New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-23
BOY BLOWN TO SEA
PICKED UP ADRiFT
Was Lying in Foliage of Cocoa
nut Tree When Ships Off,
GER Sighted Him.
VICTIM OF HURRICANE
Hut in Which Negro Boy
Sought Shelter Was Car
ried Out to Sea by
Terrific Gale.

over the island of Jamaica the freighter
Foxton Hall passed through the Carib-
bean on her way to the Windward Pas
sage. She came upon great drifts or
timber and foliage, but they were so
plentiful and the vessel had steamed
through the drifts so long little heed
was given to their presence. But out
OF the debris tie vessel eventually
picked up a waif named Willie Gee.
who tried to tell his story yesterday as
the freighter discharged her cargo in
South Brooklyn.
willie" has been adopted by Captain
Parker and his crew, and even though
the immigration officials gave the dusky
little fellow permission to go ashore
yesterday with the second officer. he de-
clined to leave the ship that had saved
him.
The little fellow owes his life to the
vigilance Of 4Ir. Donnelly. the chief Off
Ger. whose keen vision dlscerned him In
the mass of hotsam and jetsam that
drifted about the ocean we'll to the north
eastward OF Port Antonio.
Donnelly was on the bridge in the af-
ternoon n day after the storm. The
ships clock had just struck six bells.
wheE he called 10 the quartermaster TO
take the binoculars.
Saw Child on Cocoanut Tree.
There is a cocoanut tree drifting
ahead there off the port bow" he said,
and there is something on 1t that looks
like a child or an animal" The quarter
master sighted the object. too, and in
stantly the Foxton Hall was headed
straight for the tree Captain Parker
was called. and as the freighter got
closer the body Of a half-clad negro child
was seen lying in the foliage.
The emergency llfeboat was promptly
lowered, and Donnelly and four men put
ont 20 the drifting stranger. They called
TO the child. but he did not respond. His
chest was heaving, so they knew he was
not dead.
Slowly the chief dsengaged the little
fellows body from the leaves that held
IT and hauled him into the lifeboat. He
administered first aid such as is given
to those nearly drowned but the boy
gave no response. His body was covered
only by a ragged shirt and he showed
signs OF exhaustion and starvation.
Get back to the ship as fast as YOU
cam" said Donnelly TO the men at the
oars. We've got to save this kid, and
be quick about IT,"
within twenty minutes the chief had
the little fellow I'm the skipper's room.
and both worked over him FOR an hour.
Presently his eyes opened and conscious
ness returned. A little brandy and water
helped pull him together. and that night
he was able TO take a little nOurishment.
The skipper did not bother him with
questions until two days later, when he
had fully revived, and then the little fell
low told his story.
No. he never had no father and no
mother. sir" He simply wandered around
the waterfront near Port Antonio;
youthful beachcomber who made stray
penny here and there and lived mainly
on fruits and fish. He was good swim
mer and spent much time in the water
Willie" had been out in the surf an hour
before the hurricane came. He saw IL
coming and putting back to the beach,
sought shelter I'm a deserted hut. lie sail
he remembered 4 terrific noise.
Hut Blown Out to Sea.
Trees were uprooted. the hut was lifted
in the air AMI blown out To sea, with
everything movable around him. lie
could not tell how long he had been In
the water He remembered swimming 10
the tree aud sticking to it. Hunger OPP
pressed him, and instinctively he Felt
among the leaves OF the friendly cocoa
nut tree for cocoanut and found a
green one He prled it open aud drank
the milk. Later he felt sleepy. and knew
no more until he woke up on the skip
per's couch on the Foxton Hall.
The little fellow was sixty miles north
east OF Port Antonio when the freighter
picked him up.
The crew cut down some Of their own
and patched II up until it fitted
the lad and when the vessel made port
willie" was fitted out with a fine suit, a
cap and a bank account Of 81 80.
The youngster will not be allowed to
stay I'm this country. as he is an alien
under sixteen. The British Consul would
send him back to Jamaica. but he does
not care 10 leave the Foxton Hall Every
one on board Is fond OF him and regards
him as a mascot. He will stick TO the
ship until he is able to sign on her. he
says. and then will follow Donnelly wher-
ever he goes.