The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1895-11-11
SAVED FROM THE SEA.
Experiences Of the Grew of the
Wrecked Schooner Frances.
FOR THREE DAYS WITHOUT WATER

How the Ingenuity of the Captains Wife
Procured Moisture for the Parched
Throats of the ShipwrecIed Mariners.
Rough Experience on Sinking Vessel.
BALTIMORE Nov. 11-Stewart's bark
entine Priscilla, Captain Klages, from Rio
Janeiro arrived here yesterday with Cap
tain John H. Gesner, who commanded the
schooner Frances, of st. John, N b. his
wife, Mate James Mcdonald, Steward
Harry Davis and Seamen George Herman
Richard Collier Richard Delimore and
John Bree.
'We left Jacksonville on Oct 49, with
261 900 feet of pine lumber for Demarara,
British Guiana" said Captain Gesner, in
relating his experience 1--WE anchored at
Mayport until the 18th, when we put to
sea-
For eight days we had gales from the
eastward accompanied by terrific seas On
Oct 23, the vessel made little more water
than usual. 1 ordered the deck load of
timber thrown overheard On the morn
ing of the Gath the vessel began to sink
rapidly, and 1 ordered the foresail and iib
staysail to be cut away. The sea continued
to break over the vessel and the largest
boat was launched from the stern davits
A line was made fast to the sinking
Frances and we were towed by her.
1--WE 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 and only some salt pork
to eat and we had no matches to make a
fire.
Robert Collier, 17-year-old Carolin-
ian, found forty-six potatoes. My wife
got an empty tin can, and by driving nails
through it she made a CRATER. The po-
tatoes were grated, and then, by squeezing
the pulp, she produced a juice which was
used to mOisten our parched throats.
"At noon on Oct. 26 a 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 I could see the man at the wheel, but
no notice was taken of us While return
ing Bree picked up a a bottle floating near
our boat. 1t proved to be our steward s
yeast bottle. Returning on board we each
took mouthful of the yeast. 1t went
around but once.
After rigging a mast and sail to our
boat another sail was sighted. The mate
and four men went out to signal it, but re-
turned unsuccessful On Oct 81 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 the vessel again we found in
the spirit compass about quart of alco-
hol. / drew it out and every one took a
drink. Our stove was in pieces lying about
the deck. We braced it up, Powder was
taken from a cartridge and dried. Then a
corned 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 Oct. 49, in response to
our signals, the Enterprise bore down
upon us. We were all taken on board and
treated with the greatest consideration"