The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-11-15
LOST IN THE HURRICANE.
Lumber Steamer CoIwelI Wrecked
and Only One Man Saved.
HIS DESPERATE FIGHT FOR LIFE.

Captain Of tho "recKod Soshei fickeu
Up at sea-Clung to Wreckage For
twenty-five Hours-Tho Crew Were
Drouned-DimouIt Rescue Of the Sole
SurvIvor-vesseI Split Amidships.
CHARLESTON. 8. C. (SpeciaD.-The steam
ship George L. Colwell, bound from Fer
nandina, Fla, to New York City, with $780,.
900 feet OF lumber and crew OF twelve
men, was wrecked In the hurricane twenty
miles north OF Charleston. Captain John
H. Gaskill was the only man to escape. He
was brought to Charleston, bruised and
Ill, on the Clyde liner Navahoe, from New
York City. He was picked up fifty miles
from Charleston, after having drlfted for
twenty-five hours on a raft Of lumber.
Seven members OF the crew were lost when
the steamer was split amldships by the
storm and five others were drowned short
time later.
When the Colwell left Fernandlna the
winds were light and variable. On Mon
day morning, however, the storm broke
and continued to grow In fury. The squall
was heavy aud CAPTAIN Gaskill tried to
make for Lookout Light, but lost his bear.
ings. There was cross sea and the ship
could not be managed. At p. N. on Mon
day the engines were choked and the
pumps refused to work. A drag cornu-
copta and then q forty-fathom anchor
failed to hold the vessel and she surged
aud walowed In the trough OF the sea.
The gangs at the buckets could do moth
ing.
While working to save the ship high
sea came rushing down, sweeping the deck
load, smokestack and cabin, and drowning
seven members OF crew. A moment later
the vessel was smashed in two amidships
and the men left were tossed into the
water. They made frantic efforts to gain
places OF safety on the.wreckage. Captain
Gaskill, seeing no others, got on bit OF
driftwood and hugged 1t. He was knocked
Off, however, and bruised by driving
stack Of lumber, though he swan for other
RATS and fought desperately for O hold.
Time after time he was washed OF, to find
another raft. For twenty-five hours he
struggled with the sea. He got cold and
when he was found by the Navahoe and
picked up.
Captain Gasklll Is unable TO give tho
names OF all the crew. Those he remem.
bers were William Murray, chief engineer:
Christopher Rockefeller, assistant engineer;
William Mckenzie, steward; Charles Oliver.
second mate and Nelson, first mate. The
crew shipped from New York City. The
wife OF Captain Gaskill resides at Hoboken,
NJ. The Navahoe came up to the wreck
age OF, the Colwe!l and Captain Staples
told the men on the lookout to watch for
survivors, In ten minutes Gasklll was
found With the glass.
The Navahoe steamed near and small
boat was sent out to pick him up. The
storm was wild and rough. The small
boat was pulled from the steamer, but 1t
was caught and dashed hard against the
iron sides of the vessel. The boat was
smashed and life lines were thrown the
crew. After this the Navahoe steamed
nearer to Gasklll and he was taken In with
lines. He is Ill and weak, but n not IN dan
gerous condition. No other signs OF life
could be found around the wreckage,
The Navahoe had hard voyage, but
weathered the gale without loss or dam
age. Captain Gasklll was caught In the
August hurricane. but managed to escape
harm.
The George L. Colwell was built at Bay
City, Mich, in 1880. She was 154 feet long
and measured AT tons. She carried $50, 600
feet Of yellow. pine In her hold and on deck.
Her crew consisted OF Captain Gasklll, two
mates, two engineers, two stokers and SIX
deckhands.