Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-12-29
WHIPPED BY The WAVES.
Exciting Experience of n Rock Islander In
the Guif Of Mexico.

Exciting Experience Of Rock Is,snder liz
the Gnlf Of Mexico.
Alfred Philip, of this city, left
home in the early part of last Sep
TENDER. His FOLKS worried consid-
cradle as weeks, and even months,
passed. without hearing from him.
The other day letter addressed 20 his
sister, Miss Martha Philip, 1918
Eighth avenue, explains the reason fol
his net writing before. 1t is dated ct
Houma, La, ard says in part: 81
eIoice at the opportunity to let you
know am still alive. You must
surely have expected the contrary and
worried great deal about my ST.
,ence; so therefore to be excused it is
necessary for NE to give yoa the
fullest details Of my travels. To be-
Gin with, started down the Mis-
sissippi with ;hree Davenport lads in
q sail boat. Everything went well
until We reached Memphis, where We
were notified the town was qlaran-
tined on account OF the yellov
would be III the same fix Is,
the other people of the town.
SO we kept moving on. We could not
get any provisions, but having q bar
rel of flour on board we managed TO
exist. Besides, we shot game and
fished. We finally passed New Or
leans. The fever was raging at It's
greatest height. IN order to escape
icing locked up we continued on the
move, our intention being to run into
the Gulf Of Mexico and coast a,ong
as far ss Galveston, Tex. There was
20 fever there and we would he able
20 land. After another weeks run
we entered the gulf. The sen WAS
quiet, and having q fair wind we
sailed northwest. taking great care
to keep in sight Of land on our right.
On the afternoon OF the second day
OTIS the wind became stronger and
the SCH much higher. We thought il
best to run ashore. Sighting light
house ahead we stcered for it. Bat
the closer you come to shore the
rougher and higher you find the sea
The reason for this is thst the water
becomes more shallow and when
waves Us high as house come rolling
up to the shore it causes q grea:
disturbance. Through these terrible
breakers We had TO run with
la little 20-foot boat. 81 feet
across the beam. Our boat was soon
swamped and iu!l.of water, but luck
was with US. The strong wind CAT
ried Us through the dashing and
roaring breakers onto sandy beach.
lOur fresh water cssk and provisions
had been washed overheard. What.
ever little -four there YES left was
soaking net. Invent to the light
! houso keeper fox some fresh water,
and Was informed that VIC we're on
an island, which was inhabited by
him alone. He said we had TO fun
six miles TO the west, where he said
We would strike Grand Island, which
has 400 inhabitants. We stopped at
the lighthouse Two days waiting for
the sas to calm. But we waited in
vain. Being out Of water aud pm
visions, We made the desperate 1T.
tempt 10 reach Grand Island. When
out about 10 yards we were
swamped again. We worked for
dear life by bAiling out the water
until we got out about a mile Here
the sea began to get smooth, aud
we finally sErived at The island,
which we found Was pecpled b.
Crcoles and mulGttoos They were
ss;onished ct cur bravery and de-
clsred they would not venture out il
a frail craft like ours for any money.
They treated US kindly. We Joined
their fishing company, and 'arried
their until the yellow fever epidemic
had subsidized, WHEN We made for the
mainland with o fisherman. l am
90 working on g sugar plantation
and intend staying here II l can
stand the hot weather. | would ike
to tell you a.! the particulars OF my
ira els, bat it woald take book to
tell them all"