The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-20
A SMALL BOAT SWAMPED
DURING THE WIND soUALL YEsTER.
~ DAY MORNING.
Three Gallant Rescuers Save Four
Mariners From watery Grave
Capt. Geo. T. Miller, Claude McNeely
and Harry Padget Do the Job.

An exciting incident occurred at Of
rather in the river opposite the foot Of
Exchange street just before dawn yester-
day. Four men figured in the episode and
they narrowly escaped drowning, getting
of luckily with good soaking and a frs
class chill bath, their rescuers being Capt.
Geo. T. Miller. Claude McNeely and Harry
Padget, on the harbor tug N. NJ. Jones.
The yawl or small boat OF the towboat
Sam L. Wood capsized or swamped and
put the four persons in jeopardy for half
an hour. The men included Capt. r. f.
Boyd, master OF the steamer Sam L. Wood,
Jas. Bernard, steward, and both of Pitts.
burg; also two Of the vessels deck crew,
names not given.
The steamer is q coal-towing craft on her
way up the river with full fleet OF empty
boats and barges, having went south from
Cairo two weeks ago with fleet OF coal
loaded barges her voyage southwark COM
mencing at Louisville on the 25th Of last
month or little more than three weeks
ago.
When the Wood reached this port a
couple OF hours before dawn, the supply
OF stores aboard needed repenishing and
the Captain, with the other three named,
rowed ashore in the small boat, landing
their frail craft at the foot of Jefferson
street. Here an hour or more was occu-
nlad in taking on some 900 pounds of
fresh grub, including $50 pounds OF meat,
400 pounds OF vegetables, in part consist
Ing OF several crates OF cabbage and bar
NaslQ ~ - IL.
pounds OF ice and other truck; also few
newspapers and other mental and paata-
bic supplies.
Il requires rather good sized oar pro-
PEELED craft 10 carry in safety four men
and the weight Of eight more, or altogether
full English ton OF solid and live goods,
but the jolly Captain and his tars boldly
pushed out into the current after his craft
was loaded. Capt. Boyd sat in the stern
sheets and steered, while the others pulled
away Justify at the side oars. The steamer
lay at the shore just above the mouth OF
Wolf River, and a goodly distance was TO
be traversed. The waves rolled high and
white caps chased each other and curled
over in close succession, driven toward
the eastern shore by n stiff aud clustering
northwest wind. Fair progress was made,
and in few minutes the boat reached the
coal float Of Brown d Jones, Just above
the big Memphis grain elevator, and along
side OF which the iron tug n. NJ. Jones
was snugly moored.
Capt. George T. Miller, who is local
managrr OF the harbor business Of Brown
* jones, was down al the river when Capt.
Boyd and his small boat hove ia sight.
Capt Miller had been aroused by the
whistling winds and had gone to the land-
ing to see II the floating property in which
hc felt 80 much interest was riding tho
waves in good shape. lie had been aboard
oi the iron tug Jones. had watched the
waves dash up against the Size OF the tug
throwing the spray over the guards on the
deck, and he was impressed with the idea
that small boats were safest II tied at tho
bank. When lac saw Capt. BOYD and his
load lac warned him oi the risk he was TAX
ing, and he SAID he feared II he steercd out
into the river far enough to pull up around
the tug the rough waves would swamp his
boat.
II think ] eau make il all right" said
.-Iapt Boyd, and he boldly siecred around
the stern OF the Jones.
II hope you will, but think Il
close shave for you," said Capt.
Miller, as he boarded the Jones
aud went at to the stern and then walked
along the guard 81 the bow M the yawl
made slow headway nearby in the gloomy
mist Of the morning. The heavily laden
boat went on hundred yards or more
above the Jones, when big wave dashed
up aud filled H. Soon the four men in
the boat were struggling in the water.
Two could not swim, but the others man
aged to catch on 10 the overturned boat,
aud all hands yelled at the top OF their
voices Tor help. Meantime barrels Of po-
iatoes, crates Of cabbage, cans OF milk, and
other refreshments went adrit.
Claude McNecly, one OF tie crew OF the
tug Jones, aud Harry Padgci. the fireman,
were aroused from their slumbers aud with
Capt. Miller were soon hustling TO got the
distressed men out Of the water. They did
not wait TO put on clothes, hut rushed TO
business in stockings and underwear.
Padget cast of the lines which held the
tug TO the dock, while McNeely handled
the boat and pushed her out right along
side the capsiled boat Capt Miller used
pike-pole and one struggling fellow,
chilled TO the bone, caught the end Of IL.
In due time be WIS hauled aboard, ~ WIS
the others. Then the tug was headed for
the steamer Wood, where the shipwrccked
mariners put on dry clothes aud were
warmed up. Then The tug was used TO
ferry the Captain aud his men back TO the
city wharf, where they laid Ia another lot
oi eatablcs On the way they picked up u
lot Of their lost plumber. Several barrels
li potatoes, some cabbage and the milk
-tn were rescued, but the ice had melted
and the fresh meat WIS irreyocabiy lost.
One Of the men remarked, ~ lac went
about looking Tor iloaung goods that he
thought the water was cold enough with
out fresh ice. II had chilled him through
and through. and lac did not want to see a
lump OF ice until August. The Captain
had n wad OF paper currency in his
pocket aud IL. Ike the rest, was well
soaked. but its value Was not impaired
alter the fire had dried IL out.
Big chances were taken 10y Captain
BOYD and his men, and IL was a closer
call than any OF the quartet have any
recollection OF The goods lost were
worth a couple Of hundred dollars, more
or less.
TnE well known strengthening properties
Of iron. combined with other tonics aud a
most perfect noryinc are found In Carriers