The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-11-01
OF THE SEA.
Details of Wreck of Schooner
Van Name and King.
LEFT CHARLESTON

LEFT CHARLESTON
On the Third Day of October and
Was Wrecked Two Days Later Off
Cape Lookout. Two Sailors,
Who We're Saved. Tell a
HoraibIs Tale.
Clinging to q piece # wreckage
with the fast failing strength Of their
weakened bodies which had known
no nourlsbment for five days, their
throats sdams with 8 thirst OF fire,
their tuning eyes blinded by the salt
of the sea, and their minds tortured
by the memories of the self destruc.
ton of their hunger maddened ship.
mates. William Thomas, aged 20
and William E. Warner, also 20. both
colored and members Of the 'ew CT
the three. masted schooner Vannsme
and King, were picked up off Cape
Lookout, after being five days adrift
on a raft, by the S5illman E. Kelly, a
schooner which arrived at Boston
sumo days after being wrecked.
The Boston Globe says such a tale
as these men told is unparalleled In
fiction. mo sturdier craft had clear
I'd the port + Charleston that day
and no happier crew had set sail with
prospects Of a brighter voyage Than
when the Vanname and King; Capt
William A. Maxwell, lumber loaded
and bound for New York, hoisted her
canvan to the fresh blowing brefz or
Tuesday, October 8, ADD headed
oceanward.
The schooner was speeding along
under full sail when on It .ursday
morning, O,tober 5, the first signs Of
all approaching storm we're noticed.
Next day at daylight it looked pretty
black. blacker than a eailor likes to
$40 1t, and there was an uucomforta
BILE feeling among the Officers and
men which meme trie d to conceal.
Brig her down 10 short sail, the
.apt.-iu . lowed, and this was done.
4 noise ike the turstiug of a LUCE
soda tank fell upon their ears with
the splash Of a tremendous wave.
ITO the pumps, all hands, and
quickly too!' The voice Of the cap,
tain was drowned in the tumult Of
wind ard water, but each man under
stood and jumped to his post.
The struggle was unc easing until
the craft was caught in the trough of
the sea, and hove on har beam ends.
The life boats were swept away
though they had never been.
No word of command was needed
for these men for each made for a
hold on the Nv ;ather side" that part
which was out Of the water. The
grips Of the eight pairs OF stout haId d,
we're nothing in the face Of the gale,
for the next wave loosened every
mans hold and swept one poor fellow,
William Grizzsll, into the flood.
Heres my knife" said the cap
tain, ::cut yourself a rope from the
hallisrds and make yourself fast to
rigging. It was with difficulty that
the shiny, bit Of steel was handed
from man to man, but no QUE ~faltered
and each cut himself a line and dashed
himself to the stanch spars.
Night came and went, and not a
man dared loose his hold. Prayers
and curses, grim jokes and tender
words Of encouragement, but no o: g
stirred. That afternoon when hol e
mad vanished from every heart, the e
came another wave bigger and greater
than all others, and the schooner was
dashed to pieces.
The lumber that had filed the craft
doated, and made support for the
men, but only one portion Of the deck
about 10 feet square, was really
enough for a raft. One Of the sailors,
Alfred Arthur, hose leg had beer
broken in three places, had thrown
himself upon this, and for four hours
the Others foundered about in the
water It'll they finally reached his
side.
Then came the voyage Of sickeninf
terror, the maniacal demands FOL
water and food from those whose
minds had left them under it's terri
BILE strair; the grouDdless hopes o
men who could not believe that thei
life was to be taken from them.
1T was awful, awful" said Warner
as be looked across the mess table tt
Thomas, whose eyes answered with
CLEAN that was half of sadness ant
half of we'll rem INBRED agony.
Both these men are the specimen
of the best type CT the British Yves
Indies colored men. They are native
of Antigua, British West Indies haV'
received a fair education, know hoV
to express themselves clearly and shoV
that when in the full possession o
their faculties they are as husky a.
the huskiest Of slilors.
THE storm began" Warner con
tinued, Thursday morning, but Il
was Friday night that the schoone,
began to leak 80 badly that all hand
became alarmed.
Tine captain called the engineer II
him about 10 that night, and saiG
You'll have to work the electric
pumps when the engineer said, IL
~ ,,s, o,,,p, y opo;pa roor 10 fI1l