The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-04-07
ApRIFr on A WRECK.
A Piucky right For Life and . Gal
liant Rescue

II NV Al tAQ a6k< WoFIc- 4NA
boom and bowsprit were carried
away, and thus severing all her fore
stays, the forenast went by the
board. The four sailors and the Of
6cers worked all that dark and
stormy night to save the vessel. The
vreckage was cut away, and when
morning broke the bark, with her
main and mizzen masts still stand
ing, was struggling gallantly with
wind and waves. With no head
sails it was impossible to keep the
vessel on the wind, and she rolled
heavily in the trough of the sea. On
the afternoon of the 9th the main
mast fell with a crash. Only the
mizzen mast was left standing, and
though the weather had somewhat
moderated, the sea was still running
high.
A Jury fore and mainmast wers
rigged and an effort made to get the
bs-k on the wind. The attempt was
useless and she rolled heavily. Her
decks were swept by the waves, one
Of the two boats she carried was
stove and her seams started so that
the water poured into the hold The
crew were put upon the pumps and
by great exertions menaged to keep
her ahoat. The wind and sea mod
Grated, but it was intensely cold, and
seversl of the crew, worn out by
hard work and exposure stopped
work and lay down in their hunks
in the forecastle to await death.
Captain Salveson, the master of
the bark, however, never for mo-
ment lost hope and when some of
the men with tears in their eyes said
Its no use-we are doomed-we
can work no longer" he told them
hey were sure to De rescued aud
driving the men from the forecastle
he forced them to fight for their
lives. Day after day they saw the
bark gradually go to pieces, and day
after day as the water gained in the
hold the crew hopslessly fought
against what seemed certain death.
Not sail was seen and at the mer-
cy of wind and waves the vessel with
her eleven souls drifted on a DESC
late ocean.
On March 1st a hurricane came
sweeping down on the wreck. Big
and angry waves threatened every
moment to engulf her and the wind
swept her about like feather De-
struction seemed certain, but Cap
tain Salveson breaking out some oil
that was in the cargo saturated balls
of eskum with it and putting the
balls in bags hung them over the
side to windward. The oil was diff
fused over the water and as the
great pillows crested with caps Of
fam came curling up to seize the
bark and drag her down they we're
turned into smooth and oily hills Of
water. as high a. ever. but without
their dangerous eombing crests. The
night was one Of horror, OF exhaust
ing work at the pumps and cold.
bat the oil on troubled waters saw
ed the vessel The next day the
wind moderated is fury. bot the
waves still ran high. On March l3
the bark II. +. Hsrzsy Vas sighted
and the exhausted crew thought
that succor had eoms az last Cap
tain Salveson signallet the bark that
be vas IN distress and Wished him
self and crew 10 Be taken of The
Hsrzey replied that she bad no
boats able 10 i've in such a heavy
sea. Dent leave us,H signalled
Captain Salveson and the Herzey
running down near the wreck, Der
captain shouted
Keep your light burning.
viii stand by
Night was now coming on with
storm and rain. On the wreck Of
the Nordcap the lights were kept
burning. aud now seen. now lest IN
the binding storm, the lights Of the
HerZey as she lay 10 near the wreck
kept up the hope Of the exhausted
crew. Every hoar Captain SalvesOn
shouted through bis speaking trum-
pet TO the Herzey, and ike the
voice Of hope across the storm
.ossed waters and through ths driv-
ing rain aud the dark night came
the answering hail. But at mid
night, when the Captain hailed, no
answer came back, and those on
board the doomed bark knew that
The Herzey had been blown away
rom them and they were once
more alone.
Two more days of despair follow
ed ard then, on March 16, a ship
was sighted. She saw the signals of
distress flying from the Nordcsp.
and bore down to her She proved
20 be the ship J. |. Smith, Captain
of Dorchester, Y. B., bound
or this port. A tremendous sea
vas running, but the Captain Of the
Nordcap lowered away his only
BOAT and he and the ten men on the
wreck reached in safety the rescu-
ng vessel. The ship had passed
through heavy weather herself, and
lad lost her rudder-heaG and the
ron work of her fore yard in a gale
N February "a. On March 3 she
lad passed a bark with all her yards
one except two on the mainmast-
Two days after the crew of the Nord-
ap reached the ship. Captain
'ingley wanted Captain Salveson to
% back and set his vessel on fire, as
he was ia the track of commerce.
'aptain Salveson was unwilling to
axe that responsibility, however,
nd the mate of the ship went him.
elf and fired the wreck The Nord-
ap was bark of 400 tons, owned
y Christian Boe, of Arendal, Nor
ray. Her owners nephew is her
gent here. He and Captain Sal
escn have written letters thanking
1s captain of the J. /. Smith for
ne gallant manner 10 which be res
ued them and the kind treatment
II rpceived on hoard the shID