Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1890-08-05
DROWNED IN THE BAY
A Sudden Squall Capsizes a
Sailboat Containing
Three Men
They Hold On to the Bottom
of the Boat for Four
teen Hours
N. M. Stafford Finally Becomes
Exhausted and Drops
Into the Bay

A'diH VI age was ufoWHeu IN lne Day sun
day morning by the capsizing of sail
boat. Only few days since the HERALD
pointed out the dangers of sailing and TO
the fact that numbers go out who have
absolutely no knowledge of sailing a
boat. The sad drowning of Mr.. stafford
is deeply deplored and will no doubt
canse others to be more careful when
they risk their lives while sailing with
out an experienced sailor at the helm.
The following account of the sad acci-
dent was taken from tn Bulletin:
On Saturday afternoon a party of
three, all painters. namely: c. T.. Bur
rows, John Nelson and Norris VI. stat
ford. took the sail boat Alice. measur-
ing eighteen feet keel. five feet six inches
beam. two feet ten inches depth and being
without centerboard and went to
Cypress island. where the two former
have claims and where their families are
for the present stopping. (Siafford the
other one OF the party. native Of New
York. n years old. came to this country
with widowed mother. now in Clallam
county. last December and has II other
relatives ON the coastl The party had
% return TO bring a boy named Eddie
Jackson to this city where his parents
were preparing To go on a visit else
where. They touched on Ellen island
and left quantity of paint with
which they were TO have proceeded To
work upon one of Senator Canneld's :
new buildings AT that place, today. They
took on board there W. II. Roberts and
came into FairhaVen where Mr.. Roberts
and the boy were landed.
At 1:3O y. m. they left Fairhaven with a
favorable breeze. As they proceeded the
hay began To grow ehoppy aud occaSiOned
all three considerable uncasiness. The
three men were well acquainted with the
fact that tide riDs" We're frequent in the
portion .of the Bay through which they
were passing at 10 o'clock end they were
constantly on the look -out for AN over
whelming cats paw At about that
hour. when the three men were using
every energy To carry the sail through
the tr0ublous waters. and when Point
Francis was plainly disceruable through
th" moonlight night. a very yOluminous
eddy gave the boat Il whirl and she cap
sized.
They had observed the possible predic-
ament In which they were TO be placed
and all three got safely In the water and
secured holds apon the ropes and finally
upon the sides of the up-turncd boat.
They cNrrtcd themselves to great
degree in irving to get the boat
iniO proper position. hut. OF course.
without the remOte>t success. The
excitement occasioncd by the acci-
dent suon began to wear of.
and Nelson began To grow weak lie
was held for awhile by his comrades and
regainina his strength called at The top of
his voice Tor them 10 iIy aud work the
boat toward Point Francis. II was a try
ing effort Ia speak. because the waves
would dash against the sides OF the boat
with terrific force and then recede. cover
ing the men as they went and filling their
mouths through their nostrls. with the
unpleasant salt water. As IL to distract
the men the boat would wash toward the
land aud then would seem to move away
with great rapidity. This continued until
broad day. ght. when the waters became
placid. They moved very slowly in one
direction or the other after that and all
three began to show signs of weakness,
but knew that relaxation of muscle
meant that they must drop of into "a
watery grave. Along about : o'clock.
Stafford began to show signs of weakness
and Nelson. In the hope of giving him a
rest. would hold him np by the arms. This
continued for three hours. when Nelson
told him that he could not hold ont longc.
If he tried to assist him t>talfordl. With
this the young man. after muttering
something which to tell his mother lost
all ability to retain his hold and Ia all
appea RANGES lost his senses aud Slipped
into the water Both Of his mpanions
state that the shock which his fate gave
them made them realize that they were
likely to suffer the same. aud though
hOarse and chilled through they each told
the other OF the matters which one should
attend to and the words that should be
spoken TO their families. were il the for
tune Of one 10 be saved and not the other.
During all this time from their position
in the water they had not sighted a sail
or craft Of any kind. Gradually they
realized that they were being carried
toward Lummi. and in ordfr TO hasten
the lanuing they used all remaining
powers Of exerti0n TO paddle In with their
hands. At a few minutes before II o'clock
yesterday they were seen by some parties
at the brick yard near Lummi. These
men hastily brought boat and struck
out for the unfortunate craft. Burrows
saws that they reached him Just In time,
as he was almost ready To give M any
hope of recovery or reaching land.
The men were taken in the row boat, |
thoroughly benumbed and looking as
though few hours more of such torture I
would have cost them their reason.
Kind hearted people took the two men In 4
and restoratiyes were applied. while "A |
was sent for with which they 4
were brought TO this city. The men at /
once made arrangements to have their
wives brought over aud Mr.. Burrows
TO Mrs. Stoddard the sad fate
of her only son.
The friends of the mcn gathered about I
them aud listened to the details of the .
sad drowning and of their miraculous
escape.
A. there is litilc prospect Of ever re-
covering the body Of Mr. Studdard, no
effort will be made.
One result Of the numerous dwellings /
being constructed IN the city Is the large .
amount OF household furniture landed at .
the dock. The wharf has been COM
pleiely covered for the last two weeks .
with household furniture of all kinds,
10 persons who evidently have /