The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-05-03
Rudolph Skanski Cast Away
on an Island in New
York Bay.
FOUR DAYS ON ARAW FISH DIET.
The Lights Of His Own Home We're
in Sight BY Night, But Nobody
Came to Rescue Him.

man, lnyoiuntarily camped out four days
and nights on Oyster Island, and not
understanding that Greenville was but two
miles distant, he did not have one morsel
Of food except raw fish.
On Tuesday morning last, Skanskf
thought he would take spin around the
bay in his new yacht, and hoIsting his sail
he steered for Staten Island, where he ar
rived at twelve O'Clock. He fastened his
yacht to the pier at st. George and started
on tour over the island. He 70 AIMED
about until six o'clo ok, when he returned
10 his yacht and steered for home.
Everything went we'll until he neared
Oyster Island, when the wind started up
fresh and drove his boat upon the sharp
rocks. The craft soon spranR leak and
Skanski worked with might and main to
keep her from sinking.
lis efforts We're all in vain, however,
and the trim little yacht began to draw
water and at last sank. Nothing was
aboard Of her except keg of water
which bkanski had put on her that morn
Ing. Skanski secured the keg and started
out to make the best OF the fix into which
he had gotten himself
THE DEs0LATE ISLAND.
The island which measures at low tide
about one hundred by seventy five feet,
was almost entirely submerged, for 1t WINS
high tide at the time he was forced TO
take It as his place of abode. He found q
dry spot and sat down. He soon began
to grow hungry and he had to satisfy his
appetite with draught OF water.
It had by this time grown dark and
Skanski gave up all hope of getting off
the island thai night. He could see the
lights in his home, the old Ganter home
stead on the Greenyille shore Of the bay.
FL, His wife little thought that
hour in the need Of help, although
but two miles away. de had, however.
gone out and stayed away several days
before, without telling her where he was
going, or when he would be back Con-
sequently she did not worry oyer his
absence. and at ten o'clock put the two
children to bed, and turned out the lights.
Shanski, when he saw the lights turned
cnt, resigned himself to fate, and laying
down soon went to sleep, expecting that
at least by the morrow he would be at
home
He wore the usual fisherman's costume
"A navy blue flannel shirt and coarse.
thick. heavy trousers. Although 1t was
warm on share, y cold breeze was blowing
over the island, and Shanski awoKe shiv-
ering several times during the night.
Dawn came at last, and at five O'Clock
Sh0askd arose and began seriously to con-
himself until rescue arrived. He
took drink of water, hoping thereby
TO be able to satisfy his inner man. The
water WINS very we'll in its way, bur 1t was
not food, and ShansKi was driven to un-
usual expedienfs Finding a piece of
twine IN hts pocket, he utilized 1t as a
fish line, making the hook out of pin.
He caught few killies with his hat, and
using them for bait he soon landed few
fish, which he ate raw.
THE FLAG or DISTRESS.
When he had finished his meal he took
Off his flannel shirt, end. catching a piece
Of driftwood, be fastened the shirt TO it
and propped 1t up with few stones This
made an excellent signal, and would prob
ably have been effective IL it had been
stuck up somewhere among the South Sea
Islands, but common shirt stuck up on
Oyster Island was LOO much of an every
day thing for the fishermen along the
shore, and no one took any notice of the
improvised signal Numerous craft
passed The island and no one seemed to
realize that here was castaway.
Wednesday night came and he was
still on the island. Thursday passed and
no one had come to his relief He was
nearly crazed by hunger and exposure.
Marvellous as it was, the conviction was
forced upon him that his case was despe-
rate.
RESCUE.
On Friday afternoon Frank Grady, q
young man living on Avenue e, took a
spin about the bay, and seeing the signal,
decided to investigate. He steered for
the island, and throwing out his anchor,
he clambered over the rocks TO where
Skanski was, and after listening to the
story as told by him, thought he must be
insane, and started for his poat, intend
ing to sail back home
Grady then happened to think that he
had not seen any boat about the island,
and thinking that there might be some
truth in Skanski's story. he took him
aboard and In few minutes was once
more at the old store dock at the foot OF
Brown Place.
Skanski af once hurried home and sur
prfsed his wife and family with his story,
1t the conclusion Of which he partook Of |
the hearty meal which his wife had soon
prepared for him.
Skanski will reward young Grady by
presenting him with Trim little yacnt
which he Is now building Grady has said
nothing about the shipwreck 70 any OF his
Greenville friends for fear that they may
laugh at him and pronounce 10 rake.
Skanski has not been out OF the mousse
since. and for the present 10 content with
staying there.
He was seen by q JERSEY CITf NEWS
reporter last evening.
CRUsOE's STORY.
he said;--'I was In tight box, and
would not care to have another ex-
perience like that. did not know that
there were any sharp rocks near the |
island, and l thought that by passing
south OF the island. would make q short
cut. and thus reach home a few minutes
sooner,
III was the longest cut ever took.
however, and believe would have been
out on the island today Il u
had not been for Mr. uraay,
who found me there. NO one
took any notice Of my signal. Those who
passed nearby probably thought tnaL
There were boys on the island, and II Y
not an unusual thing for fishermen 20
stop there at times to mend their nets,
obtained my food by means OF the nsh
line, and nothing ever tasted so good as
did those raw fish. At any rnte am mere
on solid ground once more and am
thankful for It'll
Mr.. Skanskf was born in Sweden in
1850, and is therefore forty-one years old.
tie came to this country two years ago,
ne y bout Are feet eleven In height. and
like all fishermen Is as brown as an Arab
A complexion. He Is we'll built. He has
tried ~ keep the. story quiet, but THE
JERSEY CITY NEWS reporter succeeded in
getfinG all the facts.
IN Bothwsn near Death.
The Rev. Dr. Bofhwe1l, the Brooklyn
elsxs man who swallowed i cork. which
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