The Portland daily press., 1893-11-17
THE CAPTAINS STORY.
How the Drisko's Young Commander
Saved His Bride.

today tells the story OF the WRECK OIL 6ne
Maine schooner Drisko already briefly
reported
Al stalwart, broad shouldered young
man and a pretty blue eyed woman told
me yesterday the story of wedding trip
begun on ruffied seas which ended in
shipwreck, peril and privation. They
arrived here few days ego. and last
night they started for their home in
Jonesport, Me.
They were Captain and Mrs. R. B.
Drisko, who were saved from the illfated
schooner Drisko. the wreck of which was.
blown TO pieces few days ago by the
United States cruiser San Francisco. Not
until the cruiser reported the destruction
of the derelict Drisko was it known that
the little schooner had been lost. The
crew of the vessel were mourned as dead,
and many tear was shed over tne sup
posed death of Captain, Drlsko ana ms
bride. From boyhood the young captain
had sailed the seas. He saved some
money and bought the little schooner
which was christened with his own
name. Then he went to his old nome IN
Maine and married the blue eyed girl
whose letters had come to him at every
port. 16x
Drisko sailed on their wedding thrlp on
the schooner Drisko bound for Kingston.
There were seven persons in all upon the
Drisko when the vessel left charleston
harbor. The water was as a river OF
glass, glowing in the rays OF the southern
sun. A fresh breeze waited the trlm
schooner toward the West Indian seas.
The sny darkened that afternoon, AMI
black clouds brooded over the waters.
Captain DrIsko glanced at the falling
barometer and ordered the deckload OF
lumber and shingles to be secured by
extra lashings, and all things TO pc mace
ready for the storm. At midnight came
the hurricane.
Under close reefed spanker and main.
sail the schooner hove too. Masses OF
dark water surged over her and almost
swamped her. At four O'Clock IN the
morning Captain Drisko ordered the yes
sell to be brough around, and.at daylight
the schooner started to run before the
hurricane.
The masts were stripped and the Drlsko
hurried along, trying in vain to outfloe
the waves which folloWedand leaped over
her stern. Shipwreck was written upon
thesface of the barometer.
Captain Drisko told the story as Ioi-
II had two good suits of clothes on
hoard. " he said, land / went below and
nut one on. The other I gave to Mrs.
Drisko and told her that she must put it
son. Oh, yes, I had good reason fof IL.
You see, calculated on beng snip
wrecked, and in a case of that sort a
woman dressed in mems clothes always
stands a much better show than it she
was wearing her own cumbersome
garments.
Mrs. Drisko during this part of the re-
cital bent her pretty head over her book
AMI became deeply absorbed In It's con-
ua,, h11cf
"The schooner had become water
logged and was steering very badly. My
wife had hardly made the change in her
dress before big roller caught the vessel
nuder the starboard counter, and before
The could recover she was thrown broad
tide on by another. Still another
knocked her over on her beam ends,
drowning her lee scuppers under twelve
feet of water, and very nearly throwing
us all into the sea.
Il dragged Mrs. Drisko up the hatchway
and dashed her to the top of the deck
house. Then, seeing that the schooner
would founder outright unless something
was done very quickly to ease her, we
clam bered along the weather rail and
commenced hacking at the rigging OF
,he masts. All threesshad to be cut away
before she righted, and then, las she hove
up her battered bulwarks, we sought
refuge on the deckhouse, which was the
only part of the hulk that was left above
Running across the deckhouse was an
iron bar. I first tied one end of rope
around my wife, passed the line once
around the bar, and made the other end
fast to myself. Mrs. Drisko's end of the
line was too long.
"A big wave came along, and when
had rubbed the brine out of my eyes
looked for her, but she was gone The
line was still fast, however, and we
seized it and dragged her back on board
bruised, bleeding, and nearly drowned.
All of us then assisted in lashing each
other to the deckhouse, and it was very
lucky for us that we did, as our strength
was wholly exhausted, but neither rest
nor sleep could be had. A man cannot
sleep when he is expecting to be drowned
every minute, and is half drowned al
every bit of the breath out of his body.
All day on the 9th the seas drencheo
the persons grouped upon the roof. Weak
and exhausted, some of the men fell
asleep that night. Their eyes were
opened at midnight by binding light
Around them and above them was
phosphorescent glow. The heavens were
lighted. Shafts of light as from some
great electric lantern swept the sky
The waves were as~molten silver. The
weird CLEAN faded from the sea, and the
darkness of midnight returned.
Iho WlQQ Q1eQ GOWN anu Unere came
a breathless cnlm. Friday morning
dawned.
For two days the persons clinging tc
the iron bar. had not tasted food OF
drink. A sailor with rope about hi.
waist dived into the hold and brought
up can of preserved vegetables. Thai
was the only food of Captain Driske
and his crew for seven days. Fresh water
tLey had none In sail bag which was
floating around the men found foul
pieces Of bunting. Captain Drisko had
sailmaker's needle, and Mrs. Driskt
sewed the bits of bunting in one piece,
which was hoisted on scantling as
signal of distress
A bark hove in sight on October 16
She was too far away to see the white
flag, and in an hour she faded from view
entirely.
Mrs. Drisko, whose courage never
deserted her spoke reassuring words tx
the men, and told them that help would
certainly come And help did come
Far to the southwark there curled ;
wreath of smoke and then over the ocea1
brim there appeared +" a funnel black ant
single SPAR"
The steamer Mexican, bound:from New
Orleans to Liverpool, was the goo(
Samaritan She needed the Drisko,,