Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-09-12
LOST IN THE STORM.
The Fearful Experience Of q Boats
Crew from the Passaic.

Two Of the crew Of the monitor Passaic,
which left Annapolis for Baltimore Tuesday
and was compelled to return, were drowned.
Those drowned were David Moore, frst-class
fireman, residing on Maryland avenue, Annap-
oils, and Daniel Brown, residing on East street,
Annapolis.
The story of the disaster, ~ given by the
survivors, il As follows: The Passaic left An
napolis at 8:15 .. m. At Greenbury point,
two miles distant, the steam launch which ac-
companied her, containing Alfred Beckett, cox
swain, and David Moore, fireman, hoisted the
signal of distress. Engineer Busch, in the en-
CINE room OF the Passaic, heard two bells and
stopped promptly. The launch came along
side and was taken in tow as far as Sandy point,
when, owing to heavy seas, it was found neces-
sary to take the launch on deck to save her.
The Passaic came to anchor and the launch was
brought alongside, so as to hoist her to the
deck. 1t was found that the launch was too
heavy for the davits to hoist and Engineer
Busch came on deck and endeavored to sepa-
rate the engine and boiler from the hull of the
little steamer, it being impossible to hoist all
together. Lieut.. Commander W. W. Fitzpatrick,
who was in charge Of the Passaic, gave orders to
drop the launch astern, SO as to get in smooth
water, the seas at the time running over the
PASSAGES deck about - feet
Busch remained in the launch trying to sep
arate the engine and boiler from the hull. The
launch, after dropping astern, commenced to
plunge wildly on the waves, and had not made
more than four plunges before she went bow
under. Busch, who was at his post at the engine,
amidships, ran aft and jumped over the stern to
keep from going down with her. As soon as
Busch went over Lieut.. Com. Fitzpatrick gave
orders to throw life preservers, over which
Busch swan to. Selling one Of them, be
foated off with the tide and wind.
A second order was given to man the whale
boat Ensign Dresel was in charge, with
David Moore, Daniel Brown, Frederick Carr
and VIM. Scott as the crew. the two latter
being colored. They pulled for Busch, who
was about a mile off. as fast as they could In
the meantime the commanding officer had
given orders to weigh anchor and follow.
The wind and tide, however, prevented the
monitor from pursuing the whale boat, which
drifted down the bay.
The whale boat picked up Busch and five
minutes later was swamped, the water conf ing
In through plug-hole in the bottom. As she
was filling Moore exclaimed: my God, can't
swim" Busch, who was alongside, replied:
when she goes down hold on to the bow"
Moore did AZ he was told, but big wave swept
him Oh. Busch caught him as he was passing,
and catching hold of his wrist placed his hand
on the keel Of the boat, which was upturned.
He admonished him to cling to the boat while
he swan for the life-preservers which were
hoating a short distance from him, but before
he could secure them Moore had sunk.
During this perilOus situation Ensign Dresel
Kept exhorting the men to keep up bravely
Busch secured two life preservers, one of which
he kept around his body and held the other in
his hand to assist any one who might be washed
from the boat. After Moore went down the
boat drifted, with Ensign Dresel and Carr cling
Ing to her. Both were swept away a number
OF times, but managed to keep alongside, al
though they were considerably bruised Brown
and Scott foated on a raft constructed of oars
Scott was picked up by the steamer Berkshire
on her way to Baltimore, but Brown is believed
to have persisted.
Ensign Dresel said he thought he should
have to give up after drifting for three hours,
from Sandy point to Bay Ridge. two
masted schooner passed them. They hailed
her, and they do not know whether she heard
or not, but she passed. Shortly aftcrward a
boat was lowered from the Lille B. Schmidt,
a ree-masted schooner hailing from Philadel-
phia The boat was in charge of the first mate,
Archibald Thompson. who is said to be a thor
ough seaman. Busch was drifting about on a
life preserver, and was the first to be picked
up. He had been in the water nearly four
hours. Carr was then rescued, Ensign Dresel
being the last of the party of three to reach the
schooner. Mate Thompson finding he could
not get to his own vessel on account Of the
storm made for another three-masted schooner
and with difficulty reached her. This proved
to be the schooner Helen Harbruck, Capt F. NJ.
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