Couple Goes To Beach in New York; Castaways Wash Up Alive in Jacksonville

SEPTEMBER 21ST MAY HAVE COME AND GONE, BUT HOW UNUSUAL IS IT TO HAVE TWO PEOPLE WASH ASHORE IN OUR CITY? WE’LL TRY TO GET THE FACTS STRAIGHT AND LET YOU DECIDE WHETHER IT IS TRUTH OR FICTION.

MOST SIGNIFICANT TO THE STORY IS THE FACT THAT THEIR BIZARRE STORY BEGAN (AS THEY CLAIM) WHEN THEY WERE SWEPT OUT TO SEA IN THEIR BATHING APPAREL NOT AT JACKSONVILLE BEACH BUT IN NEW YORK CITY. IF YOU TRULY BELIEVE THEIR STORY, MAYBE YOU WOULD BE WILLING TO WIRE MONEY TO JACKSONVILLE SO THE TWO BATHING VICTIMS CAN RETURN HOME.

On September 21, 1891, two strangers were found disoriented and walking along Fort Caroline Road. Their Good Samaritan, Joseph DuPont, discovered the man and a woman walking along the dirt road heading toward our city. “They said they were from New York!” exclaimed Joe. “They were very thirsty. They definitely are not from around here. They had no means of transportation.”

It is true! I met Samuel W. Thornton and his sister-in-law Eva Jewell in the lobby of the St. John’s House on Forsyth Street near Pine. Its Proprietress, Mrs. E. Hudnull, said that Joe DuPont dropped the two at her establishment after attempting to drop them at four other hotels. “They were dressed in an uncouth manner but I took pity on them.” She said. “He had twenty dollars. I put him in one room and her in another. I did not know the nature of their relationship.” She displayed the hotel log and there in large print was the signature of Samuel W. Thornton. Just below the name Thornton was the signature of Eva Jewell in a ladies style of handwriting.

According to Mrs. Hudnull, after a huge meal and “three glasses of milk each” they went right to their rooms and fell soundly asleep. When asked if she believe the cockle mammy story, Mrs. Hudnull said, “Something terrible happened to the two of them. Though it is a tall tale for sure.”

Mrs. Hudnull continued the story saying that the next morning they went straight to the Western Union Telegraph company. “He said they sent telegrams to their folks in New York telling them he was alive. Who could make up such a story?”

She showed me the telegram that Thornton sent to his family in New York. It said, “Both Safe. STOP. Had Narrow Escape. STOP. Were carried out to sea. STOP. Want money to get clothes and return. STOP. Send $50. STOP. SAMUEL M. THORNTON. STOP.” Those 22 words cost him a precious dollar which this writer believes no sane person would spend otherwise. Another clue, the message was sent to a William J. Thornton, brother of the storyteller, who is a barber at 409 Myrtle Avenue, Brooklyn, New York.

Speaking to William, he said that Samuel’s wife does not believe he is alive but is anxious to hear more about his plight. The barber added that before he would wire the enormous sum of $50 to anyone, he would “need proof of their identification.” When asked how his brother might confirm his identity, William said, “I telegraphed him a message that requested his safe combination. I also asked him to supply another piece of information that only he would know. You realize I would have to cut over 100 heads of hair to afford $50. It is a tall request.”

Up till this writing, Samuel had not responded to his brother’s demand. Asked about what he thinks about that, William responded, “I have received no reply, and I expect none. We are all surprised about the entire story of his supposedly being alive.”

It seems that Yanks from New York are less likely than”us southern folk” to believe the plight of bathing victims. Let alone send their own family money to their aid. This paper has covered many a story of local citizens being dragged out to sea, never to be found again. This tale is not totally unbelievable and the staff at the paper hopes it is true. This story should be more about how family would not jump on a train and come to Jacksonville to find out in person if their loved one is alive. Everyone asked at the paper said that is what they would do.

We spoke with his brother-in-law, Claude Styles, who stated that no one in New York can believe this story. Mr. Styles is employed with New York Life Insurance Company in New York. Mr. Styles said, “I asked him for details about several family matters. He has not responded to me, either.”

Here is the total story as told with a straight face by Samuel Thornton. Twenty-five days ago, on August 25, 1891, he and his 25 year old sister-in-law donned bathing apparel and visited the beach. He said they entered the water and splashed in the waves. Suddenly, without warning, the two were dragged out to sea. It was necessary for him to support Ms. Jewell since she had no knowledge of swimming. Just as the two had lost sight of land and gave up all hope of survival, a large log floated their way. Physically, they were completely exhausted. They held tightly to the log until with God’s grace, a small ship passed their way and spotted them.

A Spanish Schooner rescued the two from certain death. They had both swallowed enough water to fill a large glass. Ms. Jewell was in the worst shape. The crew worked on both of them in order to save their lives. Mr. Thornton said only the Captain could speak English and very little at that. He refused to take the two to land. Ms. Jewell was delirious for 13 days. When Mr. Thornton insisted that they be taken to shore, the Captain flagged a passing vessel and passed them to it.

The new schooner was headed for the Yucatan. Mr. Thornton said he assisted the crew while Ms. Jewel cooked and cleaned dishes for their passage. After much begging, a small boat was lowered and the two were taken to the closest sand bar near Jacksonville. The crew took pity on the two and raised enough money to provide them $20 dollars and rags of clothing. They were very appreciative.

On September 23, 1891, the Florida Times-Union printed a story about this wave-swepted couple titled “Samuel and his “Jewell”.” In it, they described a telegraph that his brother sent on September 22nd. It read, “To S. W. Thornton. Stop. Money has been telegraphed. Stop. Wire us where to meet you. Stop. Will. Stop.”

Will is his brother William J. Thornton, who is his brother and business partner.

The Florida Times-Union received the following telegram from the Brooklyn Eagle newspaper, “Send the latest developments about the Thornton matter. STOP. It looks at this end of the line as if the whole thing was a bold strike for money. STOP. A.C. Burton. STOP. City Editor of the ‘Eagle.’ STOP.”

Many people in New York had contacted the Eagle with supposition that the castaway Thornton “as they called him” was a big “song and dance.” They suggested that he just ran away with his sister-in-law and was using the castaway story as a way to avoid detection.

The Times-Union had this to add. “Thornton’s every appearance, however, was that of an honest man, and Miss Jewell would certainly impress one as being incapable of any such duplicity.”

By noon on September 22nd, Thornton received a wire for $50. It stated “pay S. W. Thornton $50.” Thornton immediately walked to the Ocean Steamship Company on West Bay Street and purchased two second-class tickets for New York, via Savannah, Georgia. He stopped by a store and bought Miss Jewell a white flannel gown “so she would be presentable for travel.” The Time-Union writer added, “She looked very pretty in it.”

A strange turn of events occurred just after the tickets were purchased. As the two were returning to the hotel, a man approached the pair at the corner of Hudnall and Forsyth and insinuated that he had served them on a train from New Orleans several days earlier. “I have never seen you in my life!” exclaimed Thornton. “You are entirely mistaken, sir.”

The conductor was emphatic that he and W.R. Carter, editor of the Metropolis newspaper had seen the pair. Carter asked Miss Jewell, “Didn’t I see you in the New Orleans sleeper last Saturday?” To which Miss Jewell replied, “I saw you a few minutes ago, when you called my room, but before that I never had seen you in my life.” She was stone faced and did not hesitate on her reply. If she were guilty they wrote she was “game.”

The couple quickly returned to the Waycross train depot and changed their tickets from leaving at 6:30 pm to leaving at 1:10 pm. To the local observer it appeared they were attempting to elude questions.

Before the train left for Savannah, a Times-Union report was able to ask Thornton again about the conductor’s questions. Thornton leaned out the passenger window and said, “This is a cruel lie that they tell about us. We reached Jacksonville just exactly as I told the Times-Union reporter. I admit that the story is a strange one, and that makes some people suspicious. Why even my own brother could not believe me at first! But, he sent the money just the same.”

The train pulled away from the station and the two disappeared into the engine smoke.

The last word of the couple was published by the Florida Times-Union on September 30th in an article titled, “Castaway Sam in Court.” It discussed a religious tribunal held in Brooklyn regarding the Elder Samuel H. Thornton, of Mount Olive Presbyterian Church. The meeting was private but its verdict (not legally binding) was made public. At the end of the tribunal, the majority of the elders voted in favor of Thornton, created a document which included that, “Mr. Thornton’s story was believed, but owning to the minority, a clause was inserted to the effect that verification would be necessary.” If Mr. Thornton could not provide proof of the event, disciplinary action would occur.

Now, nearly 120 years have passed since this truly strange event. We may never know the entire truth about the day when the “Castaways from New York” washed up on Jacksonville’s beach.