The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-07-20
SEVEN LOST IN A WRECK.


HALIFAX. s., July 19.-Particulars were
received by mail to-day of narrowing dis
aster on the Newfoundland coast. the
schooner Publico Belle being wrecked. and
two women and FIVE children lost.
Capt. Samuel Butts. of the lost vessel,
states that the Publico Belle. with a crew
of four men, left Catalina in the morning
of Wednesday, the Sth inst, bound for st.
Johns with q cargo of lumber. She had
also on board five women and five children
as passengers. storm of wind and rain
came on from 1880 o'clock Wednesday
night until daylight Thursday morning.
The vessel lost her mainsall and foresail,
successively, and ran ashore on the cliff at
2 o'clock Thursday morning. The crew let
60 the anchor. which checked the vessel,
but the chain parted from the violence of
the storm.
William Rose jumped ashore and the
captain threw a line to him. By this
means the rest of the crew got ashore, and
the following passengers were saved: Mrs.
Rachel Burton, Miss Julia Burton and Miss
Wells.
Mrs. Freeman and Miss Carolina Higgins
were drowned, and five children were also
lost. one being Mrs. Freeman's infant and
three belonging to Mrs. Rachel Burton-a
boy OF twelve years, boy of nine years
and girl OF i've years.
Miss Selma Wells says: II boarded the
schooner at Catalina. The weather was
fine, and continued so till night, when it
blew hard. At 2 o'clock Thursday morn
ing the schooner struck. At this time all
the passengers were In the cabin. Besides
my sef there were Miss Burton. Julia aud
three children, Mrs. Freeman and her in
FAINT Miss Caroline Higgins and girl
named Alice Hicks / was sitting on the
locker, and Miss higgins was lying on part
of it. All the others, children included,
were In berths. The vessel struck three
times before she started q leak. One of
the crew. an old man, came down for q
rope
1--WE asked him if there was any chance
to be saved. and he said Yes, don't say
any thing; it will be all right
The water vas then coming through the
cabin floor. The water was soon up To the
lockers and We were wet. All the children
were taken out of their berths and got ready
land, but heavy sea was breaking over
the rocks. When we reached the deck two
of the crew were ashore, having taken off
their boots and jumped on to the rocks.
waist and one of them took the end with
him. He then jumped and got ashore.
The Captain was the only man then left
on board. We all went over to the side
where he was. and ne tied q rope around
Miss Burton and she was landed safely.
Mrs. Burton. heavy sea came and washed
all off the deck. / caught the end of the
rope which was in the Captains hand, and
was hauled ashore with him, while a wave
washed Mrs. Burton upon the rock. But
never saw Mrs. Freeman or Miss Higgins
after. Mrs. Freeman would in all proba-
bllity have been saved had she abandoned
her child, but the mothers love was too
strong.
When we got ashore we had to climb
the face of the cliff some distance, to be
out of reach of the vessels spars. The
captain and three men then went away. as
they said, in search Of assistance, leaving
the passengers stand, one of the crew
named William Rose, clinging to the cliff.
We remained there till nearly chilled to
death. when. with the assistance OF
Rose, we managed to climb to the
top of the cliff and commenced our
march over the island. Mrs. Bnrton, who
was very weak, was assisted along by Rose.
After travelling q long distance over rocks
and through woods, marshes and water we
met several men going tow ards the wreck,
and one of them at once turned back and
brought us to his house."
IL believe that we could all have been
saved had We been warned sooner.
After We got ashore. two little boys
could be seen in the rigging and
their voices could be heard calling for
help. A rope was repeatedly thrown to
thenl, but each time it fell short. Finally
the little fellows were washed Oft and their
voices we're stilied in the sea-
Miss Julia Burton. one of the survivors.
colin clingIng to the rigging and hear him
calling Tor help. He was there a long time.
but AT last the sea came and washed
him OIL