The Savannah morning news., 1901-01-07
SINKING OF THE DORETTA.
HER PASSENGERS LEFT UNsHEL-
TERED ON PINE ISLAND.

Landed In Boats From the sunken
steamer and spent the Night
Best They CouId-Tnken the Next
Day TO an Oyster Factory on Dau-
fusi<ie Island and Reached Home
In Sail BOats-stOry of the Steam
er's Going Ashore.
Further and more accurate reports of
the sinking to the steamer Doretta in
Cooper river. show that the passengers
had a desperate experience. There were
about fourteen white passengers, includ-
ing several women and children, and also
a number of colored people.
Mr.. james S. Estill was among .ne pas
sengers. and is the first to give an au-
thentIc story of the grounding of the Dor
eta. Ii seems that the steamer got out
Of trim first while passing through the
cut connecting the Savannah and Wright
rivers where she ran into a dredge and
unshipped her rudder, adding to the diff
Guilty of managing her. The fact that the
steering of the steamer was the subject
OF comment among the passengers before
iety which they felt for their safety. She
grounded in Cooper river near it's inter-
section with Rams Horn creek, about Q
O'Clock Thursday night 1t was high wal
ter when she struck, and during the next
hood tide she filled and went to the bot
tom. This was midnight.
The passengers had a hard fight 10 save
thamERlNraC he
ing the boats being graciously entrusted
TO them. Credit for the rescue of all
on board is largely Que to Mr.. Estiu and
Mr.. Alex Fisher of Bluffton. After the
loretta struck, the danger of her posi-
ton was al once realized. and Mr. Fisher
found it necessary to assume the resnon-
slblllty of ordering the life boats lower
ed' as a precautionary measure. Mean
ume the captain was made aware of this
and possibly believing it unnecessary.
ordered them raised, which was done.
The anxiety of the passengers seems not
TO have disturbed him, and he returned
10 mis- post and remained there until the
oahger became so great that the boats
were again ordered down and hurried
Preparations made by Mr.. EstilI and MIR.
rlSher 10 get the other passengers ashore.
This was not done until the loretta had
slid on the march repeatedly, which was
conclusive to the passengers that the
thing for them to do was to look out
for their safety
Inc llVes OF the passengers are doubt
less due TO the gallant work of the men
who took 1t upon themselves to get them
ashore Negro oarsmen were put into the
two boats, and after five trips the passen-
gers were landed on Pine Island. All were
taken ashore, except Capt. Chadwick.
FIRST Otficer Mason and Engineer Berry.
The latter was later taken ashore. The
passengers spent the night unsheltered on
the island, and the fact that it was bitter
cold added physical suffering to the I'M
eaSiness they had previously felt for their
safety. IL was not until O'Clock Friday
morning that the castawayS were taken
in sailboats by two white men TO an oyster
factory on Daufuskie Island, where they
received grateful treatment They were
given food and braced up to continue
their trip After spending some time
there the passengers divided, and engaged
sailboats, in which they went on to their
destinations. Among the passengers, be-
sides Messrs. Estill and Fisher, were w.
]. Fripp. wife and two children, of Bluff
ton, the Misses Pritchard, Mrs. B. Patz
and two children, Morgan Hyatt, and
others.
Judging from the way the passengers
were compelled to looIo out for their own
safety, it is not likely they will care for
another such experience.