The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-12
WENT DOWN IN FIVE FATHoMS.
THE LAUNCH ALAsE SUNK OFF
DAUFUSKIE ISLAND.

Was Being lowed by the Steamer
CIiftOn-TwO Men on Board with
One Life Preserver Between Them
But For Prompt Action on the Fart
of the CIiftOn's Crew They Would
Have DrOwned-The AIise Went 10
the Bottom in Thirty Feet OF Wat
er-NarrOw Escape of Captain MUIR
ray.
The steam launch Alise went down In
thirty feet of water off Daufuskie Island
last night and two men had a narrow
escape from drowning.
The launch was being towed to the city
by the Clifton on her trip from Daufus-
kie. There were a number of passengers
aboard the Clifton, but only two aboard
the Alse, Capt. Murray and Mr.. P. a.
ferguson, part owners Of the launch.
In making a turn the launch took a
tilt and went under. Immediately the tow
roe was cut by Capt. Boulineau, mate of
the Clifton, in order TO right her. The
Clifton was checked without delay, and
In a wondrously short time the life boat
was lowered. Mr.. f. j. Lueders, who was
a passenger aboard the Clifton, captained
the life boat and put about in great haste
to the rescue of the two men who had
been aboard the launch.
The Alise went to the bottom at once,
and Capt Murray and Mr.. ferguson were
left to battle against a rough sea. Capt.
Murray could not swim, and this added
greatly to his perilous situation. There
had been but one life pre-
server left in reach when the
launch went down, and MIR. Jer-
guson had grasped this and was trying
hard to reach Capt Murray to divide it
with him. Capt. Murray went under
twice and was just about to sink the
third time when Mr.. ferguson came suf-
iciently near to thrust the life preserver
at him. and as he did so he shouted to
him to seize it lightly or they would botn
go down.
Darkness was fast lowering over Gala
bogue sound when the accident occurred
and the passengers aboard the Clifton were
in state OF excitement and crowded on
the after deck to watch the rescue, but
this was difficult as it was too dark for
them to get a distinct view of what was
going on al the place where the Ailse cap
sized
Mr.. Lueders, who was in command Of
the lifeboat and who is steward of the
ocean steamship Gate City, drew up in
time to pull the two men into the life
boat and save their lives. He FASTENED
back to the side of the Clifton and Capt.
Murray and Mr.. ferguson were landed
safely aboard.
Their escape was a narrow one. But for
the excellent manipulation of the Clifton,
the quick lowering of the lifeboat and the
way In which the resuce party went about
their work, the men would have drowned,
as the waves were beating high. and there
was but one life preserver between them.
The Alise is the launch which was strand
ed and beached in Catalogue sound July
with NARROWING party of six men
aboard. She ran aground and was beach,
ed and the men had a narrow escape. The
craft was rescued by some Daufuskie ne
groes that night and was taken to Daufus-
kie, where she has since remained.
Yesterday the officers of the Clifton un-
dertook to tow the launch up to the city
She was tied behind the Clifton at Dau-
fuskie, and soon after leaving the wharf
and turning into Catalogue sound the ac-
cident occurred.