Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1904-02-19
lie SYLPh WRECK
john "A. Berkey Describes
His Yachts Misadven-
ture

John A. Berkey in letter to a ST..
Paul friend published in the Pioneer
Press. thus describes the recent wreck
of his yacht off the Florida coast:
"We sailed from Matanzas, Cuba,
Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 81. about
2: 80. The pilot left US at the entrance
Of the harbor about 3 80. The wind
was northwest go we had to beat out
into the gulf. AS soon as we were
cleared we put over the patent log.
My memorandum shows it was 4 80
when this was done and that at s
o'clock we had made seventeen and a
half miles; an average of about five
miles per hour. The wind was haul
ing to the eastward and increasing.
At II 1t was freshening and we were
bowling along in fine shape with a
bright full moon.
"Al were on deck enjoying the
beauty Of the night land the sail.
Eight bells and the party, with the
exception of Jack and I. turned in. We
sat talking with the captain and with
him examined the chart calculating
our location and at O'Clock also
turned in, but was restless and at 2
O'Clock was on deck again.
"We had picked up Sand Key light
and the moon had set the wind was
heavy, more than half gale. it was
banging in the northeast and a storm
threatening, vivid flashes of light
ming with distant thunder adding
much to the situation. America
shoal light soon appeared. and Key
West light could be seen. All was sat-
isfactory and we figured that we
would anchor in the outer harbor
within two hours, as our log showed
seventy-six miles since leaving
Matanzas and the total distance from
Matanzas to Key West being ninety
six.
II went below again and must have
dropped off to sleep, for 1T seemed
but a few moments until the grating
of the center ssboard on a cora! reef
brought me on deck again just as the
captain called all hands on deck, we
are on the reef.
~ feared that the situation was
serious and at once awakened the en-
tire party, with the exception of
Jack, who hal gone on deck the same
moment as myself. I had the oondi-
ton of the yacht investigated i'm
mediately and found that although
We were hard on the reef the Yacht
was not leaking. In the meantime
everybody had come on deck and
went below and dressed myself. Then
came the. long wait for daylight. The
ladies behaved like he:oines, not
showing the least fear and in perfect
control Of themselves. We all hoped
that 1t was but temporary ground
ing. The wind had gone into the
southwest, and the storm seemed to
be passing In to the northwest.
daylight came about 6 :15 and we
prepared to go ashore In the gig. We
put life preservers on the ladies,
launched the boat, but soon found
that the sea was very heavy, so heavy
in fact, that I did not dare to trust
as many in the boat. I then decided
to send her ashore for assistance and
sent Jack and Mr.. W. A. Varty ia
gentleman who had joined US in Ha-
vana) with two sailors to Key West.
"shortly after the departure of the
gig, the yacht began to make water
rapidly and before the boat was out
of sight the water in the saloon was
knee-deep and tho stern was settling
fsst. We ran up signal of distress
and fired our cannon. I then had the
ladies interest themselves in getting
together some of their small ~elong-
ings and in this way We packed fye
suit cases.
1.-THE sea was now breaking over
the stern. and We were all huddled
together In the bow, which was high
out { water and resting on q large
coral rock. This was about 7:30 and
oh how anxiously we watched for The
smoke Of tug boat which..we were
expecting to come to our rescue.
!"While thus waiting the small pilo>
boat Glance hove in sight and sailing
as near as she dared, put over a boa
which came through the breakers t,
Us. 1t was fully IN hour, however
before I could bring myself to trus
the ladies in so small craft, but 81
the sea was increasing and the zach
pounding. on the rocks hard and n
other chance Of escape in sight. de
cided that the risk was necessary.
z"I therefore sent Miss McDonal,
and my daugh ter, Miss Minnie, on
on the. .bowsprit and holding then
over board by tkeir hands let then
drop into the boat whom its rose 8,