asked Captain Gahrielson to
give him /; man to steer. that he might
swim to the wreck and rescue the an
fortunate men. The captain granted
his request and Lieut.. Rhodes was
placed in the boat. But on nearing
the steamer it was found to Ice folly to
attempt to get alongside. Lieut..
Rhodes refused to abandon the at
tempt. and sang ont To the men i'll the
life boat 10 take him to the wreck
Lieut.. Rhodes boarded the life beat,
and, tying a rope about him, waited
until he WAS within about thirty feet OF
the vessel, when he sprang into the
sea. He had nearly reached the wreck
when he was struck on the leg by a
f hon. a,.I In.
pulled aboard the boat aud taken to
the cutter. His leg was found to be
ent, hut after changing his clothing, As
the sea was snoother, lac determined
to make last attempt. lie again set
out for the wreck. and this time the
men were reached. Que was hanging
with his feet aud arms through the rat
lines, and his head was hanging.
Lieut. Rhodes put howiiue ahout
him, when lac murmured, For Gods
sake, don't touch me-" The man, who
was afterwards found to he Mr.. Rich
ardson, was placed in the boat, but
died before reaching the cutter. About
Sl00 was found in wallet in his
pocket. The second man, who WAS
the last person removed from the
wreck, was in the ratlinca in the
weather rigging, and although breath
ing when placed in the boat, he ais,
expired before reaching the Dexter.
THE DISASTER CAUSED BY THE PILOT,
NEGLECT.
Mr.. F. W. Fairbanks, of Gorham
Me-, who was on his way to Savannah
and who intended to 20 thence Il
Florida for his health. gave the follow
ing account of his experience to the
| Traveller representative | was wax
ened by the shock of the vessel strik
! ing on the rock, and realizing that
something was wrong, jumped quickly
from my berth, stopping only long
enough to get on my coat and pants
rushed out into the cabin and called
upon the rest to get mp. / also wen
in among the crew. and after calling
those not already awake went to tn,
saloon. BY this time the water wa.
pouring into the saloon and the great
est confusion prevailed. Women
children and men We're running in al
directions screaming and calling fol
aid. They all rushed for the deck
myself among the number Many
| IVNNl SOb AiiNlN- anu Nv VOL ultAn
struggling in the water, making des
perate efforts to escape. | had hardly
reached tho deck when the vesse
keeled over on the larboard side ant
the water swept over it, clearin!
everything before it. I saw dozen
swept into the sea, and heard scream
after scream from the women an,
children as they were engulfed.
only saved myself by catching. Will
one hand, at chain which was fasten
ed to the deck, and by grasping firml,
the leg of a man who was hanging ol
to the outside of the saloon. Tn,
scene was the most terrible | ever wit
messed, and during the few moment
! was hanging there | saw many hodie
floating in the debris. did not Sc,
the captain, though had been tolt
that he was forward in the pilot house
After the vessel had lurched, it sOol
righted, and then lay with its boy
standing up at slight incline. and it
stem under water. The sea was roll
ing very heavily, and | soon realize,
that | could not remain where | wa
long. aud with some difficulty | SHE
ceeded in climbing into the rigging
This was, should think, nearly three
quarters of an hour after the sesSo
struck. clung to the rigging in
benumbcd condition until nearly thrc
o'clock in tine afternoon, when tn
boat from the revenue cutter Samuc
Dexter rescued me with others. Their
were 26 in the rigging at one time, hu
they kept dropping off, and only II q
the entire number We're saved. dit
all in my power Ia encourage an;
cheer those about me. ! prayed. au'
so did some of those about me. w
were all hoping for rescue, though Il
the wind continued Ia blow almost
I steady gale uHtii noon, We were tcarfrI
that the wreck would break up befor
the looied-tnr help reached as
young man named Sargent, living IL
Manchester, y. H., WIS close to me
and | did all in my power TO chee
him up and induce him to hold on, hu
he gave up the struggle early in tn
day, and dropped. was severely in
iured about the head, arms and bod
in getting on to the deck, and after
wards in getting into the rigging
Shortly after noon the revenue cutie
hove in sight, aud ] waved my arm ia
4 Il long time III an eudeayor to attr;tc
the attention of it's officers This
succeeded in doing, aud the cutie
soon began bearing toward us. The
came as near us as possible and a
soon as my turn came | dropped int
the water. 1t was fearful jump, an
it seemed as if | would never come /
the surface. | saved myself by tread
ing water, and was dragged into til
! boat and taken on board the cutter
saw two who jumped rs did washe,
away beyond all help, and there mus
have been others who Jared in TIA
same way. During the forenoon
boat came out To ms from Gay Hea
with several Indians i'll it, but the
could do nothing for MS" Relative t
the cause of the disaster. Mr.. Fair