New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-11-28
AT THE MERCY or WIND AND WAVE.
ROUGH EXPERIENCE OF A BRIG.
DIsMAsTED BY THE GALE on MONDAY AND DRIFT
ING FOR THREE DAYS.

DIsMAsTED BY THE GALE on MONDAY AND DRIFT
ING FOR THREE DAYS.
The brig Matte B. Russell, Captain LARA
bee which dsmasted by the heavy gale last Mon
day night and for three days drfted the mercy OF
wind and wave and which last rescued on Thurs
day night by the wreckng steamer I. j. Merritt is
lying at the pier Of the Merritt Coast Wrecking
Company of Stapleton. She loaded heavily with
coal. She had come from Philadelphia and WAS home
ward bound for Portland Me- Her cargo was consigned
to Pain Co.. OF Portland J. s. Winslow Co., of the
same city, her owners She was of about 400 tons
burden. The gale struck her on Monday morning
when about thirty miles southeast OF the Highlands
The wind blew terribly and the rolled as II In a
frenzy Seeing how impossible it to make progress
against violent gale, she laid TO under her
foretopsal, mainstaysail foretopmast-staysail and
stormsa. Throughout the day the increased In
violence, the breaking heavily the rails and
the wind tearing the sails at every gust When night
the wind grew more furious and the
brig tossed about until her almost lost courage
About p. M. the foretopmast with loud crash went
overheard carrying with 1t all the sail aOft and tearing
the foremost almost into shreds. few minutes later
the iDaintopmast followed Spars rigging and sails all
went with 1t. The tOpgalautmast fell upon the deck
and rolled about the vessel lurched until it
thought best to cut away part OF the sail to 1t
board.
In the morning signals of distress were SET It was
seen that the main tanks containing nearly all the
water board IN great danger of being carried
away IN order 70 lessen this PERIL the mead OF one
burst open and the water let out The weather
bitterly cold. and the men took their drencGing we'll
Had 1t occurred in January" said Captain Larrtbee.
"w should have per~hcd with cold if bad managed
to escape drowning" During the whole of the
day signals OF distress flying. but though several
steamers passed at distance, attempt at
made. The people on the shore cOud do nOing The
day and night were spent I'm Keeping the brig anOat.
She al and tight, but her cargo kept her low
H. the wateI and the waves swept over her neTCCssy.
Two mel were kept at the pumps day and night Tue
vessel lad dftCd In toward shore and Just of Long
Branch Here on Thursday morning, the tugbOat c. II.
Raymond made an attempt To rcscue her. hawscr
put and male last and the tug steamed OF, but
II had not beet under headway more than ten minutes
before To, rope parted. Another promptly passed
ont. II fastened and the effort renewed But
The wind blew Wih such terOclty ANA the
high that the second rOpe shared the fate
oil Tho first. There no more haWscrs board tn
tug Al she coUl do was to offer 70 take the OF
the disabled brig board. But they determined
to stay by their vessel The Raymond then steamed
away, promising To send assistance.
Tie peril now threat ming the brig was going
ertouul, this was imminent. She had dTiftCd well in
toward the shore, and every minute brought her
to tHc shoals Just of tue Branch. The oug
down ana every thing made ready abandon the vessel
shOud she strike. But before ths misfortune bcfc her
III. merritt coastwrcckn4 stcaIcr into sight She
had been warned by telegraph. 2crt 10y Lc-Saving sta
tlu No. g. rhc made fast 10 the blg aud brought her
safely into The bay. reaching Stapetou about u.
yesterday. Ihr cargo had shifted badly that the
hris grounded alongside Of TIE railroad cOmpanys
pier It's thought that her cargo viii be- uulodcd here