The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-03-12
WRECK OF THE YDUN.
Michael Brennen's Experience on
Board the Little Vessel.

Michael Brennen's Experience on
Board the Little Vessel.
Michael Brennan, who has Just returned
from Aspinwall, gives a graphic account of
the wreck of the Ydun. Mr.. Brennan was
on the steamer, bound for Blue6elds, when
she ran upon the reef at Rancador. The
steamer was wrecked Feb. II, with
thirteen people on board. The vessel
was loaded with general merchandise
to the value of several thou
sand dollars and several hundred dollars
in gold was on board, shipped by Kaya
uaugh & Brennan to Bluefield.
The Ydun left Savannah Feb. ). and had
fine weather until in the Caribbean sea.
Taking advantage of the windward pas
sage to escape the gulf current, the Ydun
had to pass out near the reef. Capt. Stolz
had made the passage many times sue
cessfully, and he appreEended no trouble.
1t was apout O'clock at night when the
steamer struck. The people on board had
lust finished supper, and the night watch
had just been reused out of their day sleep to
go on duty. Mr.. Brennan and the captain
were conversing in the cabin. The wind
was high, and the farther the vessel sped
southwark the more fierce became the
winds and the more the vessel labored. The
weather brought the captain to the
deck, but it was only as precau-
ton, for ne apprehended no trouble.
Many were the times that he had steere d
clear of the destructive rock, and he thought
the Ydun was safe that night. But he was
unfortunate in that belief Before he
awoke the ponderous engines had driven
the vessel upon the rock. The vessel stopped
short, tottered, and fell on her side.
alt was a frightful scene," said Mr..
Brennan.
The wind howled and tore the masts and
sails, and the helpless vessel afforded scant
protection for the terror-stricken crew.
The winds increased, and it was all that the
crew could do to keep from being washed
overheard. They wanted to desert the ship
that night, but the captain would not per-
nit it, and there was a night of anxious
waiting. They chung to that part of the
ship which was out of water until daylight
the next morning. The moon was
hidden all night and not a
star shone. In the morning the
sterile rock Rancador lay before them. 1t
is sharp rock rising up out of the sea,
declining gradually until it ceases to be an
obstruction to vessels. The waves lash over
the top of the rock and sometimes hide it.
1t is not very prominent in the day aud it
cannot be seen at night. The compass is
their only guide to steer off the dangerous
point.
The. frightened crew chung to the ship,
advising with the captain as to the steps to
be taken. The situation was talked over
all night, for there was no sleep. The cap
tain held on to the gold, and the seamen
secured as much of their wardrobes as they
could take away, and the next morning the
vessel was deserted. The two lifeboats
were the means of getting away. The crew
put out for Old Providence, an island in
the Caribbean sea, four and half, miles
lorg, inhabited by 500 people. After two
days without food or anything to drink,
tossed in a high sea, tired and hungry, the
shipwrecked people reached the island and
landed.
Indians are the inhabitants of Old Provi-
dence. After a day spent on the island, a
schooner was chartered and the shipwrecked
crew put off for Aspinwall, the nearest
point where Norwegian consul could be
found. The crew arrived at Aspinwall
Feb. IS, and the consul engaged passage on
a steamer and the sailors were taken to
Norway.
Mr. Brennan took steamer and came to
New York, and thence to his home in Sa-
vannah. He says that in Old Providence
the natives were very much interested in
their story of the shipwreck, and while they
were very kind to the crew the natives
sought all the possible information as to
the whereabouts Of the steamer and what
her cargo consisted Of. Before this time they
have probably stripped her Of everything
movable. Rancador is but seventy-two
miles from the island in the Caribbean sea,
and the natives are great sailors. Isabel,
the islands harbor, is filled with fishing
schooners, and they are keen to plumber
shipwrecked vessels when there is the least
hope of getting anything Through
the trip Mr.. Brennan took the same
fare as the sailors. He staid with
them and accepted every rude convenience
that they had. He went on the trip for
pleasure, but he had little of it. NJthing
has since been heard of the Ydun, and she
will probably lie on the reef, warning other
seafaring men against the destructive rock.