The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-09-28
rm of the East river passes to the right and

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land and water could supply, we babe our
Kind host and hostess adeu, and were driven
over 10 our wharf, where we found our
steamer under full head ~ steam waiting
our coming. We were all soon on board
and letting 70 our m0Orings. ran down the
beautiful river. Passing in sight of Judge
G.'s, we waved them farewell in response
10 their signals 20 us.
MoBJACg Ray.
The waves wcrer crested with white caps
which, In the language Of Hon. :. D., zap
pcared To- be Omin0us Of sign. Nor were
we disappointed, for on weathering the
! New Point light and entering the M0biack
bay the wind ireshened into strong gale
| from the northeast, which, acting against a
strong flood tide, made a chop sea- which
made MS all very uncomfortable, though
| only one fell a victim and had TO east up
his accounts with Neptune; but even he re-
covered during the day, and there was moth
/ ing 10 mar our perfect serenity. Making the
/ Noli Trap light, we ran for Tangier Island
sound and "1he Horse HammOcks." where
we spoke 20 one OF the state cutters, and
ascert aimed that her captain had gone To
Crshed. Md, which we could see, about
eight miles distant, on our starbOard bow.
We then ran 10 POcOmoke Sound TO inspect
another cutter belonging to the state, but
not sighting her, concluded that she was on
duty somewhere else, and upon conference
IL was decided 10 run 10 Old Point for the
night. It was now about 1880 i. VI. We'd
nesday. 50 that our Prov was turned down
the Chesapeake bay, and we were soon
bounding along under a full head of steam
for Fortress Monroe.
CAPTAIN FOSTERS YARN.
We were all gathered on the after deck
when the Governor said: captain Foster,
~ e 4 ii
told was presented 10 YOU by the merchants
of New \ Ork for your gallantry in saving
human lives" our old friend, the Captain.
hemmed and hawed for moment or two.
took from q case a massive gold medal
handsomely embossed ana engraved as fol-
lows:
presented by the merchants aud citizens
of New \ Ork % Captain seth Foster, Of the
ship Currituck. for his humane and gallant
conduct in saving the lives of a number of
HE fellow beings exposed to destruction on
the ocean, 1851"
on the diverse side appear two ships
standing by wreck. 4 life boat from one
of the ships IS approaching tn wrecked
ship.
After the medal had been duly examined
and admired by MS all the noble old Roman
turned his quid and spun his yarn rs follows:
ut was about tine lst of April in the year
- that sailed from Antwerp i'm command
Of the merchandising 'Currituck.' We had
26O passengers, and a cargo OF general mer-
chaudise. bound for New \ Ork. We crossed
the North sea, ran down the English chan
mel and passed out on the Atlantic. We
had moderately good weather till about the
10Th. though my barometer indicated stormy
weather for several DAYS previous TO that
date then we encountered disastrous and
heavy gale from the Northwest, but
came out with material damage, and in
latitude 46 degrees 80 minutes north. and
longitude - degrees, west on the 18th day of
April, | fell i'm with the ship Black
Hawk Captain Banker. completely dis
mantled and bad wreck, with nine hun
drcd passengers on board, from Liverpool
bound 10 New York. | came up with her
late on the afternoon Of the 18th about sum
down, and laid 10y her til next morning.
when with my boats and the boats Of the
ship, We got of two hundred and fifty pas
sengers on that day. Then it came on 10
blow n gale Of wind, when we
got separated, but } kept the run
Of her as we'll as could ~
dead reckoning. The sun being 0bscured
could take no observations. ON the third
day after / made her out directly afcad.
and sent my chief mate ON board, with a
note 90 the captain, saying. thai with my
passengers | had all thai the law wcU!A
allow me 10 carry. and with TIE $50 40
ditional did not know what caIid -
with any more Of them, as thero were D..
other vessels standing by at this time. 7
captain replied that had done all that
man could do. but if I LEFT him in that situa-
ton some of them would perish
/ was supplied with water and provisions
for my passengers for ninety cay. aud
while was taking of passC uc,r rs the other
two ships were taking water and provisions
ont Of the wreck. preparatory 90 taking
passengers. which they finally did
I'm reply % his message, VIXEN the cap
tain said, unless ! stand by some one
would perish" | sent him word ] would
STAY Pos him until the last man was Of and
take the risk of my people starving.
! think took of about one hundred and
seyenty-fye more passengers, and in addi-
ton took the captain and twenty-Onc OF
his crew.
From the time left the ship it was twen-
ty-fyc days before | got TO New York and
idring all that time all | could give these
people was one sea biscuit and about gil
and half of water per diem. | had great
fear Of some disease breaking out among
my passengers. as lis frequently the case in
crowded chips. such as ships fever, and I'm
my Judgment the only reason why il did not
break out was that they were 50 reduced
they didn't have blood enough left 10 raise
the fever.
Among So many passengers there were
quite a number Of nursing children. and a.
the mothers could not nurse them ! lost
thirty-siX children, but only one adult. II
was a hard matter 10 provide shelter of any
kind for so many. and one OF the eXpedicnts
resOrted to was TO knock the heads out Of
several large water casks which had, and
let the poor wretches take up their quarters
in them.
When got 10 New York the merchants
and citizens made up purse Of 500 and
gave ii 10 me with this medal. took the
500 and bought an interest in my ship, the
-Carrituck,' which was thereby lost TO me
and my heirs forever; and it happened in
this way. ] was on my way down here 10
Cape Henry for a cargo Of tobacco, when ]
was Oycrhauled by the nited states block |
aiding steamer quaker City" although J |
knew nothing Of the establishment Of the
blockade, l was carried into Hampton |
Roads. where they put me ashore, and took |
my ship 10 the North and sold her. Part of |
the money may have gotten into the United |
states treasury, but / guess the rascals stole |
the most Of it,
our gallant old Captain entertained Us |
with yarns Of sea-iaring life and adyen- |
lures till long after the sun mad sunk below |
the horizon, when the ireshing wind and |
heavy sea called him TO some duty requir |
Ing his personal supervision forward.
Then we chatted pleasantly on various
topics. At last a silence fell, and we SAT
watching the increasing darkness fall, with |
ever and anon a twinkling light Of some
..tow," or the more garish ilash-light from
some lighthouse.
The sea was now running very heavy. so |
that when we preached 10 windward II
swirbing wave would break upon our |
quarter, and with lurch TO starbOard the |
water ran down through our lee scuppers. |
We all enjoyed this turmoil and commotion |
of the waters, each succeeding wave seem
ingly bent upon 0utdoing lis immediate |
in the effort TO board and swamp |
US "nolus bolus,' as old Zach. Taylor said |
al Monterey.
After some hours spent very pleasantly IN |
this way. we arrived at old Point, landing |
safely at the llygeia at 1910 by the clock:
We were kindly assigned 20 most dellgnilul |
quarters on the first floor not far remote from |
the ballroom, whence came the sweet mei- |
linnous strains of the flute, violin, bassoon;
and We were gently luiled 10 sleep by the |
concord of sweet sounds.
NEWPORT NEWS