The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1911-09-08
THRILLING STORY OF THE SEA

| ger on the steamer Apache, which
narrowly escaped going to pieces on
the South Carolina coast in the re-
cent fearful tropical storm, arrived
home Wednesday night and nearly
all day yesterday was kept busy
narrating his experiences during the
progress of the storm
Mr.. Burford says that from first to
last the storm lasted forty-eight
hours, increasing in intensity until
: it finally reached the rate of one
hundred miles per hour
AS soon as the storm showed signs
of continuance the captain changed
the course of the steamer and put to
/ sea to keep her from being grounded
but the gale blew so furiously that
| the engines could make no Roadway
against the tremendous waves and
the ship was being driven constantly
| towards the shore AS a last re-
sort the anchors were lowered but
the heavy cables were broken like
whip cords and the ship seemed
doomed.
to assemble in the social hall. Mr.
| Burford says that he had been tossed
in his hearth from side to side so
| long that he found it impossible to
obey the summons. Two of the ships
! crew helped to partly dress and
/ fastened a life preserver around him.
| Assembling in the social hall they
were told of the ships peril and that
| as last resort that the captain had
decided to beach her which would be
done in the course of five minutes.
They were asked to be calm and meet
/ whatever fate that befell them with
fortitude and courage-shat anything
like a panic would add to the perils
which confronted them.
AS the life preservers were being
adjusted no shrieks, no mourns, nc
outbursts of any kind escaped the
lips of single passenger; the sup
pressed stillenss, indeed, was most
appalling. Fortunately before the eX
piration of Inc five minutes there was
a shift of the winds and the vessel
instead of being beached was enabled
to make to sea where deep water
was its safety.
In a little while the captain came
to tell them of their good fortune and
as soon ah he enntered and smile
was discovered upon his face the fear
full stiffness was broken by clappins
of hands and EXPLANATIONS of joy.
When the winds lulled it was found
that the ship was fifty miles out al
sea.
The captain acted with grea
heroism. He had not left his place
on the bridge for forty-eight hours
No food passed his lips and his eyes
were not closed for an instant IL
sleep. The ships head had to be
| kept steadily to the winds and haC
the crew lost control of her for 6
minute she would have been lost IL
the heavy waves.
j Mr.. Burford says that the last night
~ was one of horror and the tales Of
!, some of the passengers were most
pathetic especially of the mothers
who had to tie their babes to them
to keep them from drowning the
water being knee deep in their state
orooms.
When the boat reached Charleston
la set of resolutions were drawn uI
commencing the captain and all the
officers and crew of the steamer anc
ia collection was taken and loving
|: cup presented to the captain anc
when it was presented to him he was
so full of emotion that he begged thai
|. he be allowed to show his apprecla
ton not in words but in his feelings
| 1t was a narrow escape and Mr.
Burford was the recipient OF congra
tulations all day.