The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-16
EVERY ONE WAS SAVED
CAPT. Willis and His Men
Rescued.
LANDED ON CAPERS Island.
Two Days Without
Shelter On a Bar
rem Sandspit.
AROUND FIRES OF WRECKAGE.
Finally Reached Hilton
Head,
CARED FOR BY SOLDIERS
Until Taken Off by the Tug
Cambria
Finally Reached Hilton
Head,
CARED FOR BY SOLDIERS
Until Taken Off by the Tug
Cambria
CAPT. WILLIS STORY OF THE WRECK

Capt A. L. Willis and the thirteen men,
bers of the crew of the shipwrecked steam
ship William Lawrence are all safe. The
tug Cambria arrived at the city yesterday
afternoon at o'clock, bringing Capt VIII
lis, First Assistant Engineer Hooper and
eight members of the crew. First officer
i. E. Hooper, Quartermaster A. Berger
son and two seamen were left at Hilton
Head to look after the effects of members
of the crew The tug Cynthia, No. win
bring them up with such things belonging
to the crew as can be found. Nearly every
man aboard the Lawrence took with him
his bag containing his clothing and othLr
personal possessions when the ship was
abandoned. Some of the bags were lost,
however, and all the others were left be-
hind.
Capt. Willis and the men who were with
him were all wen and apparently none the
worse for the hardships which they had
suffered during the last few days 1t is
needless TO say that they were overjoyed
10 get to Savannah, and to greet the COM
rades with whom they had parted at the
wreck Sunday morning and of whose sub
sequent fortunes they knew nothing.
The tugs Cynthia, No. 2. and Cambria
left the city early in the morning. TO
cruise in the vicinity of the wreck foe the
missing men. Agent Carofan was aboard
the Cambria, which was TO make the
search among the islands while the Cvli-
thia cruised along the coast. They had
better luck than they expected In fact.
after the severe weather of sunday and
Monday they hardly hoped to find the
missing men alive
AS the Cambria neared the military res
ervanon at Hilton Head about o'clock.
small party of men was seen on the
beach making signals to the tug. Ii was
soon realized that these were the missing
men, OF whom the tug was in search They
did not wait for the tug to come to land
but came out in their boat. They were
soon aboard, and were given a warm re-
ception. Agent Carolan was delighted to
nnd that there was not a man missing and
that furthermore they were all in good
condition, not being in need of medical
assistance.
Their story was soon told The two
boats left the ship together, Capt Willis
being the last man to leave. The captain
hcer Hooper of the other. BY orders OF
the captain, the two boats were kent to.
gether. The effort was made to reach
Port Royal harbor, but with little sue.
cess. After being at sea for over twelve
hours, the boats were finally beached
through the breakers 1t was a dangerous
attempt The party got through safely
but both the boats were stove in The
land which they had made they after.
"a. he 20,
bare sand spit off the Carolina coast. some
distance from Port Royal. Here they re.
maincd until Tuesday morning. Their sit.
uatIon was not the pleasantest in The
world. They were without food and wa.
ter the small stock of crackers and the
keg of water which they brought with
them from the ship having been ruined
by the salt spray. The lack of food was
not their worst inconvenience The isIanf
afforded no shelter, and they were force
TO remain exposed to all the bitter wealth.
er OF Sunday night and Monday and Mon
day night, their only protection being z
low sandspit which only partially shield
ed them from the wind and not az al
from the sleet and snow. They were for
tunate in having a supply of matches. anf
by the aid of these a fire was made from
the wooden seats of the lifeboats. which
was kept up by such driftwood as coul,
be gathered. There was little comfort IL
fire under such disadvantages. but /
kept them from freezing and saved then
from the sufterings which befeH Seeon,
Officer Beale and his party in boat mum
Der ?.
Tuesday morning the weather havln,
moderated, one OF the boats which was les
damaged than the other was patched nj
and in this the party made It's wav L
the military camp or Hunting Island.
distance of some eight or nine miles. Her
they were warmly received by the soldier
who extended them the most generous hos
pitality and showed them every kindness
Sergt Smith, who is in charge of the sta
ton, was very kind 10 the shipwrecxe
mariners. Tuesday night was the first the
had spent in comfort since the shin struc
ground Saturday morning. Having bee
so kindly treated a the post they were nat
urany IN much better condition than the
would have been, had they awaited the res
cung party on Capers' Island.
The party was taken aboard the tue az
ter which the Cambria joined the Cvnthi
at the wreck. There was nothing to be az
complished there, so First Officer Hoope
win three men, was put aboard the Cvn
una 10 gather up the scattered effects a
'ne crew ana bring them to Savannah.
The Cambria passed Tybee inward boun,