St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1886-11-11
Ghe Ga1edunian.
For the CaledODian-
SHIPWRECKED.
A ST. Johnsbury Mans Experience at

friend and neighbOr, VIM. j. White,
had an experience at sea, the nara
ton of which we think would be in
teresting to the readers of the CaledO-
Man; particularly so. as Mr.. Whites
acquaintance in Northern Vermont is
extensive. In speaking to him OF
these events they seem to be as fresh
in his mind as anything of recent Oc-
currence.
Mr.. White set sail from New York
harbOr for New Orleans Oct. IL, 1881
at which place he expected to go into
business. The ship Minerva of Salem,
Mass, Capt. Nathaniel Putnam, was
loaded with various kinds of merchan-
disc, like lime, liquors, iron and dry
goods. Between sixty and seventy
persons were aboard. The voyage
was pleasant until Oct. 10, when near
the island of AbacO, the ship running
seven and One-half knots per hour, a
strong breeze sprung up. AT 5.l5 the
next morning the ship struck the rocks,
which proved to be the shoals from
the Western Little Isaac. COnster-
nation more or less prevailed now,
when the passengers and crew were
ordered to tighten ship. At this point
the report of the captain says in nau-
tical phrase, "The ship quickly drove
on in ~ feet of water-immediately let
90 anchOr-clewed up sails-gOt out
the bOats-carried out the stream an
Choir and cable on weather bOw-drOp-
ped it IL feet hove taut, carried
kedge and hawser out on starbOard
quarter, when ascertained the tide to
be ebbing."
The Doth still found all hands hard
at work discharging cargo and work
ing the pumps. About noon a sail
hove in sight from the eastward, which
proved to be the Spanish brig Leon,
Captain Bernardo de Soto. When
within two miles, Capt. Putnam sent
out boat requesting assistance. The
Spanish captain kindly agreed to lay
to until morning lit was now 4 O'Clock
p. n.y. but if he was needed before to
give signal, when he would take the
distressed ships crew and passengers
aboard his vessel.
At o'clock fresh breeze sprung
up, with a heavy sea, ship striking
hard, rudder unshipped, leak gaining,
both pumps at work, with crew and
passengers nearly exhausted with ia
tigue. About this time, when the car
go was about half discharged, the pas
sengers and crew requested the cap
tain to cease this work and commence
to start for the brig, which was &C
cOrdingly done. The signals agreed
upon were made, when at 9 O'Clock a.
m. the long and jolly boats took as
many passengers as was prudent to
carry.
All this time Capt. Putnam was
looking out and preparing for the
worst. He spared as many hands as
he could from the pumps about the
time the first quota started for the
brig, to build raft alongside the ship,
fearing if the leak increased the ship
would take fire from the lime. For "a
hours past there were strong breezes,
pleasant weather, rough sea, and the
ship lying hard aground. At $50 Il.
III. the Leon sent a small boat and took
off few passengers.
But another danger awaited the
ship-the very one Capt. Putnam had
passengers had all been removed, the
ship took fire The captains report
further says: "At $50 p. IN. the wind
increasing, the ship surging and strik
ing heavy, leak gaining on us fast
cut away the mast by the board. At
els the fire broke out in the hold fore
and aft in an instant, in consequence
of the water coming in contact with
the lime, which Immediately cOmmu-
nicated with the oil and liquors; and
in two minutes the ship was all in
flames fore and aft. All remaining on
board had barely time to escape to the
Icons long boat and the raft" The
crew lost their entire baggage, and the
passengers only saved little. Those
on the raft were soon rescued from
their perilous situation, and were
alongside of the Leon about 1870 p.
IN. where they were taken aboard all
safe and sound.
At 5 a. m. of the ODD, with all the
Minerals crew and passengers aboard
the Leon ''slipped cable, got under way
and proceeded for Havana" In the
meantime the Minerva had burned to
the waters edge. A very strange in
cident in this affair was, that while
the Minerva was in distress, with sig
nails to that effect flying from her mast
Capt. Luther, sailed close by taking
no notice of her whatever! 1t was
left to a small vessel from a semi bar
barrie nation to perform the deed of
humanity
While on the Spanish brig going to
Havana, Mr.. White says they were
put upon allowance, as the vessel was
small, and not supplied for so many
but that Capt. De Soto and his crew
treated them kindly, and to the best
that circumstances would admit. With
this kindness there came singular Sc
quel before these incidents ended. The
sequel which supplements Capt. De
SotO's kindness to the Minerals crew
finally CANA ahOuf in this wav. Tho