The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1889-09-25
TIED TO HER CHILDREN.
HEROIC CONDUCT OF A CAPTAINS
WIFE ON A SINKING BARK.
She Stood on Deck with Babe Lashed to
Each Arm, Awaiting the Final Plunge,
But Rescue Came When Hope Was
Gone.

New YORK, September 19.-Thrilling
tales of shipwreck and disaster, OF nc
roic battles for lives and vessels against
the bowling winds and furious waves,
of a woman's noble heroism and devo-
ton to her little ones and her daunt'
less skipper husband amid all the hor-
rors of shipwreck, were related yester-
day by an array of gallant sailors who
have valiantly fought the terrible storm
which has just swept our coast The
storm has now spent its fury, and the
advance guard of the storm-battered
feet made port yesterday with the first
accounts of the storm at sea. 1t num-
bered nineteen steamers, two ships, four
barks, one brig and one schooner.
A little band of shipwrecked mariners
was rescued by the steamship Iemas-
see, which got in from Charleston yes
terday after Il terrible struggle with the
storm. The rescued party consisted of
Capt. J. P. Bull of the Norwegian bark
AlSvlvia, his wife, a young woman OF
rare courage, their two little children,
a boy and girl, and thirteen sailors.
They were exposed for two days and
two nights to the fury of the elements,
every minute anticipating that wave
would sweep them from their water
logged craft. They were picked up just
as they had abandoned all hope of res
cue. Captain Bull told his story, while
bis brave little wife nursed his wounds
as he lay in a berth on the Yemassee.
On the morning of September 3. the
Alsylvia weighed anchor at Perth Am
boy and sailed for Copenhagen. For four
days fair.weather prevailed, but or the
afternoon of Saturday, September :.
dark threatening clouds obScured the
horizon, the barometer began to fall
very rapidly and the wind freshened.
AS the night came on 1t became dark
and cloudy. The barometer was still
falling, and every hour the wind, which
was from the East-Northeast, was ln-
creasing in violence. About 10 o'clock
Sunday night the storm had increased
to wild hurricane. The ship was now
in longitude 70 and latitude go Captain
Bull decided to heave to, hoping for
some abatement in the storm. a ter
rible sea was running and giant waves
were making clean sweep of the YES
sells. deck. Monday the storm contin-
ued.
The heavy battering which the vessel
received from the waves began to tell
and she began 10 leak. Pumps we're
started, but the water increased rapidly.
Tuesday morning the pump wells We're
sounded and disclosed nearly three feet
of water in the hold and it was fast in
creasing. Capt. Bull concluded to head
for shore, and all Tuesday, under bare
poles, he scudded before the hurri-
cane, blindiy making his way for land
in case he should have to abandon his
ship.
Amid the hurricanes wild roar his
vessel nearly waterlogged, the lights
of che Five-Fathom Bank Lightship
were dimly visible early Wednesday
morning.
The vessel now had over ten feet of
water in her hold. Her decks and cabins
were almost complete wreck, and every
one aboard was exhausted from cx-
posure. To Tighten the ship and to try
to keep her head up to the wind Capt.
Bull cut away the fore and main rig
ging. This did not help matters much.
The ships deck was almost flushed with
the water and the crew endured nntold
hardshipS.
That night the cabins were entirely
flooded and Mrs. Bull and her two little
children had to 60 up on the poop deck,
while The captain and his men bravely
tried to keep their vessel ahoat until as
sistance came to them.
After wild and weary night, during
which the seas constantly dashed over
the unforlunates, compelling Mrs. Bull
to lash child to each of her arms, while
they grimly faced their fate, Thursday
morning dawned and found the Alsylvia
ready to sink at any moment. Although
the wind and sea had moderated only a
triae, Captain Bull launched his two
boats and all hands left the vessel. They
set signals of distress and rowcd short
distance from their ship.
Hope at last came to them. Away IN
the distance steamer was sighted bear
ing down upon them. 1t proved TO be
the YcmaSSee. Both boats rowed toward
the steamer and after most perllouS
trip reached her in safety. Mrs. Bull
and her two children were SO weak from
hunger and exposure that they could
hardly speak when they got aboard the
YemaSSee.