The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-10-17
Gate City Seamen Saved
Eight Persons.
All Hands Were LaShed to the
Vessels Rail.
Had Almost Lost Hope When Help
Reached Them.

Boston, oct. 17.-Among the passen'
gers on the steamer Gate City from
Savannah, yesterday, were Captain A. p
Smith, his 15-year-old daughter. Edith
and six seamen of the wrecked schooner
Leila Smith Of Machias, Me-, who Were
rescued by the crew of the Gate City al
the risk Of their lives. Captain Smithi
story of the experience of the ship
wrecked men is one Of the most thrilling
lie loaded a cargo of 255. 900 feet of hard
pine lumber at Wilmington. N. c., and
sailed, on Sept. 26, for Beverly, where
the cargo was consigned. Owing to ad'
verse winds, he anchored at Southport
until Oct. 1, and then put TO sea, with ths
wind strong from the northeast and tbs
sea quite rough. Bad weather was con-
tinuous, but without mishap to the ves'
sci until Saturday, Oct 10, when In the
vicinity OF Fire ISLAND a fresh north.
easter was run into. Captain Smith say
he tackled off shore, and at 10 p. m. or
dered the vessel double reefed. The galt
steadily increased, until 1t became hur.
ricane at midnight. when the vesse
sprung aleak.
1t was impossible TO keep the water
down with the vessels pump, and at !:
y. IN. that day. the lashings holding tn,
6eckload were cut. in order to ease the
vessel. Part OF the deckload was swep.
back on board the vessel, and the re.
mainder was dashed up against the side
OF the schooner by the heavy seas. At |,
o'clock that night the vessel was full OF
water, and standing on her beam ends
The wind was blowing terrihcally, and
the waves were making a complete
breach over the decks Captain Smith
ordered the lanyards cut, and soon after
the main and mizzenmasts went by the
board, easing the vessel so that sh,
righted somewhat The cargo of lumber
In the hold alone kept the vessel afioat
The cabin was gutted by the waves
taking out all the provisions, fresh
water and nautical instruments, to.
gether with the personal effects Of thoss
on board.
Captain Smith thcn lashed his daugh.
ter, Edith, 10 the quarter rail, and soon
after the crew and himself, for their OWE
safety, lashed themselves 10 the same
rail For the next 36 hours they all suf
fered fearful hardships, being without
food or water. and only partially clothed
The weather was bitterly cold. and the
waves repeatedly drenched them all
Just about the time they expected the
vessel to capsize, the-steamer Gate City
hove to and lowered away a boat
manned by Chief Officer Hewlett and
five seamen. The waves were running
at fearful height and the work of
rescue was attended with great diff
Guilty. The lifesavers finally brought
their boat alongside the wreck and took
off the captains daughter, one seaman
and the captain, and on the next trlr
took off the other seamen. The transfer
was successfully accomplished, but the
shipwrecked crew were exhausted from
exposure and hunger and thirst
Captain Smith and daughter left for
their home In Jonesboro, Me, last night.
The Leila Smith was OF 264 tons. built at
East Machias, Me, in 1890, valued at
$1,000, and insured for only $4,000. She
was owned by j. =. Ellicott & Co. of this
city