Morning journal and courier., 1886-03-01
ON A LIFE RAFT.

Seven Men Hoard Life Raft at the
 Wreck of the Steamer Idlewild and
 Drift out to Sea-ProbabIy Frozen to
 Death at High Tide.
 Yesterday morning the Bridgeport steamer Idlewild, which went ashore on Shippan Point, Stamford, early Friday morning, as reported in our telegraphic columns Satur- day, was foated by the Haggerty, one of Haggerty's Wrecking company's boats, of New York, and lowed to Wilson's Point, near Stamford, her freight having first been removed When she went on to the rocks it was during very high tide, so that the tide left her on dry ground with large hole in her bottom, which was patched up before she was pulled off. The Idlewild left New York at o'clock on Thursday afternoon with about eighteen passengers on board and heavily laden with freight. She put in at Cold Spring harbor, neal Oyster Bay, L. l., as the weather outside was very rough. She staid there until about o'clock Friday morning, when she put out again, as the weather was clear, but before she fairly got into the Sound again a snow squan came up and she was obliged to change her course and come up to the northeast With her nose Tn the gale, and about o'clock she struck the rocks, and after two slight shocks she settled down and the water began to pour into her through 8 hole in her bottom. The water, however, as quickly receded, as the tide was ebbing fast. When the boat struck the passengers, three of whom were ladies, were trying to get some sleep on the sofas and chairs in the cabin, and an instant later all was excitement, the passengers thought the steamer was sinking They demanded to be taken ashore and boat was lowered, the female passen- gers getting into it, but the boat was half filled with water and as the water receded from the steamer, leaving it high and dry, they became convinced that the best place on the steamer and so they were hauled up again at their request, they pre- ferring to remain rather than risk trip ashore in the small boat. While the tide was changing there was an abatement of the storm for awhile, and a chance of getting ashore was risked by Aiming Smith, who, with two or three deck hands, got in one of the steamers boats and succeeded in rowing themselves to land. Then Mr. Smith walked to the depot and took a train for New York.
 After this life raft was lowered into which got Judson Abbott, who keeps fish market on Warren street, Bridgeport; Ernest Weston, the assistant clerk of the Idlewild; fireman on the boat named Long, Fred Warren, of Jersey City, and three men sup posed 10 De New YOrk Qrumnefs The cap tain told them to remain on the steamer, but they did not heed his advice and the fsher- man cast off the lines, setting the craft adrift. Those on board shouted for help, but no aid could be given them their boat had drifted to leeward. It was so dark those on the steamer could not see them, but their shouts told them that they were in distress and that one oar had broken. Their cries became fainter, and although the officers hailed them several timee more, no further answers were heard from them. The wind was blowing off shore, and they no doubt drifted into the Sound, and since then nothing has been heard from the miss ing boat, although..a boat was out searching for the missing one all day yesterday and will go out again to day to continue the search. All stations on Long Island have also been telegraphed to. The wind was blowing gale off shore, and if the life raft was swamped or the occupants frozen, they would be carried in short time to the Long Island shore and might be there for several days without being heard from. It is not impossible by any means that the missing men may turn up somewhere on Long Island.
 The passengers stayed on the steamer all day Friday, dining on some meat and tea they found amongst the cargo, and early Saturday morning they were put ashore in small boats.