The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-02-19
ADR|FT At SEA
I. IN OPEN LAUNCH
Narrowing Experience of
Two Men on Storm
Tossed Atlantic.

launch Tor me, said Mr.. Samuei
Baker yesterday morning, after his re-
turn from Darien, Ca, where he ac-
companied Capt. Clare Of the British
steamer Bylands, in an attempt TO
reach Savannah in launch from
Jacksonville, says the Times-Union.
Mr. Baker left Capt. Clare at Darien
and returned to Jacksonville while
the captain was attempting to get the
launch in shape to continue the voy-
age, but by the inside or sea island
route instead of by the ocean route.
The experiences passed through by
Capt Clare and Mr.. Baker are con-
cisely set forth in the log of the trip,
of which the following is copy:
Log of the Trip.
The Captains Log, by s. Baker.
mate.
Sunday, February 10, at $3.50 a..
H., left South Jacksonville. 10 a. m.
engine stopped off Cummer's mill;
1915 a. m. engine started; 1870 p.
m. arrived at Mayport, had dinner
Jour last meal until the 15th) 2:30 p.
m, crossed st. Johns bar and went
well, until due east of Brunswick, at
midnight.
Monday, 1 a. m, four miles off
shore, ran into breakers. All provis-
ions, stove and water on after deck
washed overheard. Nearly wrecked.
,-L Co. -I
ran due east until a. m, making
twenty-eight miles.
AT $50 p. m. engine stopped, bat
terry exhausted. (Party we bought
boat from claimed it to be a fresh
battery, but after investigation it
proved to be very old one.) Gale
increasing, could not sail or row. Put
out sea anchor, made of mast and sail
and other truck, and drifted with the
Storm. Drifted until we were thirty
or forty miles off shore.
Tuesday morning. Gale abated
and We got out sail and oars and
headed for shore. Each took one
hour spells at the oars. Had moth
ing to eat, no water, only six bottles
of beer. a quart of whiskey and plenty
of tobacco and matches Nothing on
board in the way of food.
Steamers Passed BY.
Tuesday night. Made gasoline
torches, fared two steamers, one a
passenger boat Fired minute guns,
but no notice was taken of us, al
though the steamer passed quite close.
Chose steamers either deliberately
passed us by or were keeping a
mighty poor lookout) With two
torches, two lamps, they could hardly
have helped seeing us. They were
from a half mile to two miles away.
One steamer made straight for us
and then sheered off.
"Wednesday morning. Sighted
land. Soon saw Sapello island light
house. Tried to land at p. m. and
had to drag boat over shoals to get
ashore. Got food. and necessaries
and went to sleep. Were kindly
treated here.
Thursday morning. Worked on
boat to get it off, but had to wait for
ting off. Took the oars and rowed
what seemed like thirty miles to
Darien, Ca. up a difficult passage and
it was hard to find the way. 1t was
pitch dark and then came on q violent
thunderstorm.
Arrival at Darien.
Friday morning. Arrived at Da-
rien and had breakfast on board the
tug Passport Wired Savannah and
Jacksonville The steamer Bylands
was reported to still be in Savannah
and captain can reach her in time.
Had our engine overhauled. It had
been guaranteed to be in good condi-
ton, but rust year old was found in
her vitals. and the battery, on which
we risked our lives, was found to be
played out instead of being new
I'VE escaped death by drowning in
the breakers and drowning in the sea.
We were nearly frozen and starved to
death. We had very little sleep, could
lie down but couldn't keep dry under
the fore canvass. The boat rode the
water like a duck, she is a perfect
sea and surf boat, fortunately for us.
We only lost our provisions, every
thing else being dry and intact"
Mr.. Baker returned to South Jack
sOnviIle yesterday where he was en-
ployed before starting on the trip with
Capt. Clare. He says that he wants
nothing further to do with launch
trips on the Atlantic
OL-.L t. IT,