Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1886-08-19

Frightful Death of Six Philadelphia
Ladies.

Ladies.
IMPRISONED BENEATH 4 CAPszED YACHT.
1t was a nournful scene when six Of the
dead and six of the living from the ill-fated
yacht Sarah Craig returned to Philadelphia
the md. This is the yacht reported capsized
off Sandy Hook. Mr. Alfred Potter gave
the following account Of the disaster:
We were bu, short distance off Sandy
Hook when We were struck hv the squalI.
The weather during the day had been de-
iightiu! and, as We neared the Hook. our
party was in the merrlest mood. When
about a mile from Sandy Hook Point the
sea suddenly became calm. The water was
so still and the craft so free from motion
that one OF the young ladies suggested tha,
supper be served on deck After the meal
had been finished and while the whole party
were joking and laughing on deck, rain be-
gan TO drop and small strip Of cloud was
seen to the westward. Il became suggestive
of squall aud the ladies, Mr. Bulkley, Mr.
Jordan, Mr.. Clark and myself went below
\ storm immediately came up and it began
TO thunder and tighten. Mr.. Bulsley and
took up positions on the companion
After the captain had lashed the wheel be
had the topsail lowered
A slight blow had jns, struck the vessel
when heard the captain shout. Mate,
lower the jb.' The men. assisted by Hall,
were ,ugg,ng OF the ropes, when almost
instantly squall bore down on the schooner.
The jlb was instantly filed. and a. the prov
was driven around the mainsails were set
square in front Of the roaring winds. She
gave a lurch as Bulkey and rushed on
deck. The next moment the schooner was
punging on her >,nrhohra side. with her
masts and sails resting on the water. which
was seethlng and boiling ~ clutched
the weather rail saw the water surge over
some Of the men. ciamhered on 10 the
upturned side of the fastened water barrel
and oIutched the guard rail. which was on,
Of water When the boat turned over the
water rushed down the compaptouwa,.
was olIngng 10 the rail when saw q hand
shoot up through the stream. Il was Jor-
dan. who was struggling TO make his way
up the companlon-way, and IN a few mo-
ments had pulled him up 70 my side. The
vessel overturned 50 suddenly tha; while the
water rushed rapidly into the cabin there
was a considerable amount Of compressed
air left, upon which Mr.. Clark and the
ladies existed as they rappe4 on The side Of
the yacht To which nine men ciung, utterly
unable TO render the least assistance toward
llbera,ing them from the submerged cabin.
We had not been clinging to the side long
before the rain turned 10 hail. The fury Of
the wind, ram and water was terrible a. Ne
ctouehrd IN an endeavor 10 escape the hall
stones which beat on us aud threatened to
blind or kill every man. This was horrible,
but II was nothing 70 The agony We suffered
IN listening to the knocking and faint cries
Of our friend, penued in the cabin. was
almost crszed by the rappirgs and cries.
When | pulled off my Goa, and shoes and
determined to dive into the cabin and at
tempt 10 rescue the imprisoned creatures.
But the captain would not allow either my
self, Buikley. Hall or Jordan 10 try 10 swim
into the cabin. Mr.. Potter" said he. IF
YOU should dare to Jump into the sea as it is
now YOU would be swept under instantly. II
It were possible 10 save the ladies BY diving
down the companion-way, the mate and my
self would rescue them" One Of our party
thought that means Of rescue could be
made by batiering in the side Of the boat.
We had no axe to break the hull, and, in
addition, il would have been futile, a. the
captain explained at the time. "Boys,' he
SAID, with great emotion, as be held fast TO
the rail, "all | own III thi, world is seven
elghths Of this vessel, but woald willingly
90 to my home without shirt TO my back,
if | thought could save the ladies' but il
would be useless 10 break the side in, even
II We could. as the air which they are now
breathing would be driven out instantly by
the surging water. The only hope 10 save
those in the cabin is TO be towed into
shallow water and there tear open the craft.
In half hour the squal had aba,ed and
shortly afterwards the arm Of one OF the
ladies' appeared through the iron-grated
window on the upturned side Of the cabin.
The hand was Just above the water and was
grasped BY Jordan Tie held it until the
weight grew heavier and the hand gradually
slipped from his grasp, leaving in his palm
a turquoise ring. Il was that of Miss
Merritt.
We were clinging to the boat, and were
exhausted VIXEN Pilot Boat No. 5 saw our
signal and sent yawi off to US. The RAP
pings could still be heard and We refused to
leave the hull of the Craig. The captain
then sent the mate off in the yawl to board
the tug George W Pride, which was in the
distance. When Ferguson returned ne told
US that the captain of the Pride had said
that he could not come TO our rescue, as he
had dredge worth $4,000 in tow and 20
cut loose from it would leave the dredge and
the hye souls aboard 10 the mercy of the
sea- The tug Cramp then hove in sight and
steered for US. She did everything possible
to right the yacht and tow it to shallow wa
tiers, but failed. The B. z. Haviland, an
other tug then appeared having been sig
nailed by the Pride. The captain told US
that he would have to relieve the boat of our
weight before he could attempt to get into
the cabin. A line was thrown over and
jumped into the water and caught it and
was hauled aboard the Haviland. The 9TH
er men followed except Jordan, Bulkley and
Hall. They remained until the last hope OF
saving the ladies had gone, when they con-
sented to allow the crew Of the Cramp TO
take them off.