The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-02-20
PRESERVED BY PROVIDING
AN OLD WOMAN'S TERRIBLE BX.
PERIENCE.
Driven Across the North Sea in an
Open Boat During
Hurricane.

LONDON, February lS.-Intelligence
has reached here this morning that
Elizabeth Monat, the woman who was
blown across the North Sea from the
Shetlands, in the Columbine fishing
smack, yesterday made a statement to
the admiralty Judge at st. Avanger,
Norway. She said she was sixty years
old, unmarried and poor. She em-
barked intending to visit n niece, who
lives at Berwick. Being i'll, she was
below, but heard two sailors running
about on deck and the boat lowered.
Although very sea-sick, she at once
got up and tried to come on deck, but
the ladder fell She was unable to
replace it, and heard the boat row off.
She was terribly alarmed, for the wind
was blowing hard and the sea was
high. She hoped the crew would re-
turn, and she attempted many times
to replace the ladder She could look
out OF the open hatchway. The craft
drove along under a double-reefed
mainsail, which was set. The only
food she had brought with her
was bottle of milk and two biscuits.
The provisions in the forecastle she
was unable to reach.
The first night was horrible one.
The vessel rolled heavily. She was in
darkness. The seas often washed
down the hatchway, keeping her
drenched. Every moment she ox-
pected to go to the bottom. When
morning broke no land or sail was to
be seen. The sea was still rough, but
as the Columbine had lived through
the night she began to hope. From
this time she never quite despaired,
but put her trust in God, and believed
He would send her rescue. During
the whole seven days and nights she
never slept, but at intervals stood up
and looked above the hatchway to see if
aid was in sight. She made her biscuits
last as long as possible, but for the last
four days was altogether without food.
She suffered more from wet and thirst
than from hunger, and she quenched
her thirst as far as she could by lick
ing the drops condensed on the win
dow. Gradually she became weak.
Her legs were so swelled she could
scarcely stand. She therefore lashed
herself close to the hatchway, fearing
she might roll away and be unable to
get back, so us to look out.
The Columbine grounded near Lcp-
so, but it was some hours before the
smack was noticed by any of the in
habitants. When first perceived it
was supposed the crew had abandoned
her or had been washed overheard.
Suddenly violent gust blew away
the sail and rigging, and then wom-
ans head was seen to appear above
the hatchway. There was no boat
near which could be launched, but a
young man volunteered to swim out
to her. He succeeded in getting ON
board, and found the woman almost
insensible and tied up against the lad
der-hooks. He passed rope ashore
and, fastening the woman to this, she
was got to land. She was at once car
ried to farmhouse, where she was
most kindly treated and nursed,
and has since been assisted
by Messrs. Bully and Spind-
Ter two English gentlemen. She
is still unwell, and complains
of pains in her chest and in her
swollen legs. The physician, attend
ing her considers that there is no
longer any fear, and that she will be
able to start on her homeward jour
ney in a few days. When the safety
of the woman was heard here a few
days ago, but nothing else, a navigator
at Lloyd's was heard to doubt it, and
to say that it was impossible in that
sea that such a smack would not
founder in the winter gales, but it
seems like the Providence the pious
old lady invoked nrnsnrvpd hnr-