The New York herald., 1879-03-01
THE LOSS OF THE TOLCK.
Lie Saving Crews Nos IS and IS Charged
with Dsrahcdon Of Duty.
POOR LITTLE GENEVRA.
Captain Sawyer and His Wife Die Clasped
in Each Others Arms

BARNEGAT, n. j., Feb 2s. 1879.
The minor details of the loss of life in the wreck
of the schooner David II. Tolck of a most heart
rendIng nature. Old seagoing men who stood on the
beach and witnessed the scene confess that tears
dropped from their eyes their realization of the
suffering of those board indicated in their
agonizing gestures and nploring cries. The whole
length of time that some of them confined to
the rigging fully fourteen hours and the ther-
in the life saving stations stood about hf-
teen degrees The cold was not so intense as it was
keen and piercing the wind from the southeast cut
ting through the thckest clothing like knife. AS
early quarter after four the people of this village
of the presence of the schooner on Long
Beach. having some of the signals which were
sent up from her deck and the answering ones made
on the shore.
RESCUE.
more of strong men started during the
forenoon for the mouth of the creek where lay
small fishing craft, and put out to cross the bay.
This water is fully seven miles wide, and at this
season it is frequently quite dangerous to venture
upon. Nothing daunted them. however and they
batted stoutly with the and the breakers
until they reached the narrow ridge of sand which
separates it from the They fastened down to
the surf and heartily cooperated with the men Of
the life saving service in every possible. Two Of
the principal of them Captain J. d. Shaw, whose
statement l teegraphed last night, and Enoch s.
Jones. wrecker. The latter says that he reached
the beach about twelve O'Clock. The life saving
were then apparently doing all that they could to
assist those board the Ship but the acting
in very treacherous manner, the popularity of
surf known as the ''cut' sweeping up the beach
more rapidly than a man could run. This was
proven by the fate of the ships boat which had
been jammed into little pieces in floating to point
upon the land some five hundred yards to the north
ward.
EXHAUSTED.
hawser had been secured to the schooner and the
men board were trying to pull the Hfe-car out to
her They stood one above another in the rigging,
and had very little chance to exert their full
strength in the effort Only two of them could be
abreast at time. The movements were slow and
seemed to have little energy They would pull
little while and then would give up then they would
pull again, and hnally they abandoned the attempt
altogether. About two O'Clock small line shot
them and secured. The breech buoy
then rgged and as it is light they easily pulled
1t to them. 1t is useful contrivance consist
ing of a common ring buoy, such as is seen on all
steamers with pair of short leather breeches
attached The person before taking the water
puts his legs into these his body being enclosed by
the ring
All this time tail block had been out to the
vessel and this omission is one of the points espe-
cally demanding investigation. tail block carries
upon Its wheel double line which Is intended to
work the lfecar from the shore. When the crew
exhausted benumbed cannot get down to
the deck account of the depth of water it often
proves the sole means of their salvation. In this
there is not the slightest doubt, confessed by
Superintendent Ravens, that not "a single life would
have been lost had double line been worked.
the tail block through the terrible 'cut," whether
the fault of not rigging it lies with the station keeper
aud his men. has not yet been determined.
TIE CAPTAINS DAUGHTER.
When the second mate and the captains little
scious. The latter was immediately handed over to
the kindhearted Mrs. Hazetone, the wife of Captain
Hazletone. who had watched and prayed for her res
with womanly anxiety and fervor Wrapping
her closely in her arms she fastened to her reside
and applied every means that she had to revive her.
Many heart within a rough bosom had leaped with
wish of tender and pitying emotion the eyes of
the owner rested upon her fair head and pretty fea-
lures, all white with the cold 1t must have been a
wonderful vitality in mere infant which had kept
her alive when both father and mother froze to
death. 1t not long before the warmth of a fire
brought slight glow to her cheeks, and after OPEN
ing her eyes and saying Mamma" once or twice in
pteous tone she fell asleep. When she awoke again
her Hrst word was Mamma" She would cry afew
moments, and then, seeming to forget the horrible
impression of her late situation, would lie with her
eyes closed.
HUSBAND AND WIFE.
From the second mate it was learned that the child
had been in charge of the first mate a part of the
time since the stranding of the ship The captain
would have consented to being himself lashed
to the rigging while the men were in danger of fall
ing of had il not been for the presence Of his wife,
by those who knew him is said that he brave
the last degree and extremely gallant in the affection
which he bore his wife, Every thing that he could
find in the way of clothing he wrapped about her,
1t seems that he had strong presentiment that he
at least would not survive, and he bent in his
last moments upon spending all his thoughts and
strength upon cheering and helping her. Before
three O'Clock his voice had ceased to De heard by
crew Whether he spoke to her or not is not known,
but neither of them seemed to move and their eyes
had a CLASSY look.
PARTING.
About half-past one the first mate observing that
the men were not doing their best to assist the
efforts of those on shore. resigned Genevra to his
junior in command. that he could set better ex-
over to the mizzen rigging, where the captain and
his wife were, and added another lashing to those
which they already had on They said very little to
him, Mrs. Sawyer asking him. as she had done be-
fore. TO her child. The captain seconded her
request and added in tone of great fortitude:-
"Pete, think my time is cant die more
than once. and Il might as well be now. Goodby!"
Cheer up! cheer up. SIR, said the mate. with
tears streaming from his eyes, "rd rather go down
than leave you here"
any gets to shore let him take the child in his
arms"
.Ay, ay, siri and Mrs Sawyer should 20 next"
The captain looked into his wife's face. but said
not word till she repliod:-
II Will not leave you. only ask OF God that my
poor baby may live and find mother"
Who describe the tenderness with which the
captain pressed her head closer to his bosom2 The
mate turned away, mutterng a hoarsc goodby.
Soon afterwari the breechbuoy reached the ship.
aud the second mate with the child in his arms, went
overheard in IL. The mate shouted to the captain,
1--WE sending Genevra ashorei'' but neither he
nor his wife seemed to hear him. and they did not
turn their heads to look. IL is probable that they
already dead. Gradually their bodies lost their
ercctnoss. leaning forward until they bent
nearly double.
one of the sailors all the time that he was in the
rigging barefoot. The one who fell about four
o'clock IN The afternoon was probably seized with a
fit, as he observed by the others shortly before
90 be frothing at the mouth. He was Dane.
At nghtfall squall came up and the rain fell
heavily. The subsequent shifting of the wind
caused subsistence Of the sea. which permitted the
surimen to board tho ship yesterday morning.
LiIrLE CAsrAwAy.
When the first matc after landing, reached the Hsr-
yey Cears where the little girl was she greeted him
with glalncss and addressed him Pete. This IL
nbbrcviaton of his surname. which she had learned
from hearing her parents pronounce 1t, and her
familiarity with him grew from his living with them
In the cabin. One of the most touching features OF
the little castaways fate il that she had been
wcanud from her mothers breast, although more
than two years old. She is apparently OF very
happy disposition, aud to-day has laughed and
ad the vii ~ Mrs HAIL