The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-04-10
A GALLANT RESCUE.

The Crew Of n Burning Ship Driven Ashore
in a Fierce Gale on the Massach us-tts
Coast Calamity Rescued by Fishermen
The Nearly Frozen Sailors Kindly Cared
For.
BOSTON. MASS, April 1.
During the gale ard driving snow
storm which strewed the coast with
wrecks Sunday morning, residents near
High Beach, North Scituate, were terri
fed to see drifting at the mercy of the
wind and waves a burning schooner. 1t
was the binding snow. Nearer and near
or did the helpless vessel drift to the
shore, until even above the roar of the
winds could be heard the cries of the sea-
men, already helpless from cold and eX-
haustion. The brave people of the
coast, from youth up accustomed to
battling with the elements, rallied rap
idly and FASTENED to the beach, ready to
risk their lives in the efforts to aid their
fellow-beings in peril. The nearest life
saving station is several miles distant,
and upon their efforts alone rested the
hope of the ship-wrecked seamen. Boats
were hastily launched and hurriedly
manned by the sturdy fishermen and
farmers of the region. 1t was evident
that whatever was done to rescue life
must be done quickly. Already the flames
were creeping up the rigging of the
doomed vessel, and d column of fire en-
wrapped the foremsS It and streamed high
into the air, making weird sight as it
mingled with the flying now-fiakes
and streamed far out from the topmast in
the wind, then risen to a hurricane. In a
few moments, unless the crew were res
cued, the vessel must strike upon the
beach and then, subject to the violence of
wind and wave, all on board must be thrown
into the sea and perish, or else fall VIC
| tins to the flames. Through the breakers,
into the tiercest fury of an angry sea, the
brave reScuers fought their way, deter.
mined to do all that lay in human power
to save the shipwrecked crew. One boat
| was hurled back upon the beach by a tre-
mendOus incoming breaker, and the men
/ at the oars narrowly escaped with their
| lives. The other boat passed the break
ers after hard struggle, and neared the
| burning schooner. One after another
| the frozen seamen were taken
| helpless from the wreck, and after
an hours perilOus work the
! Captain and crew were all placed sass on
/ shore. Kind hands at once bore the be-
numbed seamen to the homes of the
warm-hearted people, where every want
was supplied. The vessel meantime
drifted on reef, where she lay st the
mercy of the storm until she ives entirely
wrapped in flames. Suddenly the watch
ers on the beach saw her culver, sending
| upward u column of flames and sparks.
A moment she seemed TO pause, and
then, with Il plunge and IL seething heard
above the roar of the storm,
she disappeared beneath the waves. Cap
! tain Thorndyke, when he had somewhat
recovered from his paralyzed condition,
said that his vessel, the Martha Weeks,
/ left ROckland Friday with cargo of lime.
At midnight Saturday the cold gale came
on, the vessel sprang leak and soon was
| found to be on fire. The crew were frost
bitten while attempting to eXtinguiSh the
flames, and all hope of rescue had been
abandoned when the brave people OF
Scituate manned their boats.