Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-10-27
CAUGHT III \ CYCLONE.
CAPTAIN sohu W.. Governs Terrible
Experience.
Now Yofk Timea.l

After n terrible experience and 4 mlracu.
lous cscare Captain John W. Covert, one OF
the two survivors Of the wrecked American
bark Silas Fish. Of New York, returned yes
ferlav 10 HE home, 5fj4 LAFAYETTE n
Br0okiyu. In September, 1e,l, The vessel
sailed from Boston. where she shipped Der
crew. mostly foreigners, 20 Para, Turks
Island, and other ports In that vicinity. A.
East Harb0r. Turk, Island. the bark loaded
salt consigned lo Woodruff Is Co.. NeW
York, and ltft for this port on August 3l,t
last.
AtG o'clock the next evening an attempt
wa, made 20 land af Grand Turk Pilot
Robert Clark. together with j. y. Firth, Of
Firth & Murphy, Turks Island; his 'on
Marshall, twcnty.one years OLD, ahd Mt.
Kelly, also u TURKS Island. There was too
much sea 10 land the boat, and they returned
10 The bark. The wind increased very
rapidly and the barometer continued to foll.
"It appears % me- said cdptsin Covert
Yesterday, ''tbat after thi, We got toto the
centre OF q terrible cyclone. The weather
some hours after midnight got the best OF
The bark. sail after sail was blown away
until not a piece % canvas 81 any import
ance wa. loft. aud the bark became unmau-
agcable. We were then ah0ut twenty-five
mites from sand Cav-thc ncaroSt land
and IN q .0uihWcslcrly direction FROM Grand
Turk"
About $50 o'clock in the morning ~ Au-
gust ~ the bark fllcl and went down with
but a lew minutes notice 20 her captain,
tine three passengers, and her crew ~ ten.
As she was filling, the Captain said. the
water gushing iu the hold forced TIE ar
mo 10 the deck plauk-, which started,
making noises similar 90 loud explosions.
C,piain Covert went twenty-five OF thirty
feet be thinks under tine water, and when
De cam 20 the surflce managed b. get bold
az some piccos of wood. which kept him
a1oat. There were downing mel ali around
him. R1Hsrt McCu'Ium, o seaman Of N""
York, the son 0i q rigger. and unmarried.
/ wa. clingiug o. q spl-che~t. "llr appeared
de~ath.struck.' said the Captain. "ond soon
went down With The others. Daniel Brown,
/ an Englishman ] shipped at Boston, was also
lost. some hours after the bark went down
/ Clinton Paul. % French seaman, loated pest
me on q portion ~ the wreekage. J called
o. him o. Join me on the top II the cabin on
which was supported. and W were ON
tbi. Trail concern for nearly three days.
Tho air here was cold, and the two surYl-
vor, les.ened their suffering, from me cold
hv putting their legs through the hatchwey
i'm fhe cabin roof INTO the water, while then
bodies were Kept warm bv The friendly waves
continually washing over them. Tuesday
morning they were washed ashore 81 Goods
Uil. when well.uigh dead from exposure,
hunger, and thirst. They were cared for h'
q colored m,n Of The plsce. Then they wen
10 East Harbor. where CAPTAIN Covert wa.
hid up for "a month from the effects OF Dos
terrible adventure.
Mrs. Covert and family heard Of the ship.
wreck and the survival of some Of the ere"
two weeks before they knew The CAPTAIN h7'
cscappd. The bark WIS owned by Silas Fish
brother ~ James u. Fish. Of New York. anG
others. Her TONNAGE was 6G7. She wa
worth $4,000 or $1,000, and was not iu.
sured.