The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-19
CASTAWAY ON RACCOON KEY.
TWENTY-THREE BOYS AND FIVE
LADIES IN AN ICE-CLAD BOAT.

Driven Ashore in the Schooner Doris
Twelve Miles From Beaulieu SAT-
urday Afternoon and spent the
Night Packed in the Cabins of the
Little Vessel with scant Food and
CIothing-Great Excitement and
Anxiety in the city on Account of
the Missing MarOOners-A Tug Sent
in Search of Them-Their Return
Warmly WeIcomed-Story of "a Ma
room with Mercury Hunting Zero.
Twenty-three schoolboys and five ladies
on the little schooner Doris, beached Tor
eighteen hours on Raccoon Key.
with only a small basketful of provisions
on board, scant clothing and mercury i6
degrees above zero, caused many anxious
hearts in Savannah yesterday aSd part OF
the night before.
Mrs. Paschal Strong, nee Miss Kathar-
inc Hsrtridge, had invited a number of
her former pupils in the High School to
visit her at her Beaulieu home Saturday
for sail and an oyster roast on one Of
the neighboring keys In the party were
Miss Helen Egan, Miss Josephine Egsn,
Miss Walker Of Marquette, Mich, visiting
ttlt hisStC GShtl, anu MISS Harriet NUS
sell. Mrs Strong made the fifty lady and
Mr.. Strong was the only gentleman. With
the twenty-three sehoolboys, there were
twenty mine persons on board the Doris.
besides the boats crew of four colored
men.
The Doris left Beaulieu at noon and was
expected to return after few hours sail.
The boat went ashore on Raccoon Key,
however, where she remained until 0
O'Clock yesterday morning. Crowded In
the small cabin during the cold night
were the twenty-three boys. five ladies
and the owner of the boat
AT 1880 O'Clock yesterday afternoon the
half frozen marooners reached BeaulieI.
Waiting there to receive them was
crowd of fathers and mothers and other
anxious relatives eager TO press the cold
and hungry voyagers in their arms and
welcome them back from what was fear
ed might have been fatal cruise
Most of the boys who went on the event
full maroon are in the First Grade, b, OF
the High School. In the party were Will
Bythewood, John OConnell, Willie Nc
Murray, Clifford Way, While Lamotte,
Harry Stokes Willie Adams, Theo Pot
finger. Jake Kaufman, Simon n Gazan,
Charlie Powers Win Spann, Paul Jette.
Charlie Strong, Charlie Ellis, Alfred Har-
fridge Earl Hartridge, Ralph Meldrm,
Robbie Riley, Frank Brooks, Hugo Gle
Der, Garrard Hafnes and While Collins.
1t was understood at the homes of ell
the boys that the last car
would leave Montgomery for the city
at O'Clock in the afternoon. When
o'clock came without The voyagers re-
turning, many households began to grow
anxious.
Since early In the morning the day had
been growing colder. Relatives of the voy-
ayers scarcely thought however, of the
unpleasant biting they were getting on
the vessel until night when none of them
had put in an appearance.
When the last car arrived without the
marooners, Mr. John M. Egan called on
Mr.. Ormond Strong to enquire If
he had heard anything from the
party. Learning nothing from that
source, he went 10 the street car
sheds, where information was equally as
scarce 1t was thought the street car
conductors might know whether the party
was at Beauiieu. 1t was thought quite
possible that it had returned there too
late to catch the last cor. but the street
car people did not know. Mr.. Egan then
decided to engage the services of a tug
TO search for the Doris. Should the party
have met with any mishap The II. NJ, c.
Smith was secured, and Mr.. George
Haines, Mr.. Lloyd Owens and Mar. Charles
Isltls volunteered 70 go on the search. In
the meantime Mr. Egan decided to drive
out and see what he could learn. It
is eleven miles TO Beaulieu, and it was
after midnight when Mr.. Esan reached
there. Going to Mr.. Strongs home, ne
found nobody except two colored women,
who had been left in care of the place.
They knew nothing and were themselves
concerned for the safety of the party.
Half expecting to find the marooners at
Beaulieu, Mr.. Egans alarm was re-
doubled when the truth dawned upon him
that they We're somewhere along The coast
The wind was bitterly cold. and greatly
concerned for the ladies and boys Mr.
Egan found scant comfort in that Offered
by one of the colored women. who told
him that she had "chilluns of her own and
knowed how he felt Hurrying down to
Mr.. ID. B. Testers place, a short distance
beyond, Mr.. Egan was about to be shot as
robber before the man in charge could
he made to understand who he was and
what he wanted. No information could
he gained there and Mr.. Egan returned to
the city just before daylight. AS soon
day dawned, he started out with an
other carriage, accompanied by number
of anxious fathers and relatives. Some
went on the cars, and nearly all carried
provisions, for il avs remembered that
the boys had taken only for what they ex-
pected would be a brief trip. and some car
ried blankets, clothing and medicine
In the meantime the news of the delay
in the return of the party had become
known The high northwest winds aroused
the fear that the Doris might have been
blown out 10 sea and lost. In any event
there was the fear of the bitter cold
Friends offered their consolation to anx-
ious relatives and gave what hope they
could. The preachers in several of the
churches learned of the circumstances and
prayers were offered for the safe return
of the party.
At Beaulieu those who had gone in
search saw two boats in the dis
lance They were beating in in the teeth
of the strong wind and against the tide
which was running out. and their pro-
gress was slow. Some enc living at Beau
lieu said the foremost boat was the one
on which the party had sailed. Finally It
was seen that her decks were 'unpeopled
Thinking that could not be the Doris, Mr.
Egan hailed and the shout came back
that the boat was bound further up the
river. IL was soon seen however that