The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-01-09
MARINE PERILS.
Gallant Rescue of a Shipwrecked
Crew by n Brave Captain.

The logged determination and disregard
for their own lives displayed by sailors when
others are in peril and there is any chance to
rescue them is graphically illustrated in the
story told by Captain Olsen, of the Norwe-
gian bark Onward, which has arrived at New
York, concerning the rescue of the crew OF
the schooner Estelle Day, off Cape Hatteras
The following is the story of the rescue as
told by Captain Olsen:
Il passed the Bermudas four days before
after which heavy gales from the southwest
continued without intermssion. On the
morning of the 22d, at day break, the wind
vas very heavy from the southwest finally
iEceasing to the Dimensions of a hurricane
with frightful squalls of wind and rain
When we discovered the wreck the sea was
running mountain high and we We're run
ming before the wind under two lower top
sails-the foretopsail reefed-all we dare
AIRY, one of them, as it was, being
blown to ribbons. Notwithstanding the
danger, determined to save the
untortunates. There We're plenty Of
volunteers, but sent for my mate, A Nord-
s;rom If you don't go said |, 4 will go
myself. 1t must be an old sailor to manage
The boat i'll this sea- He was ready to go,
and selected the carpenter, ii. Evans, and
Seaman A. RoSquist from among the Volun
teers, to go with him. The first boat we low
cred filled Immediately and had to be taken
up and emptied. The ship at the time had
her rail constantly under water. As the next
boat touched the water "A heavy squall struck
lis and we lost that boat. 1t was three hours
before we got the next boat and its crew AVA
from the bark. Before they left each n.tl
Lade us 'goodby, as neither they nor W.
expected them to come back. Many prayer
went after them and they were answered
for by ii o clock they were all safely on board
The rescued men We're nearly dead. When
got them ON deck they We're in a frightful
condition, the skin being peeled from their
legs, arms aud faces For eight days we had
10 nurse them like babies before they could
stand alone. i have been fourteen years at sea-
but have never yet seen such frightful wealth
err or such enormous waves. When the men
were discovered three of them were lying
Gown, unable to move, while their compare
ions could only stagger to their feet. way
heir arms wildly for a moment, and then
sink down again. The sea was full of enor-
NOUS sharks, twelve to fourteen feet long,
and 1t was undoubtedly one of them that
pulled Mate Curley down while he was call
.ng' for help after falling through the planks
one hour before his death, being almost
crazed from hunger and thirst, he called
upon his companions to draw
lots, declaring that one Of them
must die SO that the others might have food
and drink. That they were not troubled by
frost Is accounted for by the fact that they
were IN the middle of the Gulf Stream and
the waves breaking over them were warm. -
The schooner is owned in Newcastle, Del
and Is total loss, there being no insurance
on her. Captain Williams, who is from Del
aware bay, lost his chronometer, gold watch
ana cham and all his clothing The crew,
TWO OF whom were negroes, also lost every
thing they had.