The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-02-15
A SHIPWRECK
IN ZERO WEATHER
The William Lawrence Stranded on
Hilton Head Island.
FOURTEEN MEN ARE MISSING.
Two of the Ships Boats Unaccounted
For-Tbose Who Were Rescued
Were in a Pitiable Condition.
VIII Make a Search.
FOURTEEN MEN ARE MISSING.

SAVANNAH, GA, Feb. H.-The steam
ship William Lawrence OF the Merchants
and Miners Transportation Company
Line between Baltimore and Savannah,
is a total wreck on Hilton Head Island
South Carolina, near the Port Royal bar
She went ashore there Saturday morn
ing while In a helpless condition from
storm damage as told in these dispatches
last night. The crew stood by her for
nearly twenty-four hours.
When the ship began to break up cap
tain Willis gave the order 10 take to the
boats The sea was running very high
a gale was blowing and it was bitterly
cold. The captain was the last man TO
leave the ship, and II Is said that he
chose the poorest OF the boats.
Boat No. !, IN charge Of Second Assist
ant Engineer Morrissett, with seven men.
made Paris Island, where the government
naval station is situated, on SUNDAY
morning From that point telephone
message was sent 10 Port Royal and
I telegram to the Savannah agent report
ing the loss Of the ship. The names Of
those saved with Morrissett, were given
last night.
A FEARFUL NIGHT.
Boat No. >. in charge Of Second Officer
r.. A. Beale. contained beside Beale,
chief Engineer Roach. Steward Frank
Dingle, First Cook Harry Kelly, Quarter
master oscar Bowler. and Seamen JACK
Montgomery and Charles l.. Green. These
underwent a most terrible experience.
They found ii impossible TO make land,
and as darkness fell on Sunday night.
the cold became more and more intense.
Thev were benumbed. wet. hungry and
exhausted. The freezing spray was driven
almost through them by the piping
wind BY lucky accident they located the
sea buoy off the Port Royal bar and
by almost superhuman efforts managed
TO catch on 10 IT, They made fast 10 the
buoy where they spent the night and
where they were found Monday morning
by pilot boat No. ., of Port Royal and
taken aboard
Boats No. 3. under First Mate l.. r.
Hooper. and No T. under Captain Wills.
are stlll missing with fourteen men.
In Hooper's boat Is First Engineer
l. e Harper and in the Captains boat
is Quartermasters Assistant Andrew
Burgess The names Of the others cannot
be ascertained.
Agent Carlton. at this place under or
ders from President Jenkins. Of the
Merchants and Miners Company at Bal
timore this morning sent the tugs Gym
thla' and McCauley 10 the scene Of the
wreck The Cynthia returned late to-
night and reported that the Lawrence
IS broken in two and that nothing could
be seen or heard from the two missing
boats.
ONE LOAD SAVED.
The passenger steamer Clifton this
morning en- route 10 Savannah from
Beaufort was hailed by pilot boat No.
? having on board the rescued crew Of
Beales boat They were transferred 10
tho Clifton and brought TO this city
Tho men were in pitiable condition.
Chief Engineer Roache, Steward Dingle.
and Second Officer Beale had Their feet
and legs frozen stiff ami their hands
were frostbitten. The three were taken
20 a hospital IN carriages and the report
Is tonight that each may lose one or
both feet. The other men were frost
bitten IN both hands and feet but not 80
badly as the three menlioned.
A HERO.
No connected stt-y could begotten
from either Of them Oh account Of their
sufferings. 1t appears, however, chat
Sailor Green was the nero Of the terri
bic night. Some Of the men, crazed with
cold and pain, wished 10 commit suicide,
but Green told so many funny stories,
sang so many cheerful songs, and could
see 50 many lighthouses or approaching
vessels which did not exist that the
spirits Of the men were kept up and
none Jumped overheard 20 end his misery.
Green and his sailor companions, in
Guiding the crew OF Morrissetts boat,
are now being cared for in one OF the
best hotels OF the city.
Agent Carolton will leave the city
early tomorrow morning on the tug
Cambria TO renew the search for Cap
tain willis and Mate Hopper and their
boats II IL possible that they nave es-
capped TO one OF the Sea Islands.
Telegraph and telephone wires nave
been down since early Sunday morning,
making communication very slow or cut
ting Il OF entirely
The whole coast north and south OF
the scene OF the wreck will be explored.
The wreck lies within a few miles Of
the spot at which the passenger steam
ship City OF Savannah was wrecked in