The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-12-20
WAVED TOSSED
WOMEN
Captain LoWelI's Pretty
Wife and Sister-in-
Law Endure Ocean
Perils.
WRECK OF THE W. Il. CARD
Little Schooner's Decks
Awash and All Hands
Starving Thirteen
Days
STEAMER PASSED THEM RY
Rescued BY the Liner Frank
ford and Landed Safely
in Hoboken.
STEAMER PASSED THEM BY

A thrilling story of shipwreck and a
courageous young captain. who, with his
brave wife and crew, were tossed
about on the stormy Atlantic for thirteen
days on a water-logged schooner, with
the temperature far below zero, was re
lated this morning upon the arrival at
Hoboken of the North German Lloyd
steamship Barbarossa.
Among the passengers ON the Barbar-
ossa were Captain Frank H. Lowell, his
wife and sister-in-law and three members
of the crew of the little schooner, Will
lam H. Card, of Bangor, Me. They were
picked up at sea on November % last by
the steamer Frankfort of the same line,
and taken to Bremen. Germany. They are
now returning to their homes in New
England, after having experienced one
of the most stirring sea voyages on rec
ord. Seventy-fye cents is all the money
in the possession of the little party. Were
it not for the assistance rendered Captain
Lowell and his unfortunate crew by the
United States Consul at Bremen they
would have been stranded in Germany
yet They left ore member of the crew,
the cook, in hospital in Germany.
Captain Lowell left Bangor, Me-, on the
schooner William H. Card with load of
lumber on November 7, last, bound for
Wareham, Mass. A day out the schooner
ran into terrific northwest gale. The
sea tossed the little craft about like a
cigar box. The sails were ripped into
shreds and the waves began to carry
away the part of the cargo of lumber
piled on the deck The crew fought the
gale bravely but their efforts were almost
useless. In a few hours the lumber on
the deck was all swept overheard and the
sea began to beat its way into the cabin
through the companionway. The schooner
was wrenched and twisted by the hurri-
cane until her seams opened. Then the
cabin filled with water, driving every
body, including the women, upon deck.
The provisions were destroyed and all
the fresh water on board was lost. The
storm continued for two days. On Mo-
vember IL it began to abate. Along to-
ward noon of the same day the steamer
Arkansas was spoken about 1853 miles out
from Nantucket lightship. The Arkansas
hove to and offered assistance, but Cap
tain Lowell replied that all he wanted
was some fresh water and provisions,
having made up his mind upon the pros
poets of good weather to bring his water
logged schooner into port If possible. The
Arkansas supplied the crew with pro-
visions and water and then continued
on her course.
At A. NJ, on November 12. another
gale came up and for eight days the
crew suffered intensely from exposure.
When the wind finally let up the two
masts were gone and there was only one
small piece of the sail left. This the
crew rugged up on a piece of the boom
and tried to prevent the schooner from
drifting, but their efforts were in vain.
The fresh water and provisions secured
from the steamer Arkansas were soon ex-
hausted and death seemed to stare the
unfortunates in the face. They began to
regret that they had not deserted the
ship when they spoke the Arkansas But
The crew stood by their captain never-
theless and were ready to share his Fate
and that of the women. Famished from
hunger and thirst they watched anxious
ly for a ship, but none appeared Not
even a. speck marred the horizon. Short
ly after midnight on November g. when
they were about to give up all hope, a
light was sighted to the starboard. 1t
proved to be the steamer Frankfort of
the North German Lloyd line, bound for
Bremen. BY burning some clothing the
crew attracted the steamers attention
and she changed her course towards them.
A shout OF joy went up from the party
and an hour later they were snug on
board the big liner. They reached
Bremen on December 6, all safe. In the
party besides Captain Lowell and his wife
were his sfster-in-law, Miss Sadie A. Nc
I.aughiin; Chester Farnham, of Orland
Me-; Eli Olson, Norwegian; Teddy O..
Ellis, of Boston and Smith Foster, of St
John N. B. Foster was the cook, and
Farnham, Olson and Ellis were sailors.
Foster suffered the most from the trying
experience and was sent to a hospital
when the steamer reached Bremen. He
is still in a serious condition.
Captain Lowell said he was going to his
home in Buckport, Me-, as soon as he
could obtain travelling expenses. He said
he did not know what he would do in the
meantime He is about thirty years old
and has a strong countenance. The
schooner William Fl. Card is registered at
1lS net tons. She had on board l46,oo0
feet of lumber consigned to e. X. Agree,
OF Wareham. Mass, from James Walker.
Of Bangor.
ss = 4 =