Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-09-12

! then stated. LII may OK NAY HoI e"iiJ
forty or fifty persons; we are sure IL
will not transport a 1.-THE OF the friends
of the enterprising and genial owner.
| have hope, for the first tune since
nv arrival here, that the winds may
l11ll. 50 that it will be safe for the little
steamer to speed on her way. At pres
ent it would be attended with great
danger.
SURF BATHING.
The surf bathing near Fort Macon
is very pleasant, and every suitable al
ternoon the beach is lined with bathers
of all ages and both sexes. The sight
is novel and pretty. The ladies
| bathing dresses are after every fashion
and of every color, and the variety
the ladies swim with grace and ease,
and buffet the waves like veteran
swimmers. It is an accomplishment
which few ladies possess, but which all
should acquire. There can be no more
healthy exercise, and it would SO fire.
uuently enable them to save their lives.
Thrilling INCIDENT.
Yesterday afternoon fine tide and
Il stiff breeze invited more than the or
binary number of visitors to the beach.
The sea was running higher than l ever
saw it. Standing upon the shore,
tchingthemountains of water, snow
capped, dashing with resistless fury
against the beach, l felt how insignia
cant and powerless were the works OF
man, and how awfully grand and
mighty were the creations OF God. 1t
was a magnificent sight. The beach
was lined with ladies and Children
The more daring Of the men, who had
advanced even II short distance ln,were
tossed about like leaves by an autumn
nal storm. The waves were breaking
ten and fifteen feet above their heads.
l. \ few ladies' only had ventrlred in.
The point selected for bathing is
nearly opposite Fort Macon, some half
mile below the Inlet. A few hundred
wards towards the inlet, the govern
mcnt has thrown u large number OF
rocks to prevent the current, which is
here very strong, from washing away
the beach. The tide GIBBS and flows
around this ledge OF rock with such
force that it has cut Il channel through
which tI.e current 11lslles with ire
munGous force.
Yesterday all along the shore the
wave, and the current bore the bathers
toward the Inlet with much moro than
ordinary velocity. I would make the
Indies .ind children OF our party come
70 tic shore and walk down the beach
several hundred yards, and in a few
minutes was compelled to repeat the
request, so strong WAS this under
current which swept them toward the
ROCKS.
: PERH.OTS SITUATION
The bath had been unusually pleas
ant The very force with which we
had been lifted mp and tossed headlong
toward the shore. had caused many to
forget the dangers, and especially the
strong 4lader-curre.it which carried us
toward the inlet When nearly all Of
thv fathers had gone INTO the dressing
rooms, three young gentlemen We're
; still iUllrting the angry waters. Now
!, YOU would see them on the very crest
, OF Il monster wave, and thea they
would disappear III the clouds OF
spray into which it would break.
, Away off, two couples were rapidly
{ drifting toward the rocks. These were
| Miss Lucy Gtuion, Of Newbern, with
, Mr.. Il. W. Graham, of Charlotte, a
son Of the Hon. VIM. \. Graham, and
, Miss Mary Roberts, of Newbern, with
, Mr. y. T. short, the eldest son of Mr..
: Ii. =. Short, OF Waccamaw. The
/ three Young gentlemen just referred
to had come ashore. These were Mr..
II. b. Si.ort, Jr., Mr. John. D. Hughes,
Inc son of Major John Hughes, of
N"wheln, and Master Edward B.
Ilngcihard, of Wilmington.
DARING AND GALLANT CONDUCT.
Seeing the danger into which these
bathcrs We're, and needing their signals
OF distress, the three started in full
: ran to the rescue. Mr.. Short and
: Muster Engelharl, together with
Master +. Z. o. Roberts, of NewDern,
WHO was slightly i'll advance, rushed
for Nj Guion and Mr.. Graham, who
we're now being rapidly drawn into the
: terrible current which PUSHES by the
, rocks, and seized the young lady. A
tremendous breaker soon hurled Master
Roberts. powerIess and almost sense
less, upon the rocks, rendering him in
, capable of giving any assistance. Mas
ter Engelhard, srrrendering the young
lady to Mr.. Short, turned to the
: rescue Of Mr.. Graham. At this mo-
ment a receding wave bore Mr.. Short
aud his now helpless charge, and Mr..
Graham, who was also entirely
exhausted far ont beyond their depth,
and into the furious torrent which
SWEET by the ledge of rocks toward
the inlet Mr.. Shorts herculean
strength enabled him. to swim with the
young lady. Taking advantage of the
next wave, lie made for the rocks,
beyond which he was eing borne, and
succeeded in reaching them. Bearing
the young lady III his arms, he climbed
10 the top. No sooner had he gained
the summit Of the ledge than he was
knocked down and separated from his
helpless charge by Il huge wave which
swept entirely o.er them; but although
badly bruised, he jumped quickly up,
and again caught the young lady, and
with much difficulty bore her to the
shore. Mr.. Hughes had rushed to the
rescue Of Miss Roberts and Mr. w. B.