The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-02
TWELVE MEN LOST AT SEA.
Lumber steamer Colwell Wrecked aud
Only One Man Saved

CHARLESTON. 5. C.. Nov 1.-The steamship
George l.. Colwell. bound from Fernandna.
Fla. TO New York. with 100000 feet OF lumber
and crew OF twelve men. was wrecked In the
hurricane twenty miles north OF Charleston on
Monday afternoon. Capt. John H. Gaskill was
the only man to ESCAPE. To-day he was
brought to Charleston. bruised and i'll. on the
Clyde liner Navahoe. from New York. He was
picked up fifty miles from Charleston Yesterday
afternoon. after having drifted for twenty-five
hours on a raft OF lumber Seven members OF
the crow were lost when the steamer was split
am!dships by the storm and five others were
drowned q short time later.
When the Colwell left Fernsndna on Satur-
day afternoon last the winds were light aud
variable. On Monday morning. however. the
storm broke and continued to grow In fury.
The squat was heavy and Capt. Gaskill tried to
make for Lookout Light. but lost his bearings.
There was n cross sea aud the ship could not
be managed. At 4 p. VI. on Monday the en-
gines were choked and the pumps refused to
work. drag cornucopia and then forty
fathom anchor failed to hold the vessel and
she surged and widowed In the trough OF the
sea. The gangs ut the buckets could do moth
Ing.
while working to save the ship high sea
came rushing down. sweeping the deck load.
sm ok estack and cabin and drowning seven
membe OF crew. A moment later the vessel
ieit we're tossed into the water They made
:oF' , gan so ctSef. s sf
Knocked of. however. and bruised by a driving
stack Of lumbe though he swan for other
RATS and fought desperately Tor hold. Time
after time he was washed on, to lind another
raft. For twenty-five hours he struggled with
the sea, He got cold and weak and had given
up all hope OF rescue whom he was found by
!, tho Navahoe and picked up Yesterday
Capt. Gaskill Is unable to give the names OF
all thA Those he rOmamlpFg Will
Liam Murray. chief engineer; Christopher
Rockefeller. assistant engineer: William McKen-
& Charles TSer sSs91d mate and
New York. The wife OF Capt Gaskill resides
| at Ioboksn n J. The Naynhoe came up to
the wreckage OF the Colwsll Yesterday and
Capt Staples told tho men on the lookout e
| was found with the glass.
The NayahOe steamed near and a small boat
VIA snd o1 rough The small boat was pusi
| from the steamer. but II WAS caught and
| dashed hard against the iron sides of the
vessel The boat was smashed and lie lines
| steamed nearer to GaHkiil and he was taken In
| with lines. He Is Ill and weak but not in a
| dangerous condition. No other signs OF life
could he found around the wreckage,
| weathsred the gale without loss or damage
| Capt. Gaskill was caught In tho August hur-
rcanc. but managed to escape harm.
The George l., Colwell was built at Bay
n mes.are SHi tons She She Was Was bought last ysnr
| from her original owners in Detroit hy The yell
! low Pine Lumber Company OF ~ Beaver
street. and put In the lumber carrying service
| between Fernand ma and this port. She carried
10000 feet OF yellow pine IN her hold ana IN
two mates two engineers. two stoEers and six
deckhands