Evening journal., 1901-07-20
SAYS ACCIDENT Is DUE
TOLACK OF JUDGMENT
Mrs. Spranlxle Tells Evening Journal Had
Captain Acted on Fathers Sugges-
ton All Would Be Alive
NOW WITH WIDOWED rIOTHER

sea was breaking over the lifeboat so that
half Of the time the boat was under water,
HER NERVE NEVER FAILED.
Il knew that an attempt to reach the
boat was out OF the question, so hung on
there for dear life, encouraging Mrs.
Sprankie TO do the same until someone
would rescue us. She acted cody after we
got to the lfeboat, and it was due TO this
as much as anything else that we were
both saved. Frequently she would make
icxclamations Of grief at the thought of the
awful fate OF her father and sisters The
wind and sea had carried the lifeboat some
distance to the southeast of where the
'yawl w5nt down All we could see Of the
pleasure boat as We drifted away from her
was her topmast sticking out Of the water
A steam yacht passed within half a mile Of
us.
We drifted about an hour. How Mrs
Sprankle managed 10 hang on God only
knows. Finally the weather cleared aud
the tug Gertrude was passing half a mile
away from u.s. The two OF us shrleked forI
ten minutes before we were heard. Then
the tug headed for us. The crew lifted
Mrs Spran1le to the deck OF the tug. She
was nearly done for
SHOCK MAY KILL MRS. COLBURN.
The news Of the caDsizng OF the yacht
lVenitzia, near Captain Island, in Long Is
land Sound, en- Thursday night when Ar
thur Colburn, the millionaire scice manu-
facturer, his two daughters Annetta and
Ida, and two sailors lost their lives, caused
great excitement yesterday in Philadelphia
Walter J. Sprankle, secretary and treas
urer Of the Standard Engraving Company
living at $40 North Fifth street. received
the first news OF the accident at o'clock
yesterday morning. from his VIE Made
leine Snrankle, one o. the two survivors
and the youag'st daughter of Mr.. Colbirn.
The message was buef. but significant
"All drowned exceDt me. Come on imme-
diately," it read. Mr.. Sprankle started for
New Haven on the $50 train. Edwin Wee
yer OF 519 North Fifth street. an uncle
OF Mrs. SDrankle. when seen yesterday by
a reporter. said
I'VE have received no word as to how
the accident occurred. The only message
received was that to Mr.. SDrankle. Made
lleine, the sole survivor Of the family. is an
expert swimmer and this is probably the
reason she escaped with her life. She is !
physically very strong and can swim two
miles. The eldest daughter. Annette, was
a semi-invalid. l suppose Mr.. Colburn at J
tempted to save them, and in this way all |
three We're drowned. Even though Made
loine escaDed drowning. she is so highly |
strung and nervous that am afraid the !
shock will PROSTATE her.
F Immediately after receiving the news Of |
the accident this morning I went to Mr..
Colburn's Office. Charles e. Joyce. a mem
b-r Of the firm, started Immediately for the |
scene OF the accident.
Mr.. Colburn has been an enthusiastic |
yachtsman for forty years. 1t was his only |
recreation, and he enjoyed II thoroughly |
He was thoroughly acquainted with the
coast Of Connecticut and Long Island The
yacht, however. was an old one and much
patched uD. Only a few weeks ago, just
before he started on his trip north to join |
the Corinthian squadron, the yacht ran
aground of Virginia Beach and broke one
OF her masts. Tugs pulled her of. Fur
nished with a new mast the Yacht put
back to this city.
3 "The same party were on beard and also
the 2-year-old son Of Mrs. Sprankle. Luck !
lily he was left with his grandmother Mrs |
Colburn, at Delaware CITY, or he too. /
would have been drowned"
Most Of Mr.. Colburns time was spent on
his 500 acre farm, tho Reybold near Del |
aware City. Here he lived with his wife /
and two daughters. When in Philadelphia |
he usually stopped at the Continental /
Hotel, although sometimes with his family /
at No 2004 Green street. He was a mem
Der Of the Union Leagu. and a well known |
figure at that club.
Arthur Colburn was a native OF Connec- |
ticut, having been born in Ansonia, Conn.
in January, 1894. He was the youngest
son Of Samuel Colburn. who operated an
ext, nsive rolling mill in Ansonia. and a de-
scendant Of Commodore Hull. At an early ,
age. having learned his trade-that OF
machinist-he went to Delaware City, /
where he Cstablishd a factory for making
agricultural implements He had hardly
started when his mill was destroyed by fire
Undaunted by adversely. however. he went
into the spice business on Arch street in
1855, where his mills are at present located
In 1882. to meet the demands Of an in
creased business he moved to No. 10 North
Second street. Throughout his whole life
he was energetic and perstvering, winning
many friends by his open. frank manner
Mr. Colburn was a director OF the Della
ware City National Bank and was former
ly dinsctor OF the Edison Light and Power
Company. He attended the Christ Epis-
copal Church in Delaware City. and was its
principal supporter He was also an ac-
tive member OF Franklin Lodge, No. 1874
F. and A. NJ.
His widow was formerly Miss Annette
Downes of Derby. Conn, whom he married
in 1860. In 1865 their first child. a son,
was born. but died two years later. In 1868
Mr.. Colburn purchased tho Reyboll farm,
near Delaware City, where be and his
family have since spent most of their time.
k5out twenty years ago Mrs Calburn was
stricken with paralysis. and has ben to-
tally blind for the nast fourteen years.
They had three daughters. Annette. 80
years old Ida, 2s years old. and Made
lsine, 22 years old Madeleine, the young