Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-10-17
SHIP WRECK STORY
FOR NORTH ATLANTIC

Boston, Mass, Oct. IA story OF
a North Atlantic shipwreck In which
eight seamen suffered SO fearfully
from exposure, hunger and thirst
that six Of them either died outright,
were washed away or, crazed by their
fearful experience, threw themselves
into the sea, was told today by the
two survivors Of the coasting schocn
er Van Name and King Of New Hav-
en-, which was beaten to pieces by a
gale of the South Carolina coast on
Oct. 6.
The two men who lived through
that five days and were rescued by the
schooner Stillman Of the Kelly, which
arrived here late today. are William
Thomas and William G. Warner, both
about 20 years old, six feet. three
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British West Indies. The six. who
one by one snccumbed, were:
Captain William a. Maxwell, of
New Jersey; Mate. n A. Chase, home
unknown: colored seamen. William
Griswell and Alfred Arthur, both Of
America.
The Van Name and King which has
been plying up and down the coast
since 1856, left Charleston, 8. c.. for
New York on October 4 with cargo
Of hard pine. Two days later she ran
into q heavy gale and after wallowing
about In the great seas for several
hours sprang leak. The pumps were
started, but within q short time the
engine room was CODED and the
pumps choked.
At 8 O'Clock On the morning Of Oc
tober s. with her hold full Of water
the little schooner was owe down on
her beam ends.
The crew clambered up on the
weather side and lashed themselves
to the bulwarks. There they remain
ed, washed by the seas that broke
mercilessly owe rthem. all day Friday
That night the storm increased II
fury and one great wave crashed
aboard. breaking both legs Of Sea
man Arthur and sweeping Griswel
from his fastenings. Arthur's com
panions could do nothing to ease hi
sutferings, but when on Saturday ths
schooner turned completely ovel
they managed to cut his lashings ant
dragged him on piece Of the aftei
house. It was several hours before
they were all huddled together OF
their little raft. That night Arthu
died in the arms of Captain Maxwell
and his body was dropped overheard
! Sunday brought a ray Of hope whe'
ia craft was sighted. but the gloon
, shut in again as she passed by with
out needing the little group OF sea
men who frantically signalled her.
/ That night the waves subsidized ant
a little rain fell which was eagerl,
caught In tarpaulin and brough
some relief II was onl ytemporar
and not long after Mate Chase's min'
gave way entirely and the craft wa
again lightened when he jumped In
to the sea.
The next victim was Captain Ma,
well. who .on Monday forenoon be
came violently insane and followe
lhis mates examuie Of self-destructio
as relief to his sufferings.
The spectacle Of two men throwin
themselves into the sea proved to
much for the German engineer and
few hours after Captain Maxwell
death he too leaped to his death.
The last victim was the head stew
ard who died Monday and whose bod
was consigned to the waters by tn
two remaining seamen.
Rsief came twelve hours late
/ when the schooner Stillman Of tn
Kelly bound up coast from Cevlol
! Ga. to this port. sighted the littl
craft and hove to alongside.