Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-16
CAPT. DRIsKo's PLUCKY BRIDE.
Thrilling Tale of Hardship I'm
which Woman shows Herself q
Heroine.

When the United States cruiser San Fran
cisco reported. about week ago. It's de-
struction OF the lumber-laden. water-logged
schooner Drisko of the South Atlantic
coast by. the novel method Of ramming IL
told but the sequel OF thrilling tale OF
hardship in which a woman. ana a bride
at that. bore the rigors of a storm and des-
titution that nearly proved fatal to able
bodied seamen.
1t was on October that Capt. r. B. Dris-
ko from Jonesport. Me. taking on cargo
at Charleston. S. c.. for Jamaica, planned
to take his newly welded wife on the voy-
age for a wedding trip.
They sailed that day with a crew Of six
men. The day was bright and the weather
indications all that the gallant skipper
could have desired for the comfort Of his
bride. but when night came on 1t brought
rain squalls which developed into a storm
that made necessary battening down OF
the matches and reefing of such sails
were carried to steady the ship. At mid
night there was a hurricane ana the cap
tain hove to under close-reefed spinnaker
and mainsail
The wind continued to increase in vio-
lence and at daybreak the high seas threat
ened to swamp the vessel. which was put
about with difficulty and permitted TO scud
under bare poles.
Then the captain went below. and, CIV
ing his wife suit of his own clothes. d.
rected her to put them on, knowing that the
worst was likely 70 happen and that she
would be less hampered by wind and water
IL his fears were to be realized She had
hardly donned her strange costume when a
wave struck the ship and threw il around
broadside to the sea, which washed over
the decks and into the cabin.
The captain clambered out on deck, drag
ging his wife after him. and then, tying a
bpnt hnr 10
iron rail which ran along the top Of the
deckhouse. A giant wave at that moment
threw the vessel on the beams end. ana be-
fore the vessel righte3 the captain ciscov-
cred that his wife had disappeared. He had
allowed too much slack rope. 1t was stin
fast, however, and he was able to drag her
back, bruised and exhausted.
The sailors managed TO climb TO the
weather rail. and. under directions Of the
captain. they cut away the weather rigging.
At once ali the masts snapped and went
by the board, the schooner az the same
time regaining her equilibrium.
The cabins were flooded, however, and an
hands dashed themselves TO the top d the
deckhouse, and there they stayed, without
food and buffetci about by the storm. which
continued with undated fury until the
fourth day out, when IL quieted down. Then
a sailor, who dived into the cabin. manager
to find a can OF meat, and some bunting
secured in the sail bag was imp-osisei into
a distress signal.
For seven DAYS they waited. on the morn
its disappearing sails showed the casIaways
that they were not seen. Hope was waning,
when, toward night, the lights OF a steam
ship were discovered. 1t came near enough
to see them.
II was the Mexican. Capt Alexander from
New Orleans 10 Liverpool. The shipwrecked
people were taken aboard and were hardly
more than made comfortable when another
storm arose, which made the steamers
passage a tempestuous one Of three weeks.
She arrived at Liverpool eleven days over
due.
The United States consul Col James E.
Neal. took the rescued in charge, end they
returned to this country on the Etruria.
Before his departure for his home I'm Maine.
yesterday Capt Drisko was seen at he South
Ferry Hotel and told the story as above
related. His wife sat close by. and held her
face very close to a book she was reading
when her husband told of her experience In
mems attire.