DIES LASHED TO MAST

Sailor Perishes, Captain Rescued, Unconscious.

IN PERIL FORTY-EIGHT HOURS

Commander of Wrecked Schooner, Buffeted by Icy Waves From Sunday Until Tuesday, Nearly Frozen When Rescued by Life-Savers-Recovering Under Physician's Care.

Special to The Washington Post.

Berlin, Md., Mar.9.---Lashed to one side of the mast of his sunken schooner Little May, to the other side of which was tied the dead body of a colored man, Capt. Dennard Merritt, unconscious and nearly frozen to death, was picked up in the ocean off the Maryland shore, about 10 miles our from Cobbs Island, last Tuesday by members of the crew of Cobbs Island life-saving station, after he had been tossed about in the waters for more than 48 hours.

The news only reached the mainland today. The schooner struck a sunken barge last Sunday. A hole was torn in her hull. SAMUEL HOLDEN, the colored sailor, and the captain lashed themselves to the mast. HOLDEN died Monday of exposure.

Thought It an Old Wreck.

Cobbs Island life-saving station heard of the disaster to the schooner Sunday, but a trip in the bay disclosed nothing. On the following day one of the men saw the wreck, but the captain, believing it was an old wreck, did not send out the boat.

Then came drill day, and the men could go where they pleased. The two members of the crew who had seen the object the previous day went out to investigate. The result was the rescue of Capt. Merritt and the recovery of Holden's body.

The life-savers took Capt. Merritt to Chincoteague Island, Va., immediately, and there he was placed under the care of a physician. He is reported to be rapidly recovering. Capt. Merritt's home is in Stockton, Md.

The Washington Post, Washington, DC 10 Mar 1913
__________________

Transcribed by Linda Horton. Thank you, Linda!