Democratic Sentinel, Volume 2, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 February 1878 — ALONE AT SEA. [ARTICLE]

ALONE AT SEA.

A tittle Boy Four Days on a Schooner to the Open Oeean. The Parker, who was carried to sea on the 23d inst i* the schooner Twilight, which broke her moorings at the inlet at Atlantic. City and drifted out, has already been .reported. A Times tester terday secured the following statement of Parker’s adventurous trip. He said: ‘ ‘ When she first parted her -.moorings J thought I would run her ashore, but she struck the wharf and sheeted off into the stream. I then threw over a small kedge anchor,'which dragged to the first buoy and there parted the cable. Noticing she was fast being driven on the bar, I hoisted sail to keep her off. The surfboat put out to help me, but turned back. Meanwhile I tried to haul her cline to the wind, after clearing the bar, in then hope of receiving assistance, which did not come. I now found myself fast being driven to sea, and did not think the schooner would be able to stand the terrible waves which struck her. The rigging was poor, sails torn, and the prospect of her weathering the gale not very promising. On Wednesday "night a heavy sea broke over the Wheel* The rigging and deck were covered with ice, fend it was with difficulty I kept myself from freezing,.. On Thursday I suppose I was' near the Gulf Stream. There was about a foot and a half of water in the hold, and a heavy sea rolling. The pumps gaye out, and I was forced'to bail her out with a bucket. About 4 o’clock on Thursday afternoon the wind sprung up fresh from the southeast. I then headed west, and about 10 o’clock at night was hailed by a bark, which cleared the schooner by only ten feet The schooner’s fights went out, and I took down the starboard light, relit it, and hung the signal light in the main rigging cn the port side. On Friday morning I sighted land near Beach Haven, and, after beating about all day, headed up abreast of Absecom light. The sea was very rough, and, failing to bring the vessel into the inlet, and as the water was* up to the cabin floor, I beached her on Little Brigantine shoals, where I was taken off, after having been without sleep for four days and three bights.”