The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1910-10-21
SHATTERED N THE SURF
Schooner COnyerse and Three Lives
Lost the Coast South Of
st. Augustine

St Augustine. Oct. 21.-The captain,
mate and one seaman of the schooner
VIII w. Converse of Philadelphia Were
lost Tuesday afternoon when the YES
sci went TO pieces in the pounding
surf about thirty miles south of here
and near FoXs cut. Telling a harrow
ing tale of the battle against the gale
and the bruises on their faces and
bodies amply proving their story the
five survivors of the Inflated vessel
reached st. Augustine yesterday
morning, being brought to the city by
Captain Lott Of the lifesaving station
located between here and Daytona.
Captain f. J. Miller. whose home is
at Hepzibah, Ga. Mate Charley An
derson and Seaman Frank Hayes
We're those who gave up their lives
to the storm. The escape OF the 9th
ers from death is most remarka BILE
when it is considered that they had
to make their way through a mile Of
raging surf. clinging to wreckage, be-
fore the shore could be reached The
survivors are Fred, the thirteen-year-
old son of Capt. Miller, three seamen
John Bryan, Gunner Johnson and Pc
ter pashalI and the negro steward
John Moore.
The three-mas schooner 965 tons
burthen sailed from Philadelphia, on
October 4th. with a cargo of coal con-
signed to Cape Francis, Cuba. Every
thing went we'll until Friday evening
when an easterly gale was struck far
out to sea off Savannah. Sail was
shortened and the vessel managed
well in the seaway for some time. The
gale continued to freshen, however
until the darkness of Monday night
gave place to Tuesdays dawn to find
the schooner laboring through a
mountainous sea with gale of almost
hurricane velocity raging. 1t was inn
possible TO carry any sail, whatever.
Tuesday afternoon at one o'clock
the vessel was between thirty and
forty miles south of ST. Augustine. 1t
was absolutely beyond control and it
was not long before the surging roar
of the surf was heard. Soundings were
taken and the vessel struck the surf
in twenty-fOur fathoms. She was then
soon sucked into the eddying, foaming
nav of the breakers and about a mile
from shore she struck hard the
sand. The vessel was staunch and
well ba1lasted with her heavy and
solid cargo Of coal but nothing made
by the hands of man could withstand
the terrific battering to which she was
subjected by the breakers which lift
ed her high and dashed her hard
a eainst the hottom with the rolling
of every sea.
There was a resOunding crash as the
schooner rose on a foam capped. cur
ling mountain of brine and swung
down with full force hard against the
sand. Her keel was broken and bow
and stern pulled apart. laying her
hold wide open to the tearing waves
The two parts of the vessel then soon
gave way to the strain and in but a
few moments more there was nothing
left but splinterS. The vessel was
literally smashed into kindlng wood
1t was everyone for himself as there
was nothing left for the crew to hold
to but the drifting pieces of wreck
|aSe. Each grasped a plank or piece
of rigging and entrusted himself te
the elements.
Through the mile Of swirlIng surf
| piled over with the seething waters
and then again lifted high to where
he could fill his lungs with the air OF
life. each of the eight men was borne
| by his bit of wreckage Capt Miller
I was never seen again. Mate Anderson
made his way to the shore but before
| he could get his numbed muscles tt
working enough to enable him to lif
himself from the inshOre surf to TIL,
beach and safety. plank from tn,
Iwreckage was driven hard agains
him by n sea before the very eyes O
! one of his mates and the last spark O.
| life was crushed from his body
Twelve miles south of where he land
ed the body of Seaman Hayes wa!
| found.
| Plucky little Fred, the captains son
| clung to piece Of wrecka"e ant
| made shore safely. He is a manly lit
| tie fellow and his courageousness ha
| lalready found a warm place in tn,
hearts of those who Eave talked Will
him here. The four others also sue
| ceeded in making the shore It il
miraculous that even one was saved
when the conditions under which the,
| gained the land are taken into con
| sideration. All are battered and bruis
ed
| They came ashore near Mr.. Stucky
place and finally found each other an,
| gathered together, wet. miserable an,
| with but little of the pulsating buoy
| ancy of life left within them. Mr.
| Stuckey discovered them and CAV,
them shelter and food for which the,
L