Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-11-21
A SEA ADVENTURE.
How q Fishing Boat Was Blown from the
bahamas to Florida

How q Fishing Boat Was Blown from the
Bahamas to Florida
Last Friday morning about 4 o'clock |
Keeper ]. NJ. Hopkins, of the Cape Mala-
bar house of refuge, near here, discov-
cred a small sloop riding at anchor about
a mile off shore. He signaled the boat,
and presently three persons-two men
and boy-emerged from the cabin and
entering dingey sculled slowly toward
the shore. A heavy surf was on and 1t
seemed impossible for the little boat to
live in the breakers. Half the time the
boat and its crew were wholly hidden
from sight, but it arose safely to the crest
of the following wave every time until
within a rod of the beach, when huge
breaker lifted it up and threw it forward
like rocket. So terrific was its speed
that the persons were unable to hold on
to the seats. All three were thrown into
the breakers. The oldest man managed
to grasp the stern of the boat as it shot
past him, and when the boat was thrown
high on the sands he rolled like ball
half way up the beach.
Anticipating the trouble Keeper Hop
kins had ran to the beach and waded
out into the surf. When the three were
thrown out of the boat Mr.. Hopkins
plunged into the breakers and caught
the little boy and succeeded in drawing
him safely to the shore. Then he ran
back into the water and rescued the
young man as the undertow seized him.
But for this prompt action the little boy
and the young man would have been
drowned.
The old man was still lying where the
waves had thrown him when Mr.. Hop
kins was able to give him attention. AL
though he said his rough-and-tumble on
the beach had not hurt him any, he was
trembling violently and unable to rise.
He was too weak to hold cup of coffee,
which was at once carried to him, but
after drinking it he revived enough to
tell that for four days they had been
without food. Then the poor old colored
man, with tears of joy running down his
wrinkled cheeks, poured out prayers of
thanksgiving to God for saving them
from starvation and drowning.
The young man and the little boy
walked to the house, but the old man
was so feeble that food was carried to
where he was lying on the sands. The
spark of life in him was very low, but in
an hour or two the old man was able to
walk to the house on the edge of the
bluff. Later on he wES able to give an
account of his experience, which was a
fearful one. He was what northerners
would call typical "Uncle Tom," tall
and venerable in appearance, simple and
religious in his conversation, humble
and polite in his actions. His age was
perhaps 60, and he was born in slavery
at st. Augustine, where he was owned
by Daniel Role. His own name is Simon
Role and he is the father of fourteen
children, all Of whom are living. The
little boy, aged about 8 years, who was
in the boat, is his youngest son. The
other was an adopted son, about 20 years
old, named James Evans. The following
is condensation of the old mans story
81 left my home in Nassau for triI
to Courtney Key after turtles, taking
along weeks provisions. We had jus
got off the Bahama banks when q calm
which lasted two days, settled down Oh
US, and we drifted into the Gulf Stream
which carried us along rapidly. Ou
anchor cable was only ten fathoms lont
and we tried to row back to the banks
but could not do it. The third day gal
struck us. I've lived all my life on tn
I,,,t 7 Dax-ar c,1rh a q
there was in that Gulf Stream. Pv
seen more there in the last week thai
my grandfather saw in all his life. TIL
waves rolled twice as high as our mast
We gave up all hope, but by the powe
Of God and a good understanding W
kept the boat from sinking. After tn
gale broke I headed the boat west-soutll
west, thinking I'd strike the coast some
where. I thought we were nearer 81
Augustine and knew our provision
would not last until we struck land, a
though from the day we were blown o1
the Bahama banks we limited our foo
to two crackers day and finally to on
day. But four days ago Ben ate th
last crumb. We had plenty of watel
though, and that kept us from gettin
so hungry. We sighted land last nigh
ate o'clock. I praised the good Lor
forletting me see the land once more.
"But I was afraid that perhaps W
would be killed by the Indians or will
beasts. I didn't sleep any last night fc
thinking about them. We sailed on III
til midnight, guided by two lights on til
shore. We anchored before the first on
It was the good Lord that ordered i
He brought us safe out of that wild, ra
sea and to the very door of the goc
keeper of your government house. E
has done everything in the world for u
We would have drowned and died {
starvation but for him. AS long as &c
let's me live I'll pray for him. Me
bourne (Fla.) News.
W.