Year: 1869

Thrilling Narrative-How Our C0Tst ofS Are


Manned.


On Monday last, the 18th instant the schooner
Margaret Kennedy. owned by Mr.. Shadford. OF
Milford. and having on board her captain. Frank A.
Rich; the mate, Franklin Ryder and the wife OF tho
latter, but without crew, left New Jersey for MIL
iord. Conn. She had board 12S tons OF coal,
fifteen tons of which were on the main hatch
ana seven on the fore hatch, on deck, and
the remainder below. 1t was a heavy cargo
Tor the Hudson, the vessels deck being
almost nush with the water; but 1t seemed
madness to send vessel SO laden through the
SOUND Nevertheless, obedlent to the mandate OF
the rapacious individuals who were her consgnees
the captain nad to put to sea. 1t was blowing hard
from the northwest when the vessel was of the
Battery waiting for pilot and 1t blew still fresher
at Hell Gate. The pilot left when or the North
Brothers, and gave the schooner in charge to
Captain Rcn. The weather being very threat
enIng 1t was thought best to anchor as
Hart's Island. which was accordingly done;
but the anchor was weighed again at two A. M.
and the schooner continued her voyage, at immi
nent risk OF going down, and finally arrived on
Charles Island, where the anchor was again dropped
at half-past ten The captain went ashore here,
stating TO the mate that he was going home 10 spend
thanksgiving, and that he (Mr. Ryder) should take
charge Charles Island Is about four miles from the
man land. and sand bar lony at low water) forms
connection between. IL was, consequently, q
dangerous place to be should the wind change and
1t come on to blow hard. The captain sent pilot
on board about haif-past Ave, and, az the
WIND had died away In the meantime, no
attempt was made to get under weigh. The roresali
and Jin however, were got up In preparation for
breeze. This was done under direction OF the pilot,
who soon after went ashore, saying that be would
come on board again should the wind spring up.


After supper the mate "turned in," leaving his
wife TO walch. About nafpast nine he was aroused
by his watchful wife, VINO saw the sali aapping to
immediate danger, and again retired to sleep, not,
however without first giving the schooner Ave
aroused by Mrs. Ryder, who was greatly alarmed
at the threatening appearance OF the weather. The
wind blew strongly from the southwark and east
ward, and was getting fresher every minute, whil0
high running waves dashed across the bows ana
broke with resounding noise on the bar close by.
ana at once gave out more chain. With great exer-
ton and the assistance OF Mrs. Ryder the sails
were taken in and slowed. The wind and waves
momentarly increased IN force and violence and
the water dashed over the rails and BOWS. AT this
time Mrs. Ryder discovered that the sea was pour
ing In through wide nssure near the rudder posts,
and also that 1t was coming IN fast from the deck
through the rotten matches. At halEpast twelve
It was now blowing a perfect hurricane and
the appalling fact became evident that In
few minutes the vessel would go down. The mate
lights as signals Of distress. Hour after hour went
By the mate being relieved at the pumps every fifteen
engS the yawl was pulled np, and, obedient 70 the
voice OF her husband, the courageous woman stepped
on board; but. missing her foothold, narrowly es-
capped drowning. She was only rescued by despe-
rate effort. But there was no time to be lost. The
schooner was setting down by the head, as
preparing for q final plunge. MES Ryder
again jumped on board the yawl; but striking her
side against the gunwale tumpled across the thwars
and was severely hurt. Ryder leaped IN after
her. first however, throwing In con OF small rope,
hatchet and pair OF knives, and the boat drllted
aslern. The two unf0rtunates were hardly clear
OF the vessel when she rolled once and then went
down In the bubbling waves head foremost The maze
had fortunately connected his thirty-Iour fathom


line to the painter that the boat rode anchored TO
the stern OF the sunken vessel They remained In
that position until five O'Clock; but as the yawl was
filling with water and the island right abeam and
the bar right In their lee the mate concluded to pull
up as close as he could toward the wreck and cut
connection with it. There nothing for IL then bus
to take to the and pull for the west side OF the
island Though severely bruised Mrs. Ryder kept ut
her oar until the boat threequarter5 OF an hour ater
thumped against the rocks, when she was washed
into the The mate then threw himself after her
and with great dicuity reached the shore with the
heroine In his arms. The was tremendous aud
and several times almost dragged them back into Its
ICY grasp. IL was as much as Mr.. Ryder could do,
so worn and exhausted was he by his exertlons to
reach high water mark, where he laid down to rest
The house OF John and Fred schmidt was eventually
reached, where the mate ana his wife remained two
days, receiving every possible Kindness from the
owners OF the house. On Friday morning some
parties came from Milford and the mate and
his wife proceeded to Bridgeport the ticket master
at that place giving them tickets to their home ires
Of charge