New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-07
TEN DAYS IN AN OPEN BOAT.
CREW AND CAPTAINS WIFE DESERT
WATERLOGGED BARK AND
SAIL TO SAFETY

Wallowing in the blue Of the tropics about
fifteen hundred miles wes- OF the Windward
Islands with no sign OF life aboard. Is the hulk
Of the British barkentine Florence B. Edgett. 4s1
tons. of Digby. Nova Scotia. Pounding away in
her hold IS several hundred thousand feet Of
spruce lumber. Fortunately, the fate OF those who
once walked her decks is not one Of the mysteries
OF the sea Her OF ten men and the captains
wife arrived here yesterday on the steamer
Granada Of the Trinidad Line. from st. George.
Granada. which port they reached on october >.
after sailing nearly fifteen hundred miles IN an
open boat. with short supply Of provisions and
water.
The Edgett IN command OF Captain J. N Kay
sailed from Digby on August IS for Buenos Ayres.
with $4,000 feet OF spruce lumber With Captain
Kay sailed his young wife and a crew OF two ON
GERS a cook and six men before the mast. and a
cat known as whiskeTs For a month all was fair
sailing on September II the wind breezed up and
the barometer began to drop
With the wind blowing hurricane, heavy sea
struck amidships. stove in the bulwarks and set
part of the deckload adrft- It smashed in the sky
lights and the ports of the deckhOuses. and carried
away the companlonways. The cabin was flooded
and the partitions were destroyed by battering
rams of barrels of beef and flour and furniture
Then the mizzenmast broke of fifteen feet be-
low the hounds. This was followed in a few min
utes by the malnmast Then the foremost tumbled
forward the starboard side. breaking on close
to the deck. Within less than an hour the hurri-
cane showed signs Of abating.
a month passed. ana no vessel had seen
the signal of distress which flown by day
or the 1areups used a night. At last on October
a. there being only a few days supply OF food re-
manning Captain Kay decided take to the open
boat and sail for the Wndward Islands, which
were about fourteen hundred miles the west
ward. The boat Overhaued and repaired
Such dry -four there in stock baked
into bread. and then rebaked tn make IL hard.
When the boat lowered il found that IL
leaked badly. Every hour IL baled out and
by the next day the wood had swelled so that by
occasional baling il could be kept free. Putting
into il the bread. which amounted 10 about nifty
pounds in quantity. salt beef TO the same amount
about thirty-hve gallons OF water. short masts
sails, a compass materials for torches. a gun and
some sail cloth for shelter from the heat and to
protect Mrs Kay. and. finally. WhiSkers the boat
left the waterogEed vessel
The ten days which succeeded were trying ones
The crew was divided into watches as on shipboard
Twice a day a supply of water. beef and bread was
dealt The trade winds were favorable. and
under her three sails the boat sped along at good
pace. IL necessary to bale constantly. and IN
the daytime the heat from the tropical sun was
terrific At night Captain Kay would correct his
compass by means OF the North Star and flare
lights We're shown Three steamers were sighted at
night but far away that the flare ups were
not observed by them Two days before sighting
Granada the supply Of food and water had be-
come short that the ratons were reduced. Dis
CouTaged at sighting vessel. CAPTAIN Kay
steered southwest for the coast of South America
The sight which greeted his eyes az nightfan on
October "a welcome In the distance he
beheld the blue outline of the island of Granada