The morning call., 1891-05-16
LEFT TO HIS FATE.
4 Sailor abandoned on the High
Seas by His Mates.
Twsnty-One Days of Misery ana Suspense on
Water-Logged Vessel-Reseued by
French Steamer,

Among the passengers on the steamer
State Of California on her last trip to this
port was a sailor named William Murray.
who. about a year a 20, was picked up by
French mail steamer and taken to New
York.
At the time Of his rescue Murray was the
only man left on board a schooner that was
drifting about the banks of Newfoundland
uIsmasIed and wateT-logged. The schooner,
which was called the WedmOre, sailed from
ST. John With a cargo of lumber, and was
bound to GTimsby in Z gland. Murray says
that FIVE days after leaving port the vessel
was run down by steamer and the cargo
alone saved her from being cut in two.
He was in his bunk at the timc, but with
tie others ran on deck as soon as possible
Il was "A dark night but the lights of the
steamer could be plainly seen. The men at
once began % clear away the boat, and she
was soon got into the water. Murray was
in his uBder-clothes and ran below for more
clothing lie was not below more than FIVE
minutes but when he came on deck again
lie found that the boat had gone and he was
abandoned on a wreck that might break up
before daylight.
A TERRIBLE POSITION.
The only boat the schooner carried was
gone, the steamer was out of sight and death
seemed staring him IN tie face, but he made
tie best of a bad job. Getting a lantern he
Hade a survey of the damages done by the
steamer and soon found that the schooner
was iull of water aud was only kept alIOat
by the cargo.
Before daylight il was blowing a gale and
The sea broke over the wateT-lOgEed vessel
So bad that Murray had 10 lash himself 10
the Whee in order To prevent being washed
overheard.
Soon after daylight both masts went by
the board and Murray was caught in the
vreC6 aud his right arm was badly bruised,
bat Ia spite IF the pain he got a Ratchet
from the cabin and succeeded IN cutting
away tie rigging that held the floating sparS
10 the wreck, as there was danger of the
tangled mass of spaUs q sails and rigging
being thrown on board by the heavy seas.
Hunger now compelled him 70 look for
something TO eat and in one OF the lockers
NE found several cans Of cooked meat, and
TINS, with some naTd bread water,
served % keep body and soul together until
DEE was rescued.
The gle continued for a week, and on the
fourth day Murray found himself sur
uu1eu 10y I-eD-TIs, only Two or three OF
Which were visible on account of the thick
log, but the low temperature told INN that
t.eTe were plenty of them 10 Windvard, TO
lt struck 0Y one Of which meant little hope
Of ever seeing friends or home again.
AGONY OF SUSPENSE.
Since the night the little vessel had been
run down. but a single sail had been seen by
tile LONELY sailor, buJ be kept sharp lookout
and managed 10 rig signal or distress by
fastening table-ci0th 10 a bOat-hO06 and
then flashing the bJat-hOOk 60 the stump Of
tie mainma5t. He slept but little, for the
constant dread that a ship might pass while
he was below kept him on deck until lie
was completely worn ont
Several times tie FOG lifted, and once he
heard a steamers whistle, but It was tOJ
Tar away Tor his cries to be heard and the
steamer passed on her course. On the 10Th
day bark was sighted lar TO WindwaIG,
bat the wreck was not seen by those on
board Ter, or # IL was the captain did not
think % worth while TO run down TO IT,
After the gale subsidized the ice and fog
disappeared, ana Murray had strong hopes
" being picked up by some Of the big At
laLIc steamers. Smoke was seen nearly
every day, but the sun went down night
after night, and rescue from his perIOus
ios.tI9n seemed as far away as ever.
WILL SHE HOLD TOGETHER?
His greatest fear at this time was that the
v-s>e would break up. as nearly the entire
side f0T& aTd Of the main rigging was torn
Cut, ana her decks nad started IN several
places. cAe was SO deep IN the water, too
that the cabin nO0E was covered to a depth
OF eighteen inches.
1t began TO blow again on the seventeenth
DAY after the collision, and the sea made a
clean sweep over her. Once Murray was
nearly carried overheard, but managed 10
save bin. self by hanging on TO a rope he had
stretched across the break Of the Poop.
Next morning the battered hull began to
show signs Of breaking up; several pieces
II timber Heated out through the gap 10 her
side, ami Tie rest OF the cargo began to
work IN manner that plainly showed the
end was not far Of. Ga the afternoon Of
the twentieth day a large ship bound to the
eastward passed within a mile Of the wreck,
aa1 Murray did everything in his power 10
attract the attention Of those on board, but
~ ms dIsmay she kept on her course and
laId no attention 10 lis signals of distress.
Next day the gale increased, and Murray
had all he could do 10 keep himself from be-
ing washed of. he secured himself by fas-
teuiDg ii rome around his waist and securing
u % tie raj n either side.
SHIP, AHOY!
His condition was now desperate He had
no way OF building a raft, and, even if he
had, the heavy sea which constantly broke
over the wreck made It impossible for him
q work. But help was at hand, and about
ocl0ck in the afternoon OF the twenty
first day the wreck was sighted by the
French mail steamer Gascogne bound from
ii yTe TO New York. The steamer hove 10,
but The sea was too rough 10 lower q boat
aud % order to get near enough TO the
wreck to use the rocket line the steamer had
to make a wide sweep.
Murray thought the ship was about to
abandon MIN to his fate and in his despera-
ton vas about to jump overheard. but was
restrained by the signals made to him by
tie steamer. The big liner then swept up
as close to the battered wreck as she dared.
and the officer On the bridge shouted some
thing TO him in French, but Murray did not
understand him.
The first attempt to carry the line across
the wreck failed and the steamer had to
make another turn before the second rocket
could be fired, This shot across the wreck
and was eagerly seized By the castaway and
soon fastened around his waist Murray
then waved his hand to those on board the
steamer as a signal aud at once jumped over
board.
SAVED AT LAST
The rope was manned by willing hands
and the Shipwrecked sailor was soon
hOlsted up the steamers side where he was
quickly surrounded by the crew and pas
sengers. lie was taken below and placed
IN charge OF the ships surgeon, and by the
time the steamer reached New York had
July recovered from his long exposure.
Murray was sent to England by the British
Consul and told the story of the wreck be-
lore The Admiralty Court ia London Soon
after he went to Portland, Oregon, to his
brother, who offered him a good position
n lew days ago lie received a letter from
the owners Of the schooner asking him to
return to England as they wanted him to
assist them in getting the Insurance. They
offered 10 pay all his expenses, and as they
had treated him well. he decided to go and
is now tn route.
The steamer that ran the schooner down
no doubt had her bows stove in, as neither
she nor the crew were ever heard Of. Muir
ray Is the sole survivor Of both crews.