The Monte Vista journal. (Monte Vista, Rio Grande County, Colo.) 1888-1921, 1907-04-20
WRECK or THE GOVERNOR.
osspseats Battling Win the Waves Of
This Army Transport.

IL mas ooen over - ye4rS since this
accident occurred. but I can remem.
Der It a. distinctly ~ thought it hap.
pened yesterday. writes an old soldier
to the National Tribune. There were
four companies Of ~. marines. com.
panies A. B. c and D. belonged to
company D. and We were commanded
by Maj. John q. Reynolds. veteran
Of the Seminole azd Mexican wars.
Most OF US had been In the battle OF
Bull Run. and were picked men from
the Marine Barracks at Washington.
We left the barracks about October
~. and went on board the Governor
At Hampton Roads about the eth.
and left with the neet on the 18th to
take Port Royal. 8. C. All went well
until the morning OF November l,
whom the wind began to blow and the
sea grew rough. We had a little rain
and saw q rainbow. which some of the
sailors said was bad luck. 1t proved.
indeed. to be very bad luck. The wind
blew harder every hour. and the
waves ran higher. and in the after.
noon . heavy sea struck the Cover.
nor. breaking her port hog brace. All
hands worked with ropes to make 1t
secure. but In 4 little while after that
the starboard hog.brace broke. We
made that secure. when the ropes
that held the smokestack parted. and
that went overheard about two feet
above the hurricane deck. To make
matters worse. . steam pipe burst,
and we had no steam to run the en-.
CINE. We ran up the signal OF dis.
treas. nag at half mast, Union down.
We threw everything overheard to
tighten her except 4 few casks of wa
ter and two barrels Of whisky. We
cut holes In the deck to bail water.
and part of the men engaged in this
work. while the rest held the ropes
to keep the hog.braces from falling
into the sea. for II they fell overheard
they would take the side OF the yes.
sci with them. when the Governor
would NIL with water and sink. About
night We sighted = steamer. the Odion
Queen. We sent up six rockets. all
We had. and some Of the men fred
their muakets At the same time. She
answered our signal. but could do us
no good. Is the sea was too rough
and the wind too strong. Our quarter.
master sergeant would bring around a
mess kettle filled with whisky and a
tin cup. and the men were told to
take all they wanted. but I saw the
signs Of liquor on no man. During
the night our ruddcrchain was car,
ried away: then. indeed. were We at
the mercy Of wind aud wave. Heavy
seas would strike the Governor
broadsides. and the men bailinE water
would be thrown In all directions. On
tho morning Of November 2 things
looked very bad for MS. The gunboat
Isaac Smith. Capt. Nicholson. saw our
signal OF distress. and came to oyr rs.
Sit tAnce. They got a hawser on board
Of us. but II slipped. then the crew
Of the Governor launched . boat. all
the boat they had. COR over $50 men.
Through carelcssaess the boat went
adrift; then the Smith gave us An
other ha~scr. but the plunginE of tho
vessel and the heavy seas parted 1t ms
before. Then Capt Nicholson threw
his battery overheard TO tighten his
vessel and tried TO get us on board
the Smith. and about noon the pro
pcllcr bark Young Rover came up.
aud it's captain said he would stand
by us to the last. lie also said there
was n large sailing frigate cruising
aear Georgetown. S. C.. and he would
go after her. 1t proved to be the
Sabine. commanded by Capt Ring
gold. and = better seaman or more
huwn ns man magyar walked thu deck