The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1908-01-17

45 and OF the atmosphere IS the day be
fore we were lost We were trying ia
make the llghtIen the island that Friday
in a dense fog which made all landmarks
useless and fog signals OF fssound not much
better. We were probably a mile out OF
safe course. and about that distance
from where we were supposed TO he.
when we realized that we were among
the rocks. There wa snothing TO do but
anchor. That was Friday afternoon, Dec.
13 at about 8 p. m
There was no chance OF getting out OF
there In that fog and there was no
chance OF the vessel living when the fog
lifted and the wind rose to a l00-mie-an-
hour rate. which was the estimate made.
What's our chances?' / as ked the pilot,
after we began TO drag anchors. None
whatever he replied.
"As the fog was blown away we could
see the fate that awaited the ship and
her men. For 10 hours after we anchor
ed there seemed a chance that the ship
hight live out the blow. but about /
o'clock Saturday morning the anchors
began 10 drag and the Lawson moved to-
ward the rocks. At just about O'Clock
a. m she struck Neither the ships boats
nor lifeboats from the shore could live
a minute In that sea. The crew took 70
the rigging, and when at just about 2
O'Clock she struck the, rocks. the destruc-
tion OF the Lawson was matter of min
DESTRUCTION SUDDEN.
Ten minutes afterward there was moth
ing alive aboard her. Even the dog and
the cat perished. and a man has not
much chance when dog or n cat can't
keep above water.
Most OF the company probably died
when the rigging came down. AS I felt
II go. jumped TO the deck and was inn
mediately washed overheard. I was in
the water, being pounded around among
the reefs until about 4:30 in the morning
when j got hold OF a sharp reef Just
narrow ledge. about 30 feet long Capt.
Dow later swan TO the same rock.
drifted 10 II. Our bodies remained in the
water. which fact saved up from being
frostbitten
with my hands clung To the reef
tried to save my head with my arms and
70 save my legs ms best I could. The life
belt wore saved my chest. NY clothing
was ali torn off except beneath the life
belt.
II was conscious all the time. and my
greatest fear was that the beating OF the
water on my head would drive me crazy.
The captain and I clung TO the reef until
o,cloc kthat afternoon. when the life-
saving crew, In a gig.. were able TO take
be handled there.
The reef was on the shore OF Annette
Island. That was about "A mile and half
from ST. Agnes Island. 10 which we were
taken. Annette is uninhabited. on ST
Agnes there Is n coast guard watch kept
up in the middle OF the island. beach
patrol Is not practicable. as the cliffs are
sheer straight up and down. There is no
beach. There Is not particle OF soil on
the rocks. The sea keeps them washed
clean and bare. We have no coast like
it-nothing as bad.
THE bodies OF our men came ashore in
pieces. many torn in two by contact with
the rocks.
OIL DID NO GOOD.
when the Lawson went on the rocks
the oil tanks opened and the oil spread
on the water. but this had no effect of
calming the sea. because II was 30 speed
fly blown 10 ieeward. The fresh sea com
ing In was Just as rough as II a great
quantity or oil had been poured upon II.
The spreading OF the oil probably con-
tributed TO the death OF the men. as n
man cannot float I'm it. II oil kills FISH I
suppose II will kill man.
The taa signal on the island is n gun
cotton explosion, but I'm such a storm.
with all the noise incident TO n sailing
vessel nothing could be heard far enough
TO be OF any service
The Lawson struck I'm 6o feet OF water.
The northwest wind came straight on the
island. but tho popularity OF these rocks
is that they are so Isolated that they
are in the Ice nothing OF conse-
quence.'