The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1895-11-14
TINE Old FASHIONED sHipwaecx.
A True etn0o Of n Aesaa1 K1pestence
which kso4s 1iks . Moved As Ashs-
willie Boy Ooo of the Sufferer.

A True eeago Of - Aesaal E1p<stence
which k~s1s Isks . Novel A Ashs-
Vile Boy Oes ef the sansrsrs-
There has just been an old fashioned
shipwreek and rescue in which q North
Carolina boy was . prominent figure.
His name Is Robert Collier, and his
home 10 in AsheyiiIe. The vessel that
was wrecked started from Jackson
vile, Florida, on October 18th. The
name Of the vessel WAS The Frances.
Capt. Gesner tells the following story
We left Jacksonville on October
18th with 26l 600 feet OF pine lumber
for Demarara, British Guiana
For eight days We had gales from
the eastward, accompanied by terrific
seas. On October ed the vessel made
little more water than usual, and
ordered the deckload of lumber thrown
overheard.
ION the morning of the cath the yes
sci began 10 sink rapidly, and ordered
the foresail and jibstaysail to be cut
away. The sea continued to break over
the vessel and the largest boat was
launched from the stern davits and q
line was made fast to the sinking
Frances, and We were towed by her.
I'VE were in the boat three-quarters
OF an hour, when we sought the deck OF
the wreck again. There was not drop
Of water on the ship. only some salt
pork TO eat, and We had no matches TO
make fire.
"Robert Collier, seventeen-year-o
Carolinian. found forty-six potatoes.
My wife got an empty tin can, and, by
driving nails through it, she made u
CRATER The potatoes were grated as
har
ted, and then in squeezing the pulp she
produced a juice, which was used to
moisten our parched Threats.
AT noon on October 10th bark was
seen steering nearly due east, or about
two points across our quarter. l took
Mate Mcdonald and Seaman Bree and
entered our own boat. We approached
so near that | could see the man at the
wheel, but no notice was taken of US.
While returning 'Bree picked up a bot
tie floating near our boat. 1t proved
TO be our stewards yeast bottle. Re-
turning on board we each took mouth
full of yeast 1t went around but once.
AFTER rigging mast and sail to our
boat another sail was sighted. The
mate and four men went out to signal
it. They returned unsuccessful.
"'On October 9th the mate thought
he saw a vessel coming in sight. Every
one of us got into the boat. We had
sailed three miles toward what we
thought was our rescue at last, when
we found it to be one of the masts of
the Frances.
"Reaching our old vessel again we
found in the spirit compass about a
quart of alcohol. l drew it out and
every one took drink. Our stove was
in pieces, lying about the deck. We
braced it up. Powder was taken from
a cartridge and dried: then a corn beef
can was found, in which were placed
small splinters of wood and some pine
gum picked from the lumber. All this
was sprinkled with powder. A blank
cartridge was placed in the revolver
and the revolver fired. The powder
lighted and fire kindled. Then we
got fresh water by condensing the salt
water.
"At daylight on October 9th l saw
sail. This vessel saw our signal and
bore down on US. 1t was the Norwegian
bark Enterprise Capt. POulsen, bound
from Mobile to Havre. We were all
taken on board and treated with the
greatest consideration"