Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-07-01
tED FROM THE SEA.
The Thrilling Adventure OF Two YOUNG
Phiiadelphians.


~. yorL on SATURDAY, evening IRON
NorfoIk va. brought In two advenplrous
xornc pbiladelphians, who were rescued
durino n terrible storm on Friday lIo,n
mali Yacht In distress, about twentt-uFc
miles below Chinco'eague. va. WHEN
abandoned the yacht was seriously GRIP
Md Her mzzen sail was blown away
and Tho rudder was broken oil close up 10
the head. Tie young sailors were NM
deod from exhaustion and exposure.
sunday afternoon u sturdy, brown-iaced
vo,po fellow, dressed In scm-Siilor garJ,
was found at No. 1913 Green sTees' ~
wos William Howell. son OF DR.. ;. IL,
Howell. well-known physician. lie We
one Of the sailors rescued from inc yacnl.
To Press reporter he modestly to'd
story OF his thrilling escape from inc p''is
Of the sea. MIL
On saturday last" said he, edgar L;
Street, Of Meyer street, kcnslaglo,i, anu
n,vself started from Cape May for Chingo-
tcooue In nv fathers English yawl-rigged
YACHT Sea Gull. We arrived there on Mon
day. and left for Cape May again on Thurs
doy morning ut 6 O'Clock. The wind was
from the south and the weather was clear
and pleasant. Al about 2 O'Clock. Wnen
oa Isle Of Wight bay, half way TO the
1anes. the wind suddenly shifted to the
north without moments warnihg'
and in fifteen minutes time was DOW
ing the woist gale | ever experienced. IL
rained. too, as though the bottom Dad crop
nod ont Of the sky. The sea immedia,ely
was lashed into foam, and the big green
wayes dashed the beat around like 4 chip.
we stood out to sea a couple Of miles, Tor !
was i'm dread OF being east upon Tue zee
shore. which was uncomfortable near.
There we Law 10, under mizZensali and lIb.
In few minutes the mizzens1il cracked
with report Ike pistol. and was torn from
ton 10 bottom. Five minutes siterward nos
a sinyIe shred was left Of II, such was the
force Of the wind. | never say any
thing like If. our only resort was 10 flg
out a sea-anchor. This sea-anchor Is
sort Of drag to keep n vessel, held Up
into the wind. Our case was critical We
arranged two drags, ole OF whi@h was
formed bv tying the cabin stars 10 rope
and dropping it overheard. Ihls put w
In n little better share. The great trouble
with fine drags was that the monster wave
would often cause the line to slack, ana
the boat would yawl around and plunge a.
though intent only upon getting TO TIE
bottom.
Meanwhile the night set in and the
storm increased in violence, until II
seemed as though the elements were benz
on destruction and death. The cold ram
fell in torrents, almost freezing us. ltwa.
truly terrific. The wind howlcd aud rdyod
rs though it was Davy Jones calling Us.
The waves rose even higher than before,
and through the pitcby darkness we could
every moment see The great. green. b'rowy
lanks towering above our heads ana threat
ening 20 cnculi us. The Sea Gun WAS
completely ut the mercy OF tie waves. she
tossed around like drunken man, one mo-
mcnt standing perpendiculiriy upon her
stern, while a watcry giant tried TO over
throw her, the next she would be poised
upon her bows. as though rubbing her
nose upon the bottom.
my companion and were wet through
and chilled to the bone, and were weak
and cold from exposure. We took the man
agement OF the boat sailor-iashion, watch
and watch Despite the motion OF the
craft, was so exhausted that | contrlvcd
to get q little sleep in the cabin. Several
times, however, | awOke to find tables.
stools, and furniture piled upon me, such
was the remarkable jumping OF the boat.
All during that night we waited III
vain for the storm 20 abatc. About
3 A. VI. OF Friday the rudder was
broken off by the waves, We were then
hclpless. The game vas getting desperate.
without the rudder we would be unable
to make for any port until fair weather.
Meanwhile. the fury OF the st rm had not
IN the least subsidized. At daylight we saw
large steamer close by Us. II was .he
Richmond. Captain CroSsman wanted t.
take us Off. | did not want to lose the
boat. so asked him TO tow us, which he
said was impractiCablc. We were almo>'
used up, and he eventually induced IL 10
leave the Sea Gull. The sea was terrible.
and to lower small boat vas very dam
gcrOus; but, notwithstanding. cutter
manned by ten men, put OF. We awliied
with GREATNESS eagerncss the result. hat
eXpccfed TO see her 90 to the bottom. Once
she almost swamped. Finally the boat
was close under our stern, and, watching
our opportunity, We both jumped into it,
and left the yacht 10 her fate. In few
minutes we were safe on the Richmond.
They said we were about twenty-five miles
at sea, and about the same distance below
Chincoteague. / tell YOU, Captain Cross
man is a big-hearted man. We owe thanks
TO him and the brave sailors who rescued
Us. j think we will get our yacht again.
She very probably has ridden ont the storm
safely and been picked up hy some vessel.
should she be At the bottom nov, lose
good gun, hcsides the vessels equipments.
Mr.. Street lost all his clothing. This shall
not end my sailing. | mourn the loss u
the boat"
w.