The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-04-21

New York. April 2o-Apparently little
the worse for having been shipwrecked
for three weeks on a bar of Yucatan.
Mexico. three Of the crew Of the British
brig Golden Wedding arrived here to-day
aboard the steamship Tjomo Capt. Don
aldson. They told Of their experience as
II it had been a jolly good cToss-country
run. Yet at one time five Of them we're
in a violent surf. ciinging to an upturned
rowboat. and at another time three Of
them were swept 20 sea clinging 20 the
bottom Of a capsized boat. two Of them
being rescued by another small boat and
the other man left 10 drift farther out TO
sea. Only the kindly turning OF the tide
saved him from watery grave.
The three men 10 arrive here are How
ard Encies and John Barker. apprentice
boys. and Mate Thomas White. They
were aboard tie Golden Wedding when
she ran on a bar OF Cheltipee on March
2. There were nine aboard, all told,
Capt. Stephen Ashton and his wife, the
mate, aHd six sailors.
The Golden Wedding had been out
eighteen months from England when she
sailed into Lsguua TO take on part of the
cargo that vas consigned 20 her for ship
ment 70 England. II was the first trip
/ Uncles and Barker had ever made Their
home is in Yorkshire. England, and eight
cen months IS a long time TO be away
( from home when one Is about twenty
years old and an apprentice on board q
/ ship in a foreign country. They were aHx
/ ilous that the bound trip be
gin.
First Night Of Terror.
/ Capt. Ashton was told he would have
] eleven feet of water under him while run
hing into Cheltipec but there was onls
/ seven on that ID day of March. Capt
Asaton turned and ran out TO sea. A ter
rife gale came out Of the north that night
and the Golden Wedding was blown hithei
and thither. dragging her anchors, until
/ finally, she landed hard and fast on the
/ bar. This was at thirty minutes aftel
midnight. Il was feared that the vesse
would not live until morning in the SUR
/ that ragged and continually pounded th'
/ brig on the bar. No one slept
On the morning of the Sd the gale
continued with increased violence, but
captain and crew worked hard to get the
boat off Even his wife helped in trut
sailor fashion Two of the men took theiI
/ Lives in their hands and put out in small
boats to drop anchors about 100 feet from
the bar II was expected that by hauling
at these anchors the boat could be pulled
Ioff This failed however. Then Mate
White. with four OF the men. put off in q
small boat 10 get assistance from the
Mexican natives. The boat filled will
water and capsized. For a time thes
leiung TO the bottom of her as the breakers
dashed over them. None of them eOulC
swim but the mate Finally the boat Wat
righted and the shore gained but the ma
ltives refused to give them any assistance
Two unsuccessful attempts were mad'
by the crew to get back to the boat wher'
the captain and his wife, the steward,
Barbadoan named Piggott, and anothe
lef the crew remained. So violent was tn
lstorm that they expected the Colder
Wedding would split in two every minute
About noon another attempt was made L
Ireaeh the brig. and the men were success
fully dragged aboard the Golden Wedding
but before they had time to hoist tn
small boat Il was dashed 90 pieces.
Capt. Ashton expected assistance O
some kind. and would not leave the yes
sell He told the crew they could &
ashore If they wished. His wife, he sait
was as safe on the stranded vessel as
a small boat The crew stuck 10 hin
however. although repeated gales drov
the brig farther up on the bar, and ther
were signs that she was likely to brea
I'D at any minute They were then abOU
{ 500 feet from shore The surf caime
down at times. and then some of the ere
] went ashore and obtained wafer Afte
week had passed. the captain said b
was willing 70 abandon the brig, but 4
feared for the safety of his wife in
small boat that had to drive through tha
treacherous water. So they remained o
the stranded and now leaky vessel tw
weeks longer.
ride saves Heroic Boatswain.
1T seems marvellous. said Apprentic
flncles, in the Office Of the British consu
that no one Was hurt or lost. We nearl
lost Boatswain Dennis one day. thougl
A sale was blowing from the north, bI
! he and sailor named Morris and myse
) put out in a small boat TO get water. a
we we're running short He had 10 row
A sa carie Luneh servea DsiI1
At Eckstein s from Il ~ ). 1ii@ n. /. avl