Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-02-01
CONFLICTING STORIES
Told by the CreV Of the Alfred Watts,
But at Best, Tales Of Suffering and Dam
ger

the ship Alfred Watts are received here.
The family of Captain johnson of the foun-
dered vessel, received, in letter from New
York, the story of the second mate of the ves-
sci Lizzie Perry which took two survivors off
the wreck. The second mate was in charge
of the boat that took off the men, and the
story of the two men to him was as follows
The ship was knocked down, the main
hatch washed off, and she filed. In trying
to secure tarpaulins over the hatch a number
of the men were carried overheard and sub
sequently all hands remaining were washed
of BY another heavy sea. 1t was at this time
that Capt. johnson was drowned while at
tempting to reach the floating boat. Four
men and boy passenger succeeded in get
ting onto a portion of one of the houses which
had been carried away, but the following day
the boy jumped into the sea while indeliriun
and later two men were drowned while at
Magnus and Linn were the only ones who
succeeded in getting back to the ship again.
There they lived on top of the gallant fore
castle, securing water from the tank for
ward and beef and pork as they foated up
from the forward hatch.
These men are now said to be on their
way to New York on the brig Mary Bartlett
from Cienfugos.
Another version still is that in recent is
sue of the London Telegraph which reports
the arrival of two rescued sailors at Ply
mouth, where they told the following story,
but answering to different names from what
have been heretofore reported. The Tele-
graphs report is as follows:
The Alfred Watts after terrible exper-
fences was thrown ON its beam end and all
on board were cast into the water, but they
managed to crawl on to the wreck. An hour
later terrific sea swept the whole of them
overheard. Nicholson, Anderson and three
others managed to get on one half of the
ships forecastle. The owners son seeing
men on the raft signalling, and being good
swimmer, with considerable difficulty swan
safely to them in face of a heavy sea. Those
on the detached portion saw that their only
chance was to get back to the wreck of the
ship which, the following morning, they saw
some distance off. Pieces of the forecastle
being broken off and small spars being picked
up, the poor fellows by this means attempted
to pull to the wreck.
A the end of SO hours, the owners son,
who had exhibited signs of delirium through
want of water, shouted that he saw land and
was going to walk to it. With that the poor
fellow jumped into the water and kept afioat
for some time. Suddenly he was seen to
him or to having been pulled down by a
shark, presumably the latter. After many
hours of wearisome pulling, the men got
within two hundred yards of the wreck and
an Irshman residing at Liverpool jumped
overheard with the line in his mouth with the
intention of swimming to it. When close to
the Alfred Watts, the man was seen to throw
up his arms and sink. The hopes of those on
the raft were shattered, and the Russian next
jumped into the water in despair, determined
to reach the ship or perish in the attempt
He was seized by sharks before he had gone
far, and fourth member of the survivors
was washed overheard, being too exhausted
to resist. The two Swedes, Anderson and
Nelson, made determined effort to save
themselves, and after pulling all night they
reached the water-logged ship, The next
morning all the masts were gone except the
lower mast, and the ship thus rid of her top
hamper, righted herself. Her deck was un-
der water but her forecaste was standing
well out of the sea. and the two men having
reached this, sank down exhausted.
On recovering they discovered to their JOY
that the two wooden tanks, which are fitted
in all American ships under the top gallant
forecastle head were full of fresh water, of
which they drank heartily. They subse
quenty found box of cod fish, on which
they assert, they lived for Is days. At the
expiration of that time, the cargo commenced
to float out of the vessel, and the barrels and
boxes of provisions, as they came from the
forehold, were retained by Nelson and An
derson for consumption. According to the
statement of the two men, they had been liv
ing in the manner described for thirty
davs before they were rescued by the Lizzie
Perry.
This report differs materially from other
accounts published. and the feeling is
gaining ground in this vicinity that something
is vet undiscovered and that the true stary
of the disaster has not yet been told
AT I,CGGERHEADR