Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1874-04-14
MISCELLANEOUS.
Heroism at Sea.
From the N. Y Evening Post.


On Saturday we referred briefly to the res
cue of the crow of the Norwegian brig Fodlip
by the Cunard steamer Algeria. The follow
ing account by eye witness is interesting:
1.-The Cnnnrd steamship Algeria, Captain
Lott. on her recent trip from this port 10
Liverpool, experienced n gale Of universal
magnitude and duration. beginning on the
morning Of the % 4. the gale continued With
increasing inry until the Tth ult The seas
following tho steamship thteatened her de-
struction, and the whole situuton was ono uf
grave apprehension as to the possible result
son the Goth nitimo. in the midst nF
the widest period nF the storm, when the Of.
fcers were strapped TO tie bridge aud thc
qnArtermSster to the wheel signals of distress
were seen and a dismantlrd brig was dis
covered in a sinking condition. Without a
moments hesitation CRntain Lott ordered all
hands ON deck and hngan the difficult op>
Grafton Of wearing shin so ss to bring har
into communication with tho shipwronked
sailors. Signals "f encouragement were Civ
en- to cheer the survivors on tho dsnhlnd vesS
sci, IT, indepd the waves which were making
q clean breach over her, had spared any Of
the crew.
after an hour Pnssed in bringing tho
steamship within reach OF the vessel. il was
Lott, from the bridge, addressed tho steam
ship crew, telling them that his doubts "a 10
the possibility ofthe liEeboat living in such
an angry sea were so great that he would not
order any boat OF, but IL there were any
willing TO volunteer he would par,bit thom
to 20. instantly boats crew were formed,
headed by Third Officer William Frederick
Hardtoft, with Bon,>wain William White aud
six brave seamcn. The hat was launched
With great difficulty, amid the Io.ring OF the
wind and the raging 81 the waves. In the
laucbing the boat vac thrisO cAreiZed ny thS
cArcening OF the steamer, aud IlnrdfUrd had
his right hand nearly drawn from his writ.
having hecn caught in the iOckle, bht he
grasped rho tillcr i'h his loft and in moment
the boSt had passed MP on a mountain wavG
mast high aOd was then carried ont Of sight
All hearts went UP in prayer for that gal.
liant crew, for il was growing dmk and the
storm seemed TO gain fury al every momcut.
"An hour was pusScd in breathless suspehse,
when The life boar came in view again, riding
like n seagnll over the waves. AS IL noared
the steamer the anxious watchers saw that il
contained eight rescued sailors and two dogs,
1t was at this moment that the peril was most
imminent. II seemed ~ If no human power
could devise means by which the poor fellows
cOuIu saIely Ooaru the ht"hmer. hopes throWn
to them as they came down on the waves
broke like %hsps of straw, aud the iron sides
Of the Algeria offered only certain destruction
TO their frail bark. at one moment they wore
as high as the yards, and the next they sank
apparently into the depths Of the sea.
"Nlan ropes were thrown out over the steam
er's side, and as the lifcboa, wss carried bs
the waves near the ship Caption Lot ordered
them to jump for their lives, and by Prove
idehGe as marked that by which the stesms
er had been driven out Of IT'S course by the
gale towards the f"uu dering SNIP tie distanN-
between tho steamer and the lifsboSf .ss,l =,
reduced thst the we're c0sbted ~ grasp
the ropes, aud were hauled on deck e&hsnsfed
and bruised. ~ f,ff
''ODe poor man alone fell betwceD the bcst
and the steamer and cruelty crushed. hiss
collar bone and peversl Ibs having he-6
broken Exhausted, he lost. his bod aud
sank. Drawn along the steamer si.s ty he
waves. rope after rope Wssthrowo ar"uuI tan
but failed to raise him Three ,ime- al M
fall bnck, and nc passed beyond the t-sc'
of all hut one man. With supertuuruu ebrr
age that last man cOil,ng his ;sc' around ,h.
rigging and throwing himself doVnwpr.I. r,-.
rope around the sinking mau AID te ~
drawn on deck"