February 4, 1895
Two of Lizzie J. Greenleaf’s
Crew Away from their Vessel Two Days
Picked Up By Their Own Vessel
Weak and Exhausted They could Not Have Survived a Day Longer
Two of the crew of the sch. Lizzie J. Greenleaf,
Richard Myatt and John Swinson, strayed away from their
vessel while engaged in hauling their trawls on Banquereau January 8.
A dense fog prevailed with rain squalls and followed next
morning by a northeast snow storm. The crew of the vessel blew their fog-horn all day and
night. Just before morning the fog cleared up and torches were sent up aloft, but no signs
of the missing men were discovered. After daylight the crew got the vessel underway and
went in search of the men, but after sailing back and forward in every direction all day,
they gave it up when darkness shut down again.
The snow was now falling fast and there was every sign of a
bad storm. The coal hod, full of rags and kerosene, was kept burning aloft. Between the
squalls, the missing men sighted the light and after a time rowed alongside and were taken
aboard after having been astray 48 hours.
It was a very uncommon occurrence for men to go astray in
midwinter on the Banks, and still more uncommon to be picked up by their own vessel after
being absent for two days.
The severe cold weather which followed their rescue, would
very soon have ended their sufferings as they could not have held out another day. When
they reached the vessel both men were very weak and stiff from exposure and their legs
were already badly swollen. It was a most fortuitous circumstance that they were able to
find their vessel. |
