The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-31
AT SEA TWO DAYS.
ExPERIEEoE OF TWO MEN ON TEE
ABANDONED SCOWS.

HHatterson asa Andersen. WINE Were ulesouea
~ tire Torpedo neat Wripstsv, Return 20
their Homes In Jersey ~Cuy-Tessed hbeut
at Sec iron Sunday Unti Tuesday NiEht.
The two mon who were rescued from a dump.
ing scow by tho Government torpcdo boat
winsiow about thirty.hve miles from Barne-
gat on last Tuesday night were Charles Matter
son, 30 years old, and Charles Anderson. 20
years old. They arc Russian Firms. and as
they are hardy sailors thoy look upon their per.
ilous experience with considerable equanimity
now that they are safe at their homes in Jer-
sey City.
Matterson was in charge Of scow No. IL and
Andersen. in charge Of No. IL. Both scows are
owned by Capt. John H. Fenner Of 1877 Com
munipaw avenue, Jersey City, who has a1arge
dredging contract ct Newtown Creek. The
scows wore loaded on Saturday q week ago,
and the tug James +. Wallace lowed them down
to the Erie Basin. where they laid up for the
night. Tho start for the dumping ground was
made shortly after 8 o'clock on the following
Sunday morning. The heavy storm came on,
and. as has already been told, the Wallace
was forced to abandon the scows with the two
mon on board. The loads had been dumped be-
fore the scows were abandoned. The men re-
ported to Capt. Fenner yesterday that 1t was
about z o'clock on Sunday evening when the tug
cut loose. An exceedingly high wind pre-
vailed at the time, and the waves were dashing
over tho decks Of tho scowa. Tho men were
not particularly alarmed. as they knew the
scows were staneh and seaworthy. The only
thing they dreaded was being driven out to sea.
Tho scows drifted all Of Sunday night, Matter
son and Andersen keeping alternate watches.
to DO on the lookout for any vessel that might
come within mailing distance. The men were
able to communicate with each other from the
decks OF their respective boats, but they were
obliged to exercise great caution to avoid being
washed overheard.
they were, but as the wind was blowing from
the northwest they thought they were probably
d daiI'bta ref Ss on honda the they Sf foSnd fhSf1i wsf in
sight Of Rockaway Beach. The scows were
lhs .h,nt together C hs IN w TANDEM ,p. style VI ), No oid IL trailing
together Matterson Joined Andersen on No. IL.
They nailed q blanket to q pole as 9 signal Of
last for q month and an ample supply of provi-
sions. Capt. Fenner says that q weeks supply
Of proyisions Is put on board each scow every
The scows drifted all day Monday, the men
fffSs apg saw sP sw Snh In%ard MssSh f ssi RFi9ssi Tsss Sefss sna
ing distance, and the scows, being SO low in the
vessels. Some time during the afternoon an oil
steamer hove, in sight ana .Matterson and An,
shouted for help. Both men are convinced that
they were seen from the steamer. They say
that a man whom they supposed TO be the Cap
tain waved his hands at them, indicating that
no could do nothing for them, and the steamer
proceeded on her way. She was inward bound
and in q short time was lost to sight. The wind
veered around to the westward and the scows
began to drift out to sea. Toward night they let
the anchor go and It held for a while, but the
high wind soon forced 1t to drag.
Monday night was o repetition Of the expert
ence Of Sunday night. On Tuesday morning
the wind shifted to the east and drove the scows
out toward the Sandy Hook Hghtship. 1t kept
blowing from that quarter nearly all day. and
when the Winslow doomed up the scows were
about thirty-hve miles from Barnegat. The
Captain of the Winslow saw the flag Of dis
Iress and changed the course of the torpedo boat
and steamed over toward the scows. The sea
was still running high and the scows were toss
ing about. Before the Winslow reached them
In her stern. No. IL was then cut loose in order
to prevent any further damage being done.
When the Winslow was within about fifty feet
If the scows q yawl was lowered and two sailors
rowed over to scow No. IL and took Matterson
and Andersen on board. The men climbed up
to the deck of the torpedo boat and were.taken
over to tho Delaware reakwatera and landed at
Lewes. They were put on board of q railroad
train and sont to. Jersey City. .@
Capt. Fenner says that the two scows cost
him $4,000. He has not heard any tidings of
them. but has been informed that the insurance
company In which they are insured has. tugs out
searching for them.