The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-06
STRANDED ON A SAND BAR.
THE STEINER vINDICAIOR AGROUND
ON LONG ISLANDS COIST
Capt. Beirs Life-snVinE Crew Warned by tho
Report OF N Cannon from the Brenkers-
Heseuing the Steamers Omcerr and crew.

Harkins OF Life-Saving Station No 90. which
is situated in about tho centre OF the southern
coast Of Long Island. was making his home
run down the western patrol OF his station at
about O'Clock on Saturday morning he heard
the report OF cannon from the breakers. 1t
seemed TO be close at hand. He know its mean
ing at once. and promptly fired rocket rs
signal Of recognition. Then he renewed his
home run along the beach with increased en-
ergy. to give the alarm OF Ship ashorel" at
the station. milo dlstant. His haste.
though dutiful. was unnecessary. for Capt
Bell. tho hardy old bay man. who has
charge OF the station. had also heard
the call FOR help. and was arousing his
| men. II was bitter cold morning. and the wind
| swep, pieTcingly up from the west In fow
minutes tie Captain and crew had run thcirlio-
| boat. filled with ropes and othcr liie-savng ap-
paratus. along the beach to a point opposite
where the rockets told Of a shin in distress. II
was too dark to make out the size OF the vessel.
for the natural darkness Of the hour was inten-
slned by nno yapor The experienced bay
men knew. however. that the vessel was stranded
| on the bar which runs parallel 20 tho narrow
bank that forms the Great South Bay. and about
Ave or six hundred yards from it, 1t Is a very
dangerous bar. and upon its hard compact
sands many vessels have stranded. Unless the
sea Is very high the breakers mark II. but
| wherever the vessel was 1t was certain that no
boat could reach II.
The ocean had driven floating ice upon the
beach. piling il up. as II frozc together. until a
solid barrier about eight feet high had been
formed. Outside OF H. us far as they could peer
into the darkness they saw nothing but broken
ice. To row boat ia IL was impossibilhy
The motar was brought from the station. and 10y
the time II was ready for use day had begun TO
break and the vessel was made out To be large
three-mast steamer. She was laying with her
bow on shore. BY getting some distance 10 one
side of her the Government men were able TO
shoot line obliquely. and thus got the advan-
tage Of a range along her side. The distance
proved to bo unusually great for such service.
and the hs,ee west Tind intsT'e,reSi WIN ig, The
the line into the hands OF the stranded crew
One hall struck the forecaste deck and bounded
on. One line was SAFELY lodged IN the riegin ing;
that the ice had cut H. After the supply OF line
OF Station No. % had been exhausted, and a
ton the iith shot was successful in laying a
line. by means Of which the rope was hauled on
board. AT O'Clock In the afternoon. the rope
HAVING been made rs taut as p,sshe and Sc
cured. and the safety brooches run NJ TO the
steamers mast. the iirst man got into them and
was hauled ashore.
The stranded steamer proved to be he YIN
ddigaaior 9 large freight steamer oi ihc Phila-
Line. Of which VIM; 7. clyde L Co. are the
Principal owners, She was bound from Fall
River, Mass. " Philadelphia with a full as
sorted cargo. She wis commauded by Cant
Rodgers. an old and experienced officer Of the
While efforts were being made 70 shoot a line
over the vessel three Of her crew put OF from
her bow in a lifeboat Capt Bell says he did all
no5 bS, To- NO % pntpose he three st
the boat all right until they got into the ice
steamer. Then their oars became useless.
Owing to the strong esssierly current. they
drifted In that direction. but without approach
Inc land. Capt Bell sent a part Of his
crew. one in "A lie.saylng dress, 10
cue. They drfied two miles. gradually near
ing the shore. AT length they got into the surf.
but could get no nearer the land. for the SEA.
beating furously against the wall OF ice.
bounded back and thwaued their efforts to
land. Their boa, capsized and then. one Of
Sf Sore crew EoaFRsI rusSns sS SqoueS, them SsR
20 life. but with hands and feet badly fr"-i-
bitten. one was the negro assistant 5i the
steamer. another. a young Gern-1n teaman.
| and the third m old sailor. They snid that thcY
pushed on TO try to land a line. and that some
had boat launched over the bow 10 have II
ready in case OF an emergency. and the first he
grateful. ana begged yesterday that a good
word be- written for those who had risked their
BY sundown the rest Of the crew. fifteen in
number. had been hauled ashore one 10y one in
the safety brecches. They were well used up.
for after two days exposure II Is not restiul 10
make n journey Of q thousand feet In the air
with ones legs dangling in tho biting wind and
part Of the way y the fr,.ezi ng water. They are
being cared for in tho life stations near by.
II seems that the Yindica,or sailed from Fall
River at lOA o'clock on Medna nasday night. and
was due in Ph hlladelphia on Friday evening,
She had bad voyage from the start On
Thursday night she passed the Fire Island
WIS about thirty miles west OF that point. Then
the wind from the west and south Of west in :
creased to a gale Capt Rodgers says he would
have run her into New l2rk harDor. but las
could not, ], was mpogsibl9 70 make any
hcadway all Of Friday night. He tried 10 turn
her and let her run before the wind. but her
rudder and steering apparatus were oiogged
and abou, her tow. He would get her hall
way round then her rndder failed %
again. In the early part Of the voyage he lost
two sails. He kept the lead going all night and
was In from fifteen TO twenty fathoms Of water.
All hands were thoroughly alarmed and were
kept at work, for there WAS no controlling the
ship The engineer says that all her mach merry
Is first class and It was worked 10 IT. fun
limit. but 70 no purpose. Her engines are 800
Ii has been suggested that CAPT Rodgers mis-
took the breakers on the beach for those over
the bar. and th1ereiore thought he was far
enough nj sea- The fact was that no sign could
OF the wind. She struck the bar broads ides.
and then tue wind carried her bow over t. 20
that she now lays with her bow pointed straight
for the shore and her keel fast on the bar. She
works in grnduaily. and inclines toward tho
the second shock when she struck her smoke
stack went down. Last night the water was
| well up in her engine rooms.
As soon as she was identined. Capt Bell sent
mcssen niger 10 Dir. Charles Hose, agent OF the
| Coast Mrecking Company IN PAthogue, who
ieegraphrd 10 his employers. They Informed
| Wm. y. Clyde \ o.. and the senior partner ~
the firm and Mr.. Young OF the company came
down on saturday night, They were not able
! to reach the steamer until this morning Tho
scene OF the dls4stcr Is oppgsite Bel!port six
miles east from Ptchogue Tho steamer was
reached to-day by many persons, who walked
or drove across South Bay on the ice Near
tile steamer lay the Wrecking Company 3
tug. Relief. which came down on Saturday
night Tho companys schooner Johnson is in
sight and another sch ooner Ii expected to day.
They will 70 alongside and receive the cargo.
A steam pump was put in to-day md another
will be placed to- morrow. The Wreckng Com
panys agents say they hopo 10 remove enough
Of the cargo and pump her sulc!ently - light
| on her 50 that she can Oc pulled on on Tuesday.
They have every hope OF doing 80 II tho sea and
weather continue as calm as to-day.
| The NindlcatOr registers ! 300 tons and was
In full cargo, including 100 bales OF cotton
goods. 2OO hnes Of mixed woollens and dry
goods. n large lot machinery and agricultural
Implements and 20 looms on her deck. No
| cstlmnt" Of value or names of consgnees can
be Obtained here. but tho agent Of the undor-
writer's. now here. says he understands
thUt. the cargo Is, fully, aud tho y,esel
partly insured. Mr.. Clyde has been
on tho stcnmer and on tho Rolief all
day Capt Merritt OF the Coast Wreck ng Com
Ia. N.Tarr sns alrfN D.