Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-11-27
STORM-TOSSED SEA.
Heroic Work of a Volunteer
Life e-Saving Crew.
CAPTAIN JAMES AND HIS MEN
Great Damage to the Water Fronts
at Long Beach, Cape May
and Manhattan Beach.

BOSTON, November 26.-The terrlb|
effects OF last nights storm have bee
everywhere manifest along the coast t(
day. Although the loss of life alread
reported is large, it would have bee
still greater but for the brave efforts {
Captain Joshua James and his voluntee
life-saving crew, of Hull, who are credite
with saving twenty-eight persons iron
disabled vessels. On Sunday Afternoon
large three-master went broadside Of
the beach at Hull. Captain James an,
his men rushed for the Hunt gun
breeches'buoy and life-boat of the Mas
sachusetts Humane Society, at Ston,
Beach, and after strenuous efforts they
succeeded in bringing ashore the crew o
nine men from the schooner, which
proved to be the Cox & Green, from
Philadelphia for Chelsea, with coal. The
vessel is now fast breaking up.
Hardly had the band of rescuers com.
pleted their work at this place when
another vessel was deserted on the rocks
about an eighth of mile up the beach
but further from shore than the other.
Hurriedly rushing their apparatus to the
most available location they found that
the distance was too great to allow the
use of the breeches- buoy, and the surf
boat was quickly manned. The waves
were tremendous, and it was only after
hard and persistent struggle that the
vessel was reached, their boat twice
swampiDg in the attempt. The boat was
at last brought under the vessels bow,
and the crew of eight men swung them
selves into it. The return to the shore
waa perilous trip, the boat filling sew
eral times, but it was finally thrown on
the beach among the rocks by a huge
wave and entirely smashed.
The volunteer life-savers continued
their patrol of the beach, and at day.
break sighted third vessel ashore about
a half mile northeast of Abbott. She
could not be reached by the breeches-
buoy, and as their surf boat had been
demolished the tireless men started for
Strawberry Hill station. four miles away,
and returned with the Humane Society's
new boat. This boat withstt cd the huge
breakers and landed the crew of seven
men.
Not satisfied with the work accomplish
ed, Captain James and his band of
twelve started for Atlantic Hill, seven
miles down the beach. where yo more
vessels were reported ashore Here
they we're joined by Captain James An
derson, of the Humane Society station
at Crescent Beach, and Captain
George H. Brown, of the Gov
ernment station at North Scituate.
Their efforts were directed to the rescue
of five men who could be seen clinging
to the rigging of one of the vessels. The
sea was running higher than ever known
before at this point and it was thought
impossible to reach the wreck with the
surf boat. The Hunt guns were brought
into use and two lines were almost sim
ultaneously fred across her foretop by
Captains Anderson and Brown. The
men in the rigging eagerly seized a line
and hawser was pulled aboard; but
just as the buoy was about to be sent out
the line bscame fouled and the buoy was
rendered useless.
At this critical moment three young
men of Cohasset, named Ainslie, Antoin
and Salvador, manned small dory and
at great peril attempted to clear the line.
In this they were unsuccessful. The
surf boat was then put out on its third
ptTllOuS 1uc WAVES were cuUl-
nous, at times lifting the boat As high as
the main-top of the disabled schooner,
but the brave crew never faltered and at
last reached the vessels stem. AS quick
as they were within hailing distance a
nearly exhausted seaman crawled out
from under the furled sail on the mizzen-
top and came cautiously down the
shrouds. Captain James threw him a
line which he fastened around his body,
jumped into the sea and was rapidly
drawn into the boat by strong and will
ing hands.
A desperate attempt was then made
to force the surf boat forward to the
foremast but the waves would beat it
back and for nearly an hour they strug-
gled before they succeeded in reaching
and holding their desired position. The
men in the rigging were terribly ex-
hausted and it was a difficult undertak-
ing for them to descend, but one after
another four OF them descended in safety,
jumped overheard, and like the first,
were drawn into the boat. 1t was then
discovered that the fifth sailor was q
corpse, and his body was left in its icy
resting place. The surf boat was headed
for the shore and a safe landing was
effected amid the cheers of the specta-
tors.
When the storm struck the vessel
Captain Fales and one seaman refused to
60 aloft, and they We're swept overheard.
The others took to the rigging, where the
steward, l. Broms, OF East Boston, being
unable to withstand the cold, died early
Sunday morning, and was lashed to the
mast by his companions. If the vessel
outrides the storm, as now seems likely
the body will probably be removed to-
morrow.
About l 1000 feet northwest of this boat
high and dry upon the sandy beach
within reaching distance of Damon's Pa
vilion, lies the three-master Matte E
Eaton, from Boston for Port Spain with
a general cargo. The captain and crew
were in the rigging for eight hours before
she struck, but they succeeded in reach
ing the shore in safety in their boat.
Still another vessel was seen drifting
about by the untiring band of rescuers
and getting no response TO their attemp
to place life lines. the vessel wat
boarded by the gallant crew, but no on
was on board. 1t was the brigantin
Alice, abandoned. The crew returned t.
the shore and their noble work wa
done.'