Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-03-21

Dugas Sr., of this city, who was ship
wrecked on his way to Cuba. Nose
gives an interesting account which
speaks for itself:
ARROYos DO MANTAU,
CUBA, Feb. %, 1895
Dear Bro. joe
| left New Orleans last
Saturday on S. S. "Wm. G. Hewes' OF
the Morgan line bound for Bluefelds.
Nicaragua, c. A. We had fair weather
until Tuesday night at u o'clock.
was awakened by a heavy jar that
nearly threw me out of bed. A moment
after [ heard the mate call in loud
and excited voice, "All hands on deck" "
[ dressed as hurriedly as possible and
went on deck to see what was the
matter. We had struck coral reef. |
could see the rocks not Is feet away.
The sailors were running around in
their underclothes lowering sails and
getting the small boats ready, while the
cook was getting stores to put in them.
Just at that moment the fremen rushed
up from the engine room saying the
water was coming in and had put out
their fire. In five minutes there were
eight feet Of water in the hold.
The sea was rolling so high it would
have been suicide to attempt to lower
the boats, so the Captain decided to
wait until there was no other alternative.
The boat had turned partly over and
the breakers We're rolling against her
driving her harder on the rocks.
Every minute one would wash complete
ly over the boat and nearly drown us.
Soundings were taken, only nine feet of
water in the deepest place, SO there was
no danger Of sinking, although we did
not know at what moment she would
this condition for 36 hours not daring to
lay down.
Early Thursday morning two boats
were lowered and then commenced the
dangerous task of putting the people in
them. Among the passengers were
Chinese, l colored man, l French
colored woman from Martinique, the
only woman aboard, and five Of us
white men. In the first boat they put
the Chinese, four sailors and the first
mate. In the second boat they put the
rest Of the passengers and five Of the
crew. | slid down the rope and landed
in the boat all right. 1t was hard job
to put that woman in. She didn't want
to go. They had to put rope around
her waist and push her over the side of
the vessel, and one Of the sailors caught
her by the leg and pulled her roughly
into the boat which was half full of
water. We bailed it out, fixed our
oars and began pulling in the direction
we thought Cuba to be. There was no
wind to sail by so we had to row and by
noon it was frightfully hot. At 3
O'Clock we sighted land. Hurrah. You
can imagine our Joy!
We rested a few minutes, took q
drink of water 1--WE hadn't much) and
ate some sea biscuits. Then we pulled
for land There was nothing to see or
find there but palm trees and tangled
underground so we followed up the
coast until S o'clock when we came to
this port. The captain of the port took
us in charge and gave us food and
lodging. We are 130 miles from
Havana. 1 am the only one who can
speak Spanish and so have to do all the
talking 1t is nice and warm here.
When | left New Orleans it was
aw!ully cold with eight inches of snow,
the first they had there in 20 years.
The people were crazy over it, every
body out snow-balling. Men and
women stood on porches and galleries
and pelted the passers-by. Street car
windows were broken and much
damage done, but all in fun. When
snow comes to New Orleans it is time
for me to 90 farther south.
Sunday Feb. 24.-We have been
transferred to a boat going from here to
Bluefelds.
Moses Il. DUGAs.