Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-02-04
ADRIFT FOR SEVEN DAYS.
The Thrilling Experience of Two
Men on the Wave-Tossed Scow.

Rescued at Last by Steamer on the
Delaware Breakwatcr-- Reduced to tho
Last Ounce of Food aud the Last Drop
of Water.
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 1.-Two men who
have spent nearly week of hunger, cold,
thirst and adventure, tossing on scow at
the mercy of the ocean. arrived here on
the steamer Ethclburga to-day. They are
Charles Crump and Frank Cranae who
were rescued from their desperate plight
by the Ethelburga off the Delaware Break
water at 0 o'clock yesterday morning. The
men showed effects Of their terrible ordeal
aud the skin on their faces had become
hard, tanned and cracked with cold. They
were taken after their arrival TO the MARI
timo Exchange, where they telegraphed
their wives and children OF their safety.
Through the courtesy Of the officials OF the
Reading railroad they were given free
transportation to their homes.
trump tells the thrilling story of his
experience and that of his companion in
this way early on Tuesday morning of
last week the tug Webster, having in tow
u scow on which we were and one other,
put out for the dumping ground, which is
off Sandy Hook, near New York city. We
got out all right, disposed Of our material
and were about to return, when q hawser
became entangled in the tugs propeller.
lllla IttiutItN OlI DOdb hllllltlhBGtUlt,
and while efforts were being made to extri-
cate the hawser the wind breezed up from
the northwest and began to blow very
hard. We found our scow was driving out
to sea before the gale, but were powerless
TO save ourselves. All day long the tug,
although disabled, held on to both scows
for some time, and it was not until mid
night that they parted and went adrift.
Soon after our boats parted from the
at..l Il
seemed to pursue more southerly course
than the other. Soon we became lost to
one another" Crump said it would be
impossible for him in any way to relate
his sutferings and state Of mind while
adrift in u helpless condition. For hours,
he says, he would become dazed and forget
his plight, but suddenly on waking up to
his senses once more the situation would
seem to grow, and really did grow, more
alarmingly hourly.
Crump and Cranale rugged up large
pole in the stern Of the scow and 10 this
attached red shirt, thinking the signal
would attract the attention of some passing
vessel. The scow lay too low in the water,
however. and vessels passed her from
every direction, but saw not her signal nor
the frantic gcsticulations of the two miser-
able men. Thursday night the unfortunates
We're almost Frustrated. A heavy gale arose,
with accompanying high seas. The rudder
became disabled and the boat drifted off at
the will OF the sea. She rose and trod the
seas with as much regularity as a clocks
pendulum, despite the fact that she was
unguided by either helm or sail.
On this night the last ounce of food was
devoured by the starving men and the last
of their water consumed. All of Friday,
saturday, Sunday, and up until o'clock
on Monday, when then the gallant rescue
took place, the men tasted. Crump SAYS,
however, that his suflerings from cold
were far more severe than those from
hunger and thirst. During the whole
week they were adrift neither he nor his
shipmate had ever one hours sleep at
time.
On Sunday the British steamship Sylvia.
from Shields for the Break water, hove in
sight and attempted to launch boat, but
owing TO the height of sea was unable to
reach the men, and was compelled to for
sake the scow without accomplishing any
thing Monday morning at o'clock the
Ethelberga hove in sight, and the two men
were taken on board with little difficulty.
The men drifted about 100 miles in their
scow. Both Crump and Canale speak in
high terms of the treatment they received
ut the hands of the master and officers of
the Ethelburga.
Seven days and nights were spent on
board the scow, with death constantly star
ing them i'll the tace. With but few bis
cults and milk can of water To last them
all this time during their fight for life,
both men say they became almost frantic,