The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-02-06
CAUGHT IN THE GREAT GALE
WRECK That CAME INTO NEW FORK
HIRBOR YESTERDAY.
4 Sudden Change OF Wind by which n Bark
and her Crew wero saved-seas breaking
an Iron Gable OF the Delaware Coast.


The owner of the bark Rocket, Mr.. Theo-
dore Foulk. and tho consignee OF her cargo OF
hides and coffee. Mr.. J. Agastlno. had been wait
ing anxiously since the great storm OF last
week for news of her. As she sailed from
Puerto Cabcllo, Venezuela Jan. 10. they knew
sho must have been about in a position to catch
the widest sweep of the gale. The pilots. too
had strained their eyes for her They knew
something Of tho stanch little vessels history
and how she had conquered some OF the hcrccst
East India gales. and were confident that she
must como out OF tho latest one all right
When early yesterday morning. she was sight
ed. bearing toward Sandy Hook. n glance
through the glass revealed that she had had n
tussc. There were sngular-looking attach
ments to parts Of the rigging. Now ropes and
pucys were up as a makeshift for ropes that
had been snapped apart The bowsprit had
been twisted up at an angle Of forty-nve de-
grecs. leaving great gap where it had met the
deck, and the shiny oak splinters where the
wood had been broken made the gap look like
nn immense aligator's mouth with very sharp
tcc,h.
Capt. Atkinson did not feel like smiling as he
was asked to recall the experience that he had
been through. He simply said TO Mr. Foulk
that he expected that trip would have left the
vessel on the coast. and one to tell how II had
happened. For twenty-five years Capt; Atkin;;
son had taken vessels from New York 10 all
parts OF the world but he says the gale OF last
week was the most terrific he ever saw.
The Rocket had "a pleasant passage until mid
night. Jan. 80. Then she wns some thirty miles
east Of the Delaware lghtship. There had been
| little puiis of wind before, and that peculiar
whStlng through the rigging that gives warm
ing that more wind Is coming. At midnight the
sea ran So high and the wind WAS blowing such
ahurricane that Capt, Atkinson drc dcd TO h6ave
TO. Then the Rocket began todriit leeward and
nothinl. that was done could prevent 1t. The
lead showed ihirty iathoms' then twenty;illye.
land peninsular Capt. Atkinson knew could not
he far oif. 80 rapidly We're they drifting. AZ
daybrcak on the 3lst. the rain was heavy and
the wind seemed TO blow II from all directions.
! BrOadSidcs Of wind that came in rapid success
| sion twisted and gnarlcd the great waves and
sometimes the bark carccned until its high
| i0pmast touched waves that seemingly went
half way to meet it, Management Of q ship
! kept sounding. Ten tathoms.' the lcadsman
said Ten fathoms! This meant Bleaching. and
| In such breakers the Captain knew must be
| cunning all along the shore the bark could not
| live two minutes. Once let the ships bottom and
the sand meet, and two waves, such as were
| breaking all about them would grind her 10
! splin;ers. Let 70 her anchor shouted the
Perhaps that would keep her of the shoals
| II was doubtful whether the wind and waves
would not drive both bark and anchor. The
| sailors lot 20 the best bower. and veered out
! chain. Then they could only stand and watch.
| There came three or four waves which pounded
agains, the side OF the bark. She resisted and
| rode over them. For moment they were
| encouraged. Then another wave and gust and
the huge iron cable snapped. The water be-
/ came SliullnNcr N.Ty IHplulN, anu ullc sea WIS
| more furious. The waves seemed like i'm
mense sheets OF sOapy iunin, but the wind ap-
penred Ia moderate. No sooner had Capt.
| Atkinson noticed this then he ordered all sail
made-a dangerous chance hut the only one
| in the hope OF keeping of the beach ms long as
! possible, but the sea was more powerful than
the WIND. and Ht 90 I. NJ. the BARK WIS IN the
breakers Then all hope OF saving, the bark
! or themselves went. Every second they cN-
pected to feel the shock IA she touched bottom.
| and they knew well enough what would follow.
| The breakers poured over the bark in su n
rapid succession that she was as completely
| submerged as though she had been on the
| bottom. Wave after wave approached. reared
up u- they reached the vessel. and then swept
| all direNicnS. Sometimes one would rear up
! over tho bow Just H. another curved over the
stern. Then they broke and met Ia his log
| CAPT Atkinson, who is man Of few words.
| siSs this was terrific sight suddenly
! Capt Atkinson noticed. after they had hecn
/ the wind came out Of the southwest. Ii was the
| only thing that could have saved them. How
the sails were set so ms tO catch IL Is hard now
say. but IL WAS done and slightly at first then
/ more pcrceptlhly. they saw that the wind was
! getting the better OF the sea. ana ~ lO.l5 the
weather cleared up and they saw Fenwick Isl
and light less than two miles away. BY so
were sounded, and the bark was found all right.
| Mr.. Fouls said yesterday. Thanks To an hon
,st builder the bark WAS sound and the cargo
! uninlured.' On the deck. however everything
was confusion. Tn" topgaant iOrecasie was
! all stove IN and the forward rails all broken.
| Between the danger Of ioundrrlne at sea and
| heaching to be Instantly crushed 10y breakers,
ed among seafaring men as one OF the mar
| rOWest on record.