The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-10-24
sHIP WRECKED
men SAFELY
LANDED
Terrible Experience of Men
Blown to Sea During
Hurricane.

Six fishermen, who were blown to
sea during the recent hurricane on
the East Coast and rescued by the
oil steamer A. T. Lucas, being sub
sequently landed at Jacksonville, had
terrible experience, which one of
the men related to a reporter for the
Jacksonville Times Union. as follows:
WE were anchored at Cape Florida
when the first hard blow came up.
The house-boat that we We're on was
our living quarters and we would run
out from there in small boats to the
mackerel fishing grounds.
Thursday morning at o'clock the
first blow came and it was a fierce
one, tell you. Before our houseboat
commenced to drag anchor, one of
the smaller boats, which was anchor
ed behind us, was blown out of the
water, turned over and fell bottom
side upwards and sank.
I'VE then commenced to realize
that there was some danger SO we
busted ourselves in making the house
boat fast. We had hardly commenced
this work, however. before the house
boat commenced to drag anchor and
soon We were proceeding across the
bay at fast rate of speed, absolute
ly helpless.
Before We were dashed to pieces,
however, the wind died out and we
thought we were all safe and sound,
when another gale came up from the
northwest. which was greater in force
than the first one. This gale took us
on through the outlet and into the
open sea. We were perfectly help
less. there being no tow boats or any
thing in sight to aid us and all of
our small boats had been left behind
with the exception of one small
boat, which was disabled. This left
us helpless.
Might came on and We commenced
to think that our chances for being
sSyed were all gone. We sighted
one steamer but could not hail her.
This, Of course, worked us up to
such an extent that We were almost
Ill.
I'VE had some gasoline aboard the
houseboat and we saturated some
wood with this, struck matches to
1t and threw them in the air. 1t was
| by this method that the oil steamer
A F. Lucas, Capt. R. Rubelli, sighted
US and gave us signal that she
would pick us up. You can imagine
how grateful We were to the master
of that steamer for the rescue.
Many Miles From Shore.
| GrIN11,a- IT
were thirtysix miles out at sea of
Flowery creek light house and the
waves were washing over the deck
so fast that we expected to be
swamped most any time
When we were taken aboard the
Lucas the master, Capt. r. Rubelli
told US that 1t was only by accident
that we were rescued by him; that
he was blown many miles out of his
course by the storm and that we were
not in the course of ocean steamers
when picked up.
"The master of the Lucas then tool
down his chart and showed us thai
we were headed for the Bahana
banks, where the water is shallow
and where no vessels pass; that il
We had not have been rescued by hil-
we would probably have gone on the
reefs, and all been killed.
I'VE were rescued by the Lucas
Friday morning at O'Clock, and the
master of that steamer stated tN"i
he would communicate with t.,e
wireless station to have tug meet
us as he was en- route to New York
The master of the Lucas then com
menced to fash messages from the
ship. He tried to get st. Augustine
and at last he reported that he had
been successful.
"The ship was then headed for st
Johns bar and we were met by the
tug Admiral Dewey and safely landed
at Mayport.
Thanks to Master.
1--WE were treated royalty aboard
the steamer Lucas by the master ant
the crew and we wish to return
thanks to them for rescuing us and
taking care of us while aboard.
/ 1.-THE steamer Lucas is big OF
4 tank steamer and she had large OF
barge in tow. She was bound from
Port Arthur to New York and hat
been out eight days searching fol
a barge which had gone adrift from
another steamer several days ago"
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