New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-18
|AVED BY THE SYCAMORE.
fR HANAN's YACHT BRINGS IN A SHIP
WRECKED CREW
TORY OF THE SIMPLE CHRISTIAN FAITH
OF THE CAPTAINS wIFE-NINE DAYS
OF HELPLESS DRIFTING.

L. OF THE CAPTAINS W ifE-NiNt D<tiS
OF HELPLESS DRIFTING.
John H. Hanan's steam yacht Sycamore
teached port yesterday with the owner and a
Sarty Of friends. and the captain, his wife and
hind. and the crew Of the British brigantne
caspian
On the way up from the West Indies the
Faeht stopped at the Bermudas to coal and LETT
here on Friday morning. When about seventy
niles north OF the islands dismasted sailing
feeseI was sighted about ten miles off flying
nom spar forward the British ensign. union
uown Mr. Hanan ordered the engineer to put
In all steam and made for the wreck. He ran
lose up and lowered a boat in charge OF the
.econd mate and the boatswain. There was
3eavy swell at the time. but little wind the
5o&t brought off the captain. William Gordon
Ajs wife. his daughter four years old, and the
BREW OF six men.
The distressed vessel was the Caspian. from
charlottetown. Prince Edward Island.
) Mr. Hanan and the members of the Saga
nore's crew spoke with tenderness yesterday OF
he extraordinary exhibition Of Christian faith
by Mrs. Gordon, the wife Of the cap
ain. and her little girl Helen. Soon after the
Caspian became unmanageabe and began TO
lrift Mrs Gordon who is a devout Christian
woman asker her husband and the members Of
he crew to join her in a prayer for rescue.
captain Gordon was willing, but the seamen
we're nearly ali Of the typical reckless and God
ess sort and sneered at the proposal.
Very we'll. my little girl and will pray
slone then" said she. and then began a series
% prayers the first of which brought hush
1pon those on board But the prayers seemed
lnavailing. although Mrs. Gordon spent nearly
bali her time on her knees. On the fourth or
ifth day sail was sighted. and little Helen
Mapped her hands and said
my mamma was right: God has sent a ship
20 save u.s.
But the ship soon disappeared below the
aorizon, and the seamen were bitter in their
seproaches against the praying woman
That's the ship God sent, eh?" they said
Iauntingly.
4 But Mrs Gordon was undaunted. and repeat
sdiy she prayed for deliverance. Two days
slapsed and another sail was sighted. This
lime the signals of the brigantine seemed to be
answered, and again little Helen shouted with
klee at the approach Of deliverance. But just as
4 seemed as IL the approaching ship was sure
10 lower a boat her prov turned and she was
soon lost sight of below the skyline
K II the sneers and taunts of the seamen were
bitter before they were like poisoned darts this
time, and little Helen shrank to her mothers
aide and cried piteously at the dark looks of the
men. Her father comforted her and cheered his
wife, who never once lost faith.
Il believe" said She that we shall be res
cued and shall keep on praying
On the ninth day, when they were nearly eX-
hausted a sail was sighted fo- the third time
Il little Helen her voice merely a whisper from
Exhaustion. sprang to her feet and clapped her
hands Ar, 49,. 49,
Mamma" she said, excitedy lis this the
truly ship that God is sending?'
yes" said the mother. This is the ship that
God has sent TO save us all
And so II proved 10 be. With tear dimmed
ewes the captains wife watched the trim Saga
more as she came nearer and answered the sig
mails Of distress. When they finally were safe
little Helen looked about the handsome cabins
of the Sycamore and SAID:
Mamma. God sent US beautiful ship to go
home in. didn't He?'
no jacksonville to load yellow pine On April
3, while running before heavy gale, she was
struck by a hurricane squall, which swept
everything off-masts. sails and forward house
Fortunately, no one was hurt. The vessel i'm
mediately dropped into the trough of the sea
and was swept by the swells. The wreckage
which was held by the shrouds began beating
AGAINST the sides, threatening 10 smash the
ship. With axes, however. It was soon CUT
away. No attempt was made 10 rig Jury
mast as all the canvas was gore In the nine
DAYS Of drifting d torch was burned at night
nd in the daytime the ensign was shown from
q pole dashed TO the stump of the mainmast'
On two nights vessels were seen passing one
a sailihg vessel passed so close that the posi-
zion of her lights was easily seen. Inc loren
was burned but no attention was paid to IT, On
another night steamer passed almost NIthln
Mailing distance and again the torch was burned
but apparently was not seen These FAILURES
10 get aid very much dishearteneo the parry
on the wreck and caused the great part of their
suffering 1870. ,
The after house afforded them sheiter anu
there was a plenty OF food and drink. The
pumps were kept going TO keep the vessei anoat
but when the rescue was made she was rast
falling to pieces and could not have lasted much
longer. 80, ,,oa
The best OF care was given to the rescued
party on the Sycamore. ~ -
The Sagamore left New-York February 10
for a cruise In West Indian waters she visited
Jacksonville Nassau. Havana, Cienfuegos san
tiago. St Croix st. kits, Martinique. St Lucia
and the Bermudas. While at santiago she
visited the wrecks OF the Spanish vessels ana
several relics were obtained Among them We're
two rapid-fire guns from the Oquendo and the
vizcaya.