Morning journal and courier., 1891-07-27
AT THE MERCY OF THE WAVES.

City Attorney Daley and TWO Friends
They Start for This City in Cata-
maran, Which Springs a Leak
when Off Branford - Two of the
Passengers Reach Shore in Safety.
The alarming news arrived late last even
ing in the city that Hugh DALEY, prosecut-
ing attorney of this city, and two young
friends, Mr. Rufus Shepard and Mr..
Clarence Beebe, were adrift on Long Island
sound on disabled catamaran and at the
mercy of the waves. The rumor spread
rapidly about the city, and reports were
widely varied, but the following facts Of
the case are obtained:
Mr.. Daley, Mr.. Shepard, Nh. Beebe, Mr..
George A. Austin and three ladies started
out early last evening, returning from Pot
Island on the catamaran Typhoon for sail
on the sound. The Typhoon formerly be-
longed to the New Haven Yacht club and
of late has been the property of James A.
Austin, the well known proprietor of sail
boats, residing on Warren street near
Water. The water being little rough two
of the ladies were taken to shore and
landed. All went merrily until when
about four miles off Branford Point the
catamaran began to careen, and it was
found that one of the boats was
leaking badly. This was about
seven o'clock. Perceiving their danger
Mr.. Daley directed Mr.. Austin to take
his cousin, the remaining young lady, to
shore in the row boat attached to the
craft. This would provide for the safety
Of two and make the situation less pre-
carious for those left behind. Mr.. Austin
and the cousin started and after hard
pull of four miles landed at Pawson park
where the young lady, who was much
overcome by the alarming events of the
evening and the long pull to land, was
left behind for the night in the care of
lady friends. Mr.. Austin then fortu-
nately was able to get on board the steamer
Margaret, which stopped at Pawson park
at 1926. On learning OF the accident
and the danger to which the
the Margaret humanely took out the Mar
garet in quest of the missing ones. With
search light the Margaret plowed the track
less waters of the sound going as far as
the mouth of the Connecticut river, but
all in vain, no trace Of the missing people
was found. The Margaret then with her
200 returning passengers on board, many
of whom were sea sick and becoming
alarmed, put back and reached her dock
here at about 1890 o'clock.
Mr.. Austin and others then set about
notifying friends, and the result was an
attempt to get a tug started, which was,
however, unsuccessful up to late hour.
Captain Fitzgerald of the Margaret was of
the opinion that with the state Of the tide
and the direction of the wind, which was
southwest, the missing party would prob
ably be landed at or near the mouth of
East Haven river. Mr.. Beebe, one of the
party, lives at No. II Osborn street, and is
clerk at Sargent & Co.'s. Mr.. Shepard
is clerk at the Merchants bank, and re-
sides at No. 1875 Wooster street. Mr.. Aus
tin is son of James A. Austin, proprie-
tor of Austin's boat house. Mr.. Daley
had been at Pot Island spending the day
with his sister, Miss Daley, who returned
home on the Margaret on it's o'clock trip,
arriving here at 5. The Margaret having a
large number of passengers at the Island,
skipped stopping at Pawson Park on this
trip and hence returned on its third trip
of the day to Pawson Park to bring off
the passengers there. 1t was on this extra
return that it went in search of the miss
ing men.
Mr. James Austin and his son George
started out in sail boat at about 11:3O to
find the missing people but up to an early
hour had not returned. Miss Mabel
Doll, the young cousin of Mr.. Aus
tin, came to the city later in
the evening and was in no way the worse
for her adventure; she did not even get
her feet wet. 1t is not thought that those
left on the catamaran are in any great dan
ger. The boat cannot sink and they will
probably drift ashore.