The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-04
NINE PEOPLE DROWNED
SCHOONER CAPSIZED BY A SQUALL
IN THE FLORIDA KEYS.
Entire Nichols Family, from Bridge
port, Conn, and Three of the
Captains Children Host.

KEY WEST, Fla, March 3.-The schooner
Speedwell, Captain Collier, from Marco,
Fla, for Key West, was struck by squat
to-day while off Marquesas, eighteen miles
from here, and capsized. Nine persons were
drowned out of thirteen on board. Among
the victims were the three children of Capt.
Collier-George, Tom and Wilbur, aged re-
spectively, four, six and eight-and the en-
tire Nichols family-Bradley Nichols and his
wife, their son and the latter's wife and two
grandchildren. The family was from Bridge
port, Conn. Those saved are Captain Col
Her. Samuel Gates and Jesse Green, deck
hands, and r. w. Bates, of Myers Fla, a
passenger. The Nichols family is said to
have been well-to-do. All had been staying
for a month or two at small hotel kept
by Captain Collier at Marco and they were
on their way home.
The survivors say the Speedwell, which
was a small vessel of about twenty-five
tons, was making slow Roadway this morn
ing against a head wind. About O'clock
Captain Collier was at the wheel and the
Nichols family and the Collier children were
in the cabin asleep. Suddenly squat came
bowling up abeam. Gates and Green rushed
to take in sail. AS the jib tapped loose
the squall caught the schooner and blew
her over on the port side. Collier the deck
hands and Mr. Bates were swept into the
sea, but caught the rigging just in time to
save themselves. The wind, rain and waves
drowned the dying cries of the imprisoned
Nichols family and the Collier children.
The men dashed themselves to the rigging
After being there for two hours the sea
subsidized. Then they got the dingy loose,
baled her out with a hat, broke a thwart
in two pieces and with these for oars rowed
towards Marquesas. After going three
miles they were picked up exhausted by a
fishing sloop and brought here about
O'Clock this evening.
Samuel Gates, one of the survivors, who
was seen at his home here tonight, said:
Captain Collier has been sailing in these
waters twenty-five years. He is not to
blame for this awful thing. The squall
came up like nothing L have ever seen
around Key West. Before we knew IT, we
were lifted off our feet and in the water,
and as for those poor people down below,
they were penned in like rats. The wife of
the younger Nichols rose 60 the skylight
l was clinging to the rigging She waved
her hand at me and that's the last / saw
of her. When we got off two hours later
they were all dead. The elder Mr. Nichols
WAS the only OIe TO get out OF the CABIN.
| guess he was washed out, for after young
Mrs. Nichols waved her hand at me l saw
what / thought was the coat of Mr.. Nichols
floating by. Then / saw his hand and |
knew 1t was not only coat. We did not
see the children or hear cry. We had to
bale with the hat all the time we were in
the dingy, and often came near being
Swamped.
Soon after being brought into port Capt
Collier and Jesse Green went out on. the
yacht Buccaneer, accompanied by a diver,
to try TO recover the bodies.
BRlDGEPORT, Conn.,, March 3.-Brad-
ley Nichols was one of the most prom
inent real estate dealers in this city, and
was very wealthy; his son Warren, who
was also drowned. was associated with
him in business. The wife of the young Mr..
Nichols was the daughter of Prosecuting
Attorney Giddings. of this city. The two
children of Mr.. and Mrs. Warren Nichols.
who were also drowned, were boy eight
years old and a girl of two years. A third
child was not taken on the trip, but re-
manned in this city with its grandparents.
The family going 10 Key West to take
a steamer to return home.