New-York tribune., 1885-02-22
SAILED ON UNLUCKY FRIDAY.
LOSS OF THE BARK MINNIE GREY.

SUBMERGED BY A HUGE wAvE-rERRIPIC STORM
IN THE GULF sTREAM-NINe MEN SAVED.
There came to the Sailors Home in Cherry-st.
yesterday nine wave-buffeted and tempest tossed
sailors. They were the officers and crew of the
abandoned bark. Minnie Grey, of Hull, England.
The Minnie Grey left Wilmington, n. c., on Friday
morning. January 80. bound for London with Q
cargo ofrOsin and turpentine. She fair weather
until Friday, February @. At noon of that day
the wind began to freshen and was blowing
gale from the west-southwest. The bark was IN
the.Gulf Stream in latitude $50 49,, longitude 64e
5s'. The wind increased to hurricane and the
that it was impossible to keep the vessel
In her course. Captain Moncreif. the master, &C.
cordingly put her under goosewinged lower maiu-
tOpsail only and lay to on the starbOard
tack The vessel labored heavily and
the hurricane blew with terrific violence.
To aid in keeping the head Of the vessel to tho
wind, canvas was lashed in the mizzen rigging.
At midnight Captain Moncrief and the bOatswatn
stepped inside the cabin to take few minufes'
rest The captain went into his staterOOm, saying;
Don't take off yOnr oilskns, boatswain. but be
ready to Jump again, for the storm is not over"
Just then there was a thunder of waters on deck.
great wave swept over the bark, completely
burying her. 1t carried away the bowsprit jbboom
and all the headgcar, smashed the bulwarks. stove
the forehouse to pieces. made kIndlingwood of tho
boats and rose so high above the vessel that II tore
the maintopsail from the bolt ropes as clean as IL
it had been cut with knife. 1t broke in the cabin
door and filled the cabin. and the captain rushed
from his state room he saw the boatswain shooting
toward the door, whirled on the top Of the reced-
ing wave. He seized him by one leg as he shot past
and stood him on his feet. As the vessel
rose on The next wave the water receded from the
cabin and the two men scrambled on deck.
scene of ruin and devastation met their eyes Tho
vessel had been swept from stem TO stern, and in
addition to the damage already stated the top the
water tank had beeu carried away and everything
movable swept from the deck. The bark's
decks, with the exception of the poop,
were below water. The men had been clus-
tered about the cabin when the great wave
came aboard and the shelter of the cabinhouse and
of the canvas In the mZzeu rigging had saved them
from beng swept overheard. They had hung on
for dear life to whatever they could get hold Of
They were however, half drowned by the torrent
of water in which they had been submerged.
Slowly the bark raised herself above the water
and as soon as her decks were clear
the captain ordered the men to the
pumps. They found that the vessel
was leaking badly. On looking about for the leak
Captain Moncrieff found that the azaret was full
of water. which poured In through openings in the
vessels run Her sternpost had been started and
was working with the rudder. By mailing on strips
of board and canvas and caking with bits of rope
the leak was partly stopped. 1t was now
Saturday morning and there was no
abatement of the fury of the wind
and waves. Without cessation the men worked
atthe pumps but in spite of their utmost exertions
thdyater kept gaming upon them. The leakage was
worse on the lee side and IL was evident that mn
less the bark got about on the port tack so as
to raise the port side higher ont OF VIC water shs
| must soon sink The provisions were all soaked
! with the salt water in the lazdret. and the top
having beenwashed from the water-taak on deck tho
water was made worthless There was cask If fresh
water III the hold. but the captain ma not dare 10
take off the hatch 10 get at II, so fierce was tho
| storm. That afternoon two OF The men were told
| off 10 get out some of the water-sOaked biscuits
and of the haf-salt water aud serve it To the
men az the pumps. An attempt WAS made TO mako
some coffee, but the galley stove had been broken
to pieces, and everything was wet, so the attempt
was Il dismal failure.
All saturday uignt the men worked for their lives
and when sunday morning came Captain Mon
and that is to get the bark on the port tack" Tho
hurricane was still blowing and the fore
mast, being supported only 6y the shronis, was
to go by the board every minute The main stay
sail was set. but with that SAIL alone II was imp0s-
sbe TO get the bark about on its port tact.
Some of you men go aot aud cut the gaskets
the fore t0psaIl. shouted the captain. Thn sail
ors gazed at the swaying mast aud not one OF them
moved Then Captain Moncrelf, taking knife in
his teeth climbed aloft, himself. and cut tho
gaskets. The men on deck hauled in
the halyards. sheets and braces the bark came
slowly up into the wind and then fell OF on the
port tack Then KNOCKING out the bulk head be-
tween the iazaret and the hold. the captain jetti-
soned part OF the cargo, carrying it out through
40 as bring the leaks more out of water.
On Sunday night the water in the
bold had been reduced TO two feet All night tho
men continued their work at the pumps. The nexo
day, the weather beng somewhat moderated, tho
captain called half of the men from the pumps and
taking of the matches, began To Jetisou the cargo.
The men were SO exhausted from want OF sleep aud
at the pumps.
As night came on, Captain M0ncrietf bethought
him that, as everything was wet on board, ne had
nothing to signal with if a ship should pass ia the
night. So he hung couple of bed-blankets on
line and let them dry IN the wind. hen he tore
them In strips. which he wound around pieces OF
wood. Saturating the cloth with paralhne oil
he waited anxiOusly for a sail. At 3 o'clock
in the morning he saw vessels lights, and light
ing his torches he and the mate waived them over
their heads. The ship, watch proved 10 be the
Hudson, from Antwerp for this port bore down on
the bark and some one on her deck called out that
she would lay by until morning. As soon as they
heard this the men left the pumps and 10 threats
or persuaslons could make them resume
they dropped on the wreck-strewn deck and fell
asleep. Captain Moucrief threw himself INTO Dis
bunk and feel asleep also. AT dayDrcak boat
came off from the hudson aud rescued all on board
the bark. Vixen the rescuers arrived Captain
Moncre ff.was unable TO rise from his bunk. After
crawled on his hands and knees TO the deck L he
Captain speaks in terms of praise of his mate. who.
though well asng III years. worked With the spirit
of q man OF twenty Live.