Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-14
TAKEN FROM A WRECK.
TERRIBLE EXPERITN"nO OF a
SHlPWRECKED ttts+W.

Crawford on The Carolina Coast The
Vessel Almost Torn in Pieces by
Wind and Waves-Her Crew Exists
Five Days on Flour aud salt Water.
The wife and daughter of Capt. j. H.
Tilton, of the wrecked schooner Samuel
Fl. Crawford, who are now in this city,
received letters yesterday announcing
the safe arrival In New York OF Capt Til
ton and his crew. The MORNING NEWS
on Sunday contained the news that the
vessel had been wrecked and that her
crew had been picked up by the steam
ship Orinoco.
The Samuel Fl. Crawford sailed from Sa-
vannsh Oh Nov. 90 bound to Baltimore
with cargo of pine lumber, On Dec. 3,
when about ten miles southwest OF Cur
rituck light, a neavy gale from the north
east struck the little vessel, which was
laden almost 10 her guuwales with a
heavy deckload. Soon the snow came
down so thick that nothing could be seen,
CAUGHT IN STORM.
At o'clock in the afternoon the wind
hauled to the north-north west. and as
night closed in il increased in Violen ce.
The crew reeted the spanker and close
reefed all the other sails, ana tor some
time the brave little vessel plowed on,
the seas making a clean breach over her
She steered eastward, but the wind soon
increased to hurricane and toe schooner
was hove to. There was no water in the
hold. but 1t blew great guns during the
night.
At four O'Clock On the morning OF Dec.
the wind suddenly died out. This was
tle centre of the storm that was soon to
rend the schooner from stem to stern.
The seas were running in all directions
and pouring over the schooner in noun
famous pillows, threatening each mo-
ment TO engulf her. The vessel was leak
ing at five O'Clock IN the morning faster
than the men could clear her.
SOUNDING BEFORE THE GALE.
The wind sprang up again and blew
with cyclonic fury from the southeast.
Captain Hilton kept the schooner of, but
after she had plunged on for ten miles the
wind again died out. They had passed
through the storm. The vessel was again
headed eastward, and soon the breeze
ireshened again, blowing a moderate
gale from the north-borthwest. The
water was constantly gaining on the
pumps.
At o O'Clock on the morning of Dec 8
the Crawford was scuddIng before a bur-
rIcane. The deckload, consisting of pine
planks and huge beams, some of them
fully forty feet long, was washed over
board. Tie fore and aft rigging also
went. A few of the beams renamed and
they worked fearful havoc with the
schoOnefs interior. There was heavy
cross sea running, and the vessel was
tossed like feather on the huge pillows.
the beams tearing nugh rents in her deck
ard literally smashing the cabin to splin-
tiers.
The crew were exhausted, but managed
to gain the poop deck. A small stove that
had been tossed out OF the cabin was Sc
cured and lashed to the deck. Some salt
pork and part OF barrel of -four were also
rescued. The rest of the provisions were
washed overheard. The Captain, who bad
gone into his cabin, bad secured his gold
watch and some Of bis effects before the
shock came. The vessel was full of water
and breaking up piecemeal.
The men huddled together on the little
poop deck watched the work of destruc-
ton going on beneath them. Sometimes
the huge beams, the remnant of the deck
load, would rise almost on end and then
descend on the deck with a thwack that
made the schooner tremble in every tim
Der. The steward managed to MAKE
dough by mixing salt water with flour,
and, fire having been kindled in the
stove, sort Of hard cake was cooked on
tin placed over a griddle hole. Two of
these cakes were served out to each man
per day, and a little fresh water was
given to wash it down.
ANXIOUS DAYS OF WAITING.
Slowly the days crept on, and no wei.
come sail glsddened the eyes of the anx-
ious watchers on the poop deck. The
schooner had rolled over nearly on her
starboaTd beam ends, and the crew were
in constant danger of being washed over
board. But just as day was breaking on
Dec. 10 a distant light was seen, and the
Samuel Ii. Crawford burned her last fash
light to signal the vessel, which proved
TO be the Orinoco, bound for New York
from the WIndward Islands. OF the pro.
visions there were left half barrel OF
-four and five pounds of pork. Ten gal.
Ions of the water was left in the tank.
THE RESCUED MEN.
Besides Capt. Tilton, the rescued men
are: Howell &. TilIon, first mate; Joseph
W. Knight, of Philadelphia, steward
Patrick sullivan and Michael McKeown,
! of Ireland; James Allen, of Liverpool, and
! Frank Anderson, Of Providence. K. L., all
seamen. They were not sorry 10 leave the
/ hulk of the Crawford. Warm clothing
and good food somewhat restored them.
/ but it will be some time before they are
| entirely recovered from the effects OF the
| voyage.
Tue Orinoco took the schooner in tow,
! but after an hours pulling the hawser
| parted and Second Officer karsseus found
| tina. they were pulling the schooner apart
a little abafJ the mainmast. She was &C.
| cordingly abandoned at noon on Dec. IL,
I latitude 80 deg Al min. north and II deg.
/ 10 min. west. To prevent her proving
dangerous to mariners she was set on
fire.
Capt. Tilton is now in Baltimore on his
way home.