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Early on the morning of As the wreck occurred close to the shore of the peninsula, though the night was very dark and the wind blowing a perfect gale, about half of the party including Capt. Rugeley and Captain Cookenboo, were washed ashore and escaped. But most of the men already benumbed by the cold, in the water were soon helpless, and were either drowned for frozen to death. The death of Mr. Selkirk leaves Judge Alex Burkhart of Matagorda, the sole survivor of the company which met with such disaster there. From Judge Burkhart, who was officer of the guard at the post while the major part of the garrison were sent on the expedition to meet the Federals, we get most of the information herein. Mr. Selkirk in relating his experience said he was so overcome by the cold that he remembers little of the occurrences immediately preceding the wreck, and nothing of the experiences following. His first recollection, when partly restored to consciousness, was being carried by a strong fellow-soldier names Decrow (Mr. Selkirk was about twenty years old and of slight build); that Decrow laid him down on the sand of the beach and said "Will, you rest here while I go to that house yonder where the light is and get help." How long he remained there he does not know, as he again lapsed into unconsciousness; but after a while he heard voices, and heard Decrow say, "Well, here is where I left Will; I remember this log; I am sure, for I noted this log particularly. Mr. Selkirk says he could hear but could not move or talk; he tried to call but his voice would fail him, and he remembers with what horror his mind, was filled at the thought that if they should fail to find him "It would be all up with me that time, sure." Finally Decrow came close enough to him to see him, and they carried him into the house, which proved to be the home of Mr. Henry Freeman, a stock-farmer on the peninsula, and now the grandfather of George Kilbride of Matagorda, to whom Mr. Selkirk related the above experience, a year ago on a visit to Bay City while they stood admiring the monument which had just been erected to the memory of the ex-confederate soldier.
The Matagorda News and Midcoast Farmer, |
Copyright 2005
- Present by Carol Sue Gibbs |
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Created Feb. 7, 2005 |
Updated Apr. 4, 2007 |