The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-21
HAD TO SWIM
OR GO DOWN.
Exciting Experience Of Rev. Mr..
Vass in Connection With
Lapslcy Disaster.
SWEPT BY STRONG CURRENT
The Little Boat Was Not Strong
Enough and Finally Turned
Ovcr-To Build New One.

q 4 q r.
Ovcr-To Build New One. VI
There have arrived from far-away
Africa at last, the long and eagerly
awaited letters, giving full particulars
OF the loss OF the steamboat "Lapslcy,"
which recently went down. carrying
with her twenty-three native Christians
and one OF the Congo missionaries.
From Leopoldvlle. in the heart Of the
dark continent, the Rev. L. G. vass, one
of those who struggled wildly for hh
life in the sweeping currents that bore
the others to watery grave. writes to
DR.. p. H. Chester. the mission. secretary.
Ho was the 'admirals Of the little
steamer that was Built here in Rich
mond, and was In charge Of the mission
post. ii
The Currents Were Strong.
envy heart Is too sick over the affair
to 70 into many details Of the accident"
he writes ..To make the story short,
the currents in the channel were cxcep-
tionally strong. When went out In the
middle OF the river, the speed of the
Lapslcy was not sufficient even to over
como the current, and Instead OF gong
forward. we would be washed back.
wards. Then 1t was necessary to steal
along the shore and take back currents
All went safely for the first four days.
when we arrived below Kwamouth and
spent Sunday there had had much
trouble at places coming thus far, and
several times the current had washed
me entirely around; but by reversing the
| engines quickly and drawing the steam-
or back with the current, no danger was
encountered.
I"We started out Monday morning. and
| had run only about half an hour, when
we came to point with strong wa
ter. sI eased Oft slowly to meet this from
| the lighter current near shore. AS she,
| struck the strong water the helm re-
fused to bring her up against the cur
rent. The water boiled up on the deck,
pressing her down on one side, and moth
| ing could do could save her. In a few
seconds she was upside down. Mr..
| 5Slaymaker was by me and had told
me he was a good swimmer. / saw him
grab the railing on the upper side as we
| went over. I never saw him afterwards.
| I fear he became cntangled with some
Of the people that could not swim and
vas taken down.
Swan for. His Life.
II Immediately swan from the drown
| Ing crowd, as they were grabbing for
mo, and returned only after most OF
! them were drowned. But as was at
! tempting to climb on top, the boiling cur
rent sucked me under, and some one
1 grabbed my foot from below. Ono of the
boys, who had gotten on top, era bbed
i my. hand and was landed. Immediate
j ~ I secured tho canoe. picked up Mar
/ tin. and after a prayer, landed all that
! survived (Twenty-three were drowned
besides Mr.. Slaymaker)
I'VE walked seven miles to Kwamouth.
l Mr. Martin was exhausted and had fe-
(. yer. / escaped. Next day we returned
4 to Leopoldyille.F Tho Governor gave or
ders for the comnssair;; to give us any
j assistance. returned next day with
large state steamer Helnanti, with all
! r.eeded gearing, and after five and
half days of terribly hard work In wa
ter and mud, we raised the Lapsley
She was fortunately lodged on the cor
ner Of a grass island, bottom upwards
! All cargo and new press saved, but cloth
damaged; salt lost. We returned with
her to Leopoldville and she now lies at
cur beach. The hull, boiler and engines
| arc all unhurt: upper cabin carried
away; all pipes, stanchions, sun-deck,
etc. a twisted mass 3''
Build Better One.
/ In concluding his long letter, Mr.. yass
/ tells what arrangements he has made
| for transporting the cargo. He says 1t
| is best to sell the Lapsley, as she stands
! to whoever will take her. He thinks she
| could be made to bring 5000 possibly a
| little more. Then no thinks the church
! ought to undertake to build a proper
steamer for the mission work, steamer
| with sufficient beam and speed to- go
straight In strong currents. thus avotd-
/ ing all whirlsE and whlrlpools. He says
there is no danger In properly con-
structed boat.
Build New Steamer.
The Presbyterion Committee on Mis-,
| slons met few days ago. The matter
of absorbing Interest before 1t was tho
| news from Africa. contained In letters
| from Mr. Robert Whyte and from Mr..
| Morgan, OF the Congo Bololo Mission,
| r.}Whyte enclosed a brief letter from
Rev, Motto Martin, and after the COM
mittee adjourned the letter from Mr..
ynss arrived.
In view OF the information contained
III the letters the committee instructed
| Mr. Yass by cable to sell the wreck
age of the present Lapsley for whatever
II would bring in Its present condition,
and Issued an appeal to the church for s25i-
600. With which to build Mt once n new
and larger steamer. Messrs. Stuart and
Maffett, representatives OF the Forward