The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-11-21
BACK FROM
THEIR CRUISE
ON ROBERTA

Col Felix II. Wendelschaefer, Senator
Walter r. stiness and willard G. Perkins,
members OF the party reported as
drowned in the gale OF Sunday evening
the 18th. arrived i'm this city Saturday
evening on the Federal express from New
York.
The gentlemen were met at the station
by an impatient and anxious party, the
personnel OF which was az follows:
Mrs Felix Wendelschasfer. Mrs. Walter
n. Stiness Mrs. Fred 8. Farwell, Mrs
Willard c. Perkins and two daughters.
Eugene Wendelschaefer, W. A. Wilkin'
son. Charles f.. Baeny, press representa-
tive for the Providence Opera house
Abraham spitz and Max Nsthanson, Col.
Wendelschaefers partners I'm the Inn
perial theatre and Park Music hall; A. l..
Lowering and Charles Buckley OF the
Mrs. Gilbert company.
The train on which the returning
travellers were passengers was delayed
nearly half an hour by the heavy foot
ball traffic az New Haven.
The gentlemen spoke freely OF their ex-
perlences and all agreed that IL was good
TO be back I'm Providence again. Speaking
of the storm In which the party had been
exposed 10 grave danger, Col. Wendell
schaefer said:
I'VE went cut TO Roanoke Island Fri
day and Saturday and had some great
duck shooting. Sunday morning we were
standing on and on I'm Roanoke SOUND
and had got about seven miles down the
sound when the wind shifted from the
southwest 10 the northwest. The change
came I'm about two minutes, and I'm 10
minutes IL was blowing hurricane. In
fact. the wind came along at 75-mile-
oil gel
its terrific waves. and we knew We were
i'm for a. Capt. Isaac Golden and his
brother Capt Charles Golden; Capt.
Gates. our pilot. who has made the trip
down there II times and the rest Of the
crew. william Turner. Golden's nephew.
and the steward. a man named Otto. were
equal TO the emergency. and the pilo~de-
cided that our safety lay in seeking an
anchorage near the Roanoke marshes
I'VE turned and ran for the marshes.
but when we got near shore we found
them barricaded with FISH nets, so We
put offshore again and started out by the
Roanoke lighthouse.
"Ae We were running past the light the
keeper shouted TO us through a mega
phone 90 get back on 90 the marshes II
we wanted TO save our lives, and We
turned back once more. There was
tidal wave then. that swept over the
coast. and when I tell you that within
half an hour the water on the marshes
was four or Ave feet deep where ordinar-
lily II ~ bare, yori Will comprehend tho
way the water piled up under US.
I'VE got on to the marshes eventually
and dropped our strongest anchor in FIVE
feet ot water. and then when the blow
ceased in the afternoon. We went on
shore. for we didn't want 10 get stuck
high and dry on the marsh when the
water fell back, and anchored for the
night.
Monday morning We started out again.
We had got into Pamlico Sound by
night. and when another hurricane came
up. That Monday storm was worse than
Sundays The wind made sweep of So
miles an hour and the water was dashed
completely over the launch II was ter
rife and we all thought we surely were
going TO the bottom. The water came
upon US I'm sheets. and that fearful wind
seemed 10 pile the waves away UP and
then pick off the tops and hurl them over
Ms We were completely swept again and
again.
Stiffness and | went into the cabin,
leaving Perkins in the pilot house.
made up my mind that II we we're doomed
we were doomed and that nothing we
could do could save us. but our pilot
the captain and crew worked nobly and
after what seemed arr eternity we got
into Cove Sound. just below Pamlico
sound and there we lay by.
The next day we put into Beaufort
and the three OF us went by rail 10
Georgetown, where We waited until yes
terday for the launch to arrive. Down
there we heard that the Roberta had been
lost and we're pretty anxious. you may
be sure. 10 the safety of our crew
for their efforts undoubtedly saved the
lives OF all OF VS..
The telegraph stations all along tho
shore were kept open In post VS. of any
tidings Of the Roberta and we were
greatly relieved yesterday when she
showed UP safe and sound. Then we
started for home, and /. for one. am glad
to get here. RI was a close call all around
Why, we were 100 miles from everywhere
when that storm struck US. Talk about
Narrn Fansett bay In Pamlico Sound YOU
could dump our bay and lose IL without
trying We were ten miles from land,
and how we ever lived through the hur-
IL a Mystery