The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-02-16
THE GALLANT COAST GUARD.
An Incident CT the Late Storm a,
Long Branch.
Glolo

An Incident CT the Late Storm at
Long Branch.
Correspondence Boston Globe
The most thrilling and exciting of all
the wrecks happened while the reporters
were in Station 4, receiving the news
about the Babcock. Captain Valentine
had Just given them the final point, when
a man dashed into tn. door and excitedly
exclaimed, "My God, Captain, here's
brig heading dead for shore, scarcely half
mile away."S The crew was hardly
prepared for anything of this kind. Two
men were rolling up the life-rope, another
was swabbing and furnishing the cannon,
and another was at work on the breeches-
buoy. Every one not connected with
the station made dash for the beach.
There, scarcely quarter of mile
away, heading dead on, with only fore
topsail set, came the ill-fated vessel. One
man was seen half way up the main rig
ging; another was at the wheel; the waves
were rolling in with the incoming tide,
throwing the spray fully five hundred
yards. The pelting rain, which almost
cut the skin, blinded one as he looked
seaward, and the wind, lifting up the fine
particles of sand. threw it into the face
viciously and painfully. On CAM the
vessel, sinking now in the trough of the
sea, anon rising upon the crest of the
wave until her keel was visible.
Within ten minutes she was within
hailing distance of the shore, and the
hundred fishermen waiting for her in
their rough tarpaulins and southwesters
watched her every movement with bated
breath. A gigantic wave struck her aft,
and washed her from stern to stem. To
every ones horror the man at the wheel
was seen standing fxedly at his post,
while wave after wave washed over the
ship and him mercilessly. She was
brought up to the beach, in the words of
one of the fishermen, beautifully. She
lunged upon the beach beadfuremost, but
swung round until she was broadside.
Then five men we're seen huddling to-
gether in the forecastle, while one sat
mournfully, half.naked, hatless and shoe
less, under the lee Of the cabin. VSs
name, Augustine, was seen printed on
her side. Ten minutes elapsed, when the
life-saving crew emerged from their
house, about fifty yards away. Arrange
ments were made carefully; the gun was
aimed, the life-rope carefully tied; but
when the gun was fired the rope snapped.
Another effort was made, but with the
same result. Finally Garrett, one of No.
As men, advanced down into the surf,
and threw line, which cleared the yes
sePs side.
1t was eagerly seized, and a rousing
cheer greeted the act. The line was
hauled in--the larger line also-but the
poor sailors, in their eagerness to save
their lives, failed to take heed of the
block of wood that gave the directions.
Much valuable time was lost in signaling
what ito do, and they misunderstood the
signalsyso that the line sagged and the
drift-wood from the Babcock accumulat-
ed between the vessel and beach, and
tangled the line 80 that it foiled with
thee anchors fuke. The next moment
one:of the sailors jumped over the side,
grasped the line, and made for the shore
He had very little distance to get
over, but the high tide and choking
drift-wood were obstacles which threat
ened to prevent the success Of his plan.
Twice he was knocked down, and once,
when he was half way, it seemed as
though ne must perish. But he arose,