The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1895-09-27
PERILS SAFELY PASSED
WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE OF AN
AMERICAN SCHOONER.
Notable Example of American Pluck.

MEniSA TN OSUSSNe"
Notable Example Of American Pluck.
The large three-masted schooner
Thomas j.. May, OF Philadelphia,
Capt. j.. II. Shepherd, now lying at
Capt. Geo. Frentz's ship-yard wharf,
ready to be hauled out and repaired,
has passed through an eventful expe-
Renee on her last trip. She was
bound to New York from the port OF
Iarataska Lagoon laden with mahog-
any logs. Owing to constant trade
winds difficulty was experienced In
reaching the bar going out, and kedg-
ing the vessel was frequently resortcd
to. The voyage proper began on May
10Th. With a strong current setting
out, they had to ware the ship to get
on the course. The vessel being
slower than usual in coming around.
her bow grounded in shallow water.
What with the current On one side,
and the wind on the other the vessel
was pushed directly upon the bank
and hard aground. She moved slowly
through the quicksand, heading south.
west. Sails were still kept on, in the
hope that she would drive ahead In
deeper water. The following day n
strong breeze prevailed, with a rough
sea breaking over the vessel and the
latter slightly moving ahead. The
vessel finally stopped in four feet OF
water. The wind moderated the next
day, the vessel leaking continually,
but no more than usual. With no
means for running an anchor, Capt.
Shepherd concluded to seek assistance.
The sails were stored on deck and "A
close lookout kept for some passing
vessel, but none appeared. The next
day the schooner's boat was rugged
and the Captain prepared to look for
aid. The following day, Thursday,
May 23d, the crew were paid of, the
Captain with his wife, four men and
the cook setting sail in the ships
boat for Brewers Lago0n-the Cap
tain to procure assistance to get the
| vessel of, and the crew to proceed
homeward. The mate was left alone
in charged Of the schooner. From this
day until Wednesday, June 18th (l9
days. the schooner lay in four feet
and less OF water, when Capt. Shep-
herd arrived from Bonacc0 Island.
He brought two scllooners and their
crews to help float the vessel, which
had IS inches Of water on the port
side and IA inches on the starboard.
Work was begun the next day. The
pumps were set to work, and jettisOn-
ing the cargo was resOrt.d to, also
constant heaving on hawser. Efforts
being made for several days to float
the vessel, but without avail, the
crews gave up in despair and all but
four sailed away.
On Friday, August 10th, two months
and four days after the Captains re-
turn, the vessel having gone over as
little as seven inches Of water during
the time she had been aground, she
floated and swung to her anchor. Ten
days afterwards, August 26th, she
crossed the bar and sailed to Brewers
Lagoon. Finding no provisions there,
she set sail for Port Burchard, where
they again failed to find provisions.
They proceeded thence to the island
Of Bonacc0, where the four men were
landed who had remained on the YES.
sci. No food being %Obtainablc, the
Captain sailed to TruXillO on a small
schooner, and returned with the nee
essary provisions. On Friday, Sep
TENDER 9Th, a crew having been gotten
together for the homcwarl voyage
they sailed for Pascagoula, reaching
the latter port September 18th.
As a result OF the inhospitable
treatment received at the hands o'
Mr.. Tuthill, himself an American
and manager of the Port Burchard
Co. at Truxillo, Capt. Shepherd ant
his wife were reduced to stal vatior
diet. They were forced to subsist or
bananas, plantains and such otheI
food as the natives could furnish
them. This most inhuman treatment
by Tuthill has a few parallels, an(
will receive the condemnation OF all
who read these lines. Capt. Shep
herds wife, who is i'll from the hard
ship and exposure OF the voyage II
stopping in Scranton, where she is re
ceiving every attention.
Notwithstanding the unfortunat,
termination Of the trip, the schoon
er's owners are to be congratulated
for having entrusted their vessel t,
such a competent and courageous ma
riner as Capt. Shepherd. Few mel
would have been able to pilot a vesse
through such perils and bring he,
back to her native land.
Elsewhere In this issue Of the DEN
~OCRAT-STAR is published a communl
L aaAioa fsona N naor Huua-z -.