The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-07
SWEPT OUT TO SEA IN A GALE.
TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE OF An
OYSTER BOAT CREW.

sixty-Five Hours at sea in an Open
Boat without Food or Water and
in a Biting Northwest GRIe-One OF
the Crew Frozen TO Death and An
other May DIe-The Boat Picked
Up in Tybee Roads.
The cold wave which blew out Of the
far northwest and swOoped down upon
this section last Friday, brought death
in its icy blasts for one Savannah oyster
man, and intense suffering to two others.
The dead man is William Bryant, an
employe of the Oemler oyster Company,
who was frozen on Friday night. ard his
companions were his brother Scipio and
William Jones.
The story Of their experiences, which
covered about siXty-five hours in an open
boat, in a bowling wind and part OF the
time at sea in the night, is one OF horror.
The three men left Hilton Head Friday
afternoon in a small boat laden with
oysters for Wilmington Island. As dark
ness came on the wind began to rise and
the temperature to fall With the in
crease in the wind the boat became I'M
manageable, through the breaking of the
rudder
The men endeavored to attract atten-
ton, but failed. They had no light aboard,
no wood and no matches They Were
clad for work in a moderate temperature,
freezing weather. Their boat had not
even high gunwale to break the wind,
and 1t was loaded deep with oysters.
Losing control of the boat, it went out
with the tide, past Tybee and to sea.
The sea was rough and choppy and it
was a work against death to keep the
boat bailed out. 1t was impossible to
keep her dry, but she was kept ahoat-
which is almost miraculous. The men
were drenched to the skin, and the cut
ting wind seemed to whistle through
A Ia Tff-V-
ant dropped down exhausted, and died
from cold. in the bottom of the boat
About O'Clock p. m. Sunday the people
on dredge No. on Tybee Knoll sighted
the boat drifting up the river. 1t had
come in with the returning flood tide.
Ihe two living occupants of the boat
made the dredge people understand that
they were in distress. and assistance was
sent to them. When the boat was brought
alongside of the dredge the dead body of
William Bryant was seen lying upon the
oysters. 1t was lifted out and the dead
mans companions were given stimulants
and food. They had not tasted a morsel
slept, and had not drank water.
Scipio Bryants feet We're as useless to
him as If he had none whatever They
were frozen stiff and the chances are
that he will never use them again. The
indications were at last advices that they
would have to be amputated at once, or
he would die. Jones was not frozen,
but he was in pitiable state from the
effects of cold and exhaustion.
The employees on the dredge did the best
they could to relieve the sufferings of
the unfortunate survivors. They were
placed on board the tug w. S. Brusstar,
and Capt. Grier took them to Venus
Point light house, and the light keeper,
Mr.. c. L. Sisson, provided the men with
dry clothes ana did much to make them
comfortable. He mended the rudder to
their boat, bailed her out, discharged the
cargo and put her in condition TO leave
the light house. The men got under way
Yesterday morning for Hilton Head, where
they returned with the dead body Of their
companion.