Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1900-10-06

Boston, Oct. 4.-Fourteen shipwrecked
seamen, the crew of the once fine ship
Ellcrsle of Liverpool, were landed ut
this port yesterday afternoon by the
British steamship Amana, which res
cued the men from their watcrlogged
and dismasted vessel in mid-ocean five
days ago.
The rescue was effected last Saturday
afternoon, aftor tho mon had endured
10 days of sufferings and privatons, and
when they had despaired OF ever seeing
home again.
One member of the crew, John Graham,
?1, a. native Of Glasgow, fell from aloft
on the morning of Sept. is. and was lost.
Captain Cook states that the IIjlersle
left Ship Island, Miss, Aug. IL, with
nearly 100000 feet of pine lumber. for
Liverpool. and had light winds until
Sept. 3, after which a succession of gales
was encountered. developing on the 18th
into a perfect hurricane During the
next few days the wind blew at the rate
of so miles an hour at times, the vessel
rolling and pitching in terrible manner
all the while. The seas had encroached
on the position Of the men on the poop
deck. and they were forced to the fore
castle head to prevent being carried
overheard. Even then their position
at times was almost untenable, but they
managed to keep together.
The sufferings of the men became in
tense through lack of fresh water, the
supply having become exhausted. Af-
ter the masts went by the boards the
vessel was relieved somewhat, and the
gale moderated soon afterwards. The
crew set to work clearing away the mass
Of wreckage from the deck in order to
secure a donkey boiler with which to
condense the salt water. About eight
gallons of sea water were thus con-
densed and the crew were given small
drinks OF this, diluted with lime juice
This appeascd their thirst somewhat and
their su!fcrings were less acute.
During all these days the vessel was
being made the toy Of the waves, the
crew was endeavOring to attract the at
tention of passing vessels. Three or
four steamers passed within sight of the
shipwrecked men, but apparently did
not see their signals Of distress. Fl
nally, on the Goth at p. m, Captain
Cook saw faint streak of smoke far
away to the eastward. All hands eager
ly watched the volume grow in size un-
til the outlines of d steamer were made
out on the horizon. The stump of the
mainmast was now utilized for distress
flags, ana not only the ltritIsn zach, uut a
bunch of the international code signals
was nailed to it to catch the eye of the
on-,uinins stsarnor. Tho latter proved
to be the Amana, and was soon within
hailing distance.
The steamers boats were speedily low
ered Although the gale had moderated.
a mountainous sea was still running, and
the two boats with their gallant crews
experienced great difficulty in getting
alongside the wreck, owing to the i'm
mense amount of wreckage hanging
over the side and dragging in the water.
After several Intellectual efforts, the men
were gotten off the wreck and trans.
ferred to the steamer. The Ellerslie was
then set on fire.
The men of the wrecked vessel were
lorld in their praise of the conduct of the
officers and crew Of the steaI,er. Cap
tain Cook saved the ships .upers and
his chronometer, but the crew lost most
of their possessions in the wreck.
The wrecked bark was built in New
Brunswick in 1872; she registered 1887
tons net. and 1889 tons gross. She was
valued at $4,000 and uninsured. John
Withcrspoon of Liverpool was man.
aging owner.