The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-04-29
WOMAN LIVED ON
DESERTED ISLAND
Mrs. Lauren Walters, Wife Of Skip
per, and Others Have Narrowing
Experience After Wreck.

cision OF Mis- Sadie Hirsler when she
was the he.ie OF Lunenburg. Nova
Scotia, to become sailors bride and
share his dangerous life upon the sea
is responsible for the narrowing sx-
periences through which she has just
passed with her husband. Capt. Lauren
and six OF the crew Of the un-
fortunate schooner Addie and Bea-
trice. Her tariliing adventures include
shipwreck. when the schooner ran
afoul OF a coral reef on a small island
in the Bahama group: IL days cast
away on an uninhabited and barren
island, and \ wild dash In an open
saiiboat OF more than 100 miles
through a rough sea to gain point
OF land in the track OF ocean steam
ships.
Capt. Walters and his fearless wife
related their experiences after leaving
the Norwegian steamship Joseph j.
Cunco. in the fruit trade between the
West Indies and this port. which
brought thu castaways from Castle
Island TO Pier s. East river.
Sailed on Her Last Voyage.
According 10 Capt. Walters the Ad-
die and Bea,.ice, q 200-ton, three-mast-
ed schooner which halls from Nova
Scotia, where she was built three
years ago. sailed on her last passage
from Bermuda, April 2. bound for Mo-
bile. On an intensely dark night,
about $50 clock on April Z, while
the wind was blowing half gale. the
current carried the schooner out oil
her course end piled her on the treach
erous reefs That fringe Myriguana 10
land.
Although the booms were promptly
shifted in sn effort to clear the keel
from the Jagged rocks. the schooner
held fast, AID there was nothing TO dc
but stand b. her during the dreary
and stormy night on chance that she
might not break up. Fortunately the
strong timbess held and when daylight
came the island was sighted close al
hand, and few huts suggested shell
ter II not human aid.
IL was decided at once TO launch the
boats and pull for tee shore. The dory
and an lSfoot life boat took the
party. including Mrs. Walters, to the
beach. but the structures which hac
appeared inviting from the wrecked
vessel were found TO be IN such a state
OF dilapidation as TO be worthless, and
as no human being was anywhere tc
be found they decided that some itin
Grant fisherman anc used the cabins
long before.
Provisions Taken Ashore.
A trip was then made by some Of
the crew back to the schooner and q
little provisions In the way OF sail
pork and beef and some sea biscuits
not spoiled by the neavy seas pound
ing over the vessel were brought
ashore, together with a little water
A quantity u canvas was also taker
OF and with this tents were construct
ed and the .onely refugees made them
selves as comfortable as possible.
Daily catches OF a few fish added tc
their provisions ant frequent rains
supplied sufficient water To quenct
thirst. although the intervals were
sometimes longer than was appreciat
ed. Some II the men explored the
little island. but found no sign of habi
-tation either by man or beast. and al
Capt Walters. who had saved his In
struments and charts. figured that
track OF any steamships. 1t would be
better TO get away from the seques
tered land as soon as possible This
was dangerous because the wind was
always freet and the seas broke con
tinually owe: the reef.
Finally on April 10, after IL days
OF privation. II was decided to make
the break. First Mate Henry Her
mann and Seaman Carl Dingmann
manned the dory, and passing a line
to the life boat in which were Capt
Walters and the remainder OF the
party, by the hardest pull they had
ever experienced. managed 10 TOW
them outside the reef, although ths
keel OF the larger beat grated heavily
In crossing. Once in clear water th'
entire party took TO the lifeboat, and
abandoning the dory. hoisted sail ant
headed to the westward in the direc
ton OF Castle island.
Seas Broke Over Them.
The wind was light when the star
was made early In the morning. bu
toward noon fresEened TO a stronI
breeze. Fortunately the wind was af
and sent them spinning over the 1Oo
mile stretch put It raised such mast.
sea that Mrs. Walters and her com
pnnions were drenched occasionally.
She was a true seaman's wife. now
ever. they all declared. and never nj
tered n complaint throughout the lonl
night, and IL was noon the following
day before il landing was made at tn
island where a lighthouse stands. The.
were given succor by the lighthous
keeper. whose signals attracted Capt
A. A. Modt In command OF the Cuneo
which came down TO the little pie
where the weary party was taken Of
hoard