The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-05-17
HEROISM
DISASTERS
Tragedies of the Trenton,
the Oneida, the Huron
and the Saginaw.

OF which no one knew the existence
off the Philippine coast in the year
1900. The case is not without many
parallels. Admiral Sicard, who died
soon after the Spanish war, once lost
the ship of which he was in command
in the south Pacific The admiral at
that time was a lieutenant commander
in charge Of the steam sloop Saginaw
He had been ordered to the far south
to look up the possibilities of Ocean is
land as an anchorage and as place of
replenishing water supplies
Wrecked on an Uncharted Reef.
1t was one of those errands on which
a government sends its naval vessels
when it hasn't much for it's officers to
do. The Saginaw ncared the latitude
and the longitude of the island sought
at an early hour of the morning. All
night long the commanding officer had
been on deck. The sea on which he
was sailing was practically unexplored.
The vessefs speed was diminished to
four knots. then to less than three
and there were constant soundings
with the lead, There was a light wind
dead astcsn. Suddenly the cry "Rreak
ers ahead!' came from the bow. and
the command was given to back the
engines. The Saginaw's topsails had
been set for some time. and with the
breeze where it was there was not
power enough in the engine to drive
the ship back. 1t was an uncharted
reef that the Saginaw had struck in
minute or two, and the water pouring
Into the great hole in her bow soon
compelled the crew to take to the
boats. Daylight showed Ocean island,
and there they landed, subsequently
removing to the shore large quantities
of the stores from the vessel.
Ocean island was uninhabited. 1t
was far out of the line of ocean traffic
and 1,5OO miles from the nearest port
from which aid might be summoned.
Commander Sicard asked for five men
to volunteer to attempt to reach Homo
lulu in an open boat. 1t was a weak
hope, but every man in the Saginaw's
outfit volunteered for the attempt
Commander Sicard selected Lieutenant
Talbot, Coxswain William Helford and
Seamen Peter Francis, James Muir and
John Andrews for the expedition. One
of the Saginaw's small boats was part
ly decked over, a mast was put in place.
and provisions and a compass were
slowed on board. For week the little
boat kept on its way, officers and men
working by turns at the oars. Some
times the wind helped a little, but
more frequently it was dead ahead. and
they could only creep along through la
boring hard at the oars.
Then a gale came down upon them
and threatened them with annihilation.
For forty-eight hours no man slept.
Two Of the crew worked to keep the
little boats head up to the wind.
while the others baled. Finally the
storm fell, and for twenty-four hours
the craft lay to to give exhausted ma
ture chance to recover. The provi-
slons had been almost ruined by sea
water, and almost all the fresh water
mad been lost. The food nauseated the
men and created a burning thirst, !
which they dared not fully quench be- |
cause of the shortness Of the water
supply. Lieutenant Talbot was seem |
ingly at the point of death, yet he man |
aged to keep up cheerful face and to
inspire his subordinates by force of |
plucky example.
Water Doled Out by Drops.
After days Of but little headway and |
Increasing exhaustion the officer in
command came to the conclusion that |
one of the marine instruments was at |
fault and that they were out Of their
course. This knowledge came to the
men like death stroke. The boats
head was changed, however, and on
they went once more. Three days
passed by. The water was doed ont
by drops. Two of the men were so
far gone that they lay almost uncon-
scious at the bottom of the boat. The
tongues Of all were 50 swollen that
they could no longer swallow food.
At the close Of one Of these dreadful
days land was sighted. Lieutenant
Talbot and COIswain Halford, with a
will born Of spirit rather than OF
strength, managed to head the boat
toward the shore and TO make some
h'te piOSiesS ny TOWluS.
AT dawn the next day they saw the
shore before them beyond a white wall
OF surf. There We're men on the
beach, and the mariners knew that
they were seen. At this supreme mo
ment Of joy the little craft struck a
reef and was overturned. All of that
heroic crew were too weak to strug-
gle, and all save one went down to
death with the longed for land almost
under their feet Halford alone was
saved. A great breaker bore him to-
ward the sandy shore, and men, rush
ing into the surf, drew him to land
When they had resuscitated him the
co1swain found that he was on one of
the Hawaiian Islands. His story was
soon told, and within a day steam
ships were sent from Honolulu to the
rescue OF Sicard. The Saginaw Off
GERS and crew were found all well.
EOuP man had latd douyy, sbot- ~. 4.