The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-11-25
LOST In 4 LAKE WRECK.
The Captain Drunk and Six Men Were
Drowned.
FATAL END OF A DEBAUCH.

Tho Skipper of the Schooner Waukesha Re-
fused to Run for a Harbor or to Beach
His Craft---Locked the Signals Up
Only One Man Saved--Liquor Flowed
Even While the Vessel Was Sinking.
MUsKEaoN, Mich. (Specla) I'm the dark
ness and fierce storm Of Saturday night, with
S00-ton three-master schooner Waukesha
went to pieces of this port and six men there
met their death. Only one ma Of crew Of
seven, commanded by a drunken cnptain,
reached shore.
The schooner arrived of the harbor from
Ludington about 4 o'clock p. IN. and
few flag for tug. The life saving
crew sent word uptown and the tug Ryersol
came down, but the men in charge hesitate1
TO 60 out in face of the fierce storm. The
Waukesha gave no other signals and the life
savers did not 20 out
At 1.30 o'clock g. N. a patrolman reported
wreckage and when day broke the lookout
saw only dark object moving in the heavy
sea about q mile out. Captain Wood was
notified and surf boat, which was sent out
found q sailor alive In the rigging Of the
wrecked vessel. The man was taken to the
station and tonight gave his version Of the
wreck in graphic style.
He said his name was Frank Delach, and
that there had been seven men on board
the captain, mate, four seamen and the cook,
q colored man, but he did not know the
names Of any Of them.
The schooner, owned by Captain Duncan
Corbett, left Ludington Friday with 600 tons
of salt for South Chicago. Almost from the
start the captain began drinking. About
ten o'clock that night, with the sea run,
ming high, they sighted lights, about the To-
ation Of which there was dispute. The
boat was leaking badly and all hands had
to go to the pumps.
Every now and then, he said, the captain
called In the mate and sailor by the name
OF Fred, and gave them liquor, until the en-
tire party was very drunk. When the vessel
arrived of Muskegoa the captain anchored,
and, further than to hoist a flag for tug,
refused to send for any help. After fasten-
Ing the foresail to keep 1t from threshing,
the crew went back to the pumps and found
four and half feet OF water in the hold.
They had Just resumed pumping when the
captain called all hands to luncheon, after
eating which the pumping was once more
resumed
The yawlboat and stern tackle went away
soon after, and then the bar davit. The
captain was asked to torch for lifeboat, but
refused. Then the boat began tu sink, and
the captain and mate, taking life preservers,
went up into the forer1gging. The 5Rilors
followed as quickly as possible.
When the boat had 4 list OF about three
feet, the forward mast went over and all fell
off, the cook and the drunken sailor, Fred,
being swept into the sea-. The other two
masts went in short order.
The captain continued his drinking. until
he was helplessly drunk, and about 10 o'clock
he rolled overheard and sank. An hour later
the mate went overheard. Delach and one
sailor were then all that we're left.
About In the morning Delach's corlpan-
lon became benumbed by the cold. Delach
held on to him az long as possible, but finally
lost his hold, and the unfortunate man fell
Into the water. The lifeboat arrived half an
hour later.