The Portland daily press., 1888-11-27

6HOrJS OF Capt. Joshua James ana MS V0lun-
teer life saving crew of Hull, credited with
saving 2S persons from various disabled ves-
sels Sunday afternoon large three-mas-
ter went broad side on the beach at Hull.
James and his men went for the Hunt gun,
Oreeches buoy and life boat of the Massa-
chusetts humane Society at Stony Beach
and after strenuous efforts succeeded In bring
ing ashore the crew of nine men from the
schooner which proved to be the Cox and
Green, of Philadelphia, for Chelsea, with
coal. The vessel Is now breaking up. Hard
ly had the band of rescuers completed the
work at this point before another vessel
was discovered ON the rocks about one
eighth OF mile farther up the beach, but
farther from the shore than the Cox and
Green. Hurriedly rushing their apparatus
to the nearest available location. they found
the distance too great to allow the use of the
breeches buoy, and the surf boat was quick
ly manned. The waves were tremendous,
and 1t was only after hard and persistent
struggle that the vessel was reached. Their
boat was twice swamped in the attempt, but
was at last brought under the vessels bow
and her crew of eight men swung themselves
into it.
The return to shore was perilous trip,
the boat filling several times. but she was
finally thrown upon the beach among the
rocks, by huge wave, and entirely smashed
Fortunately the water was shallow at this
point, and the occupants easily waded ashore
This vessel was the Gertrude Abbott, Capt.
Henry Thompson. Philadelphia for Boston,
with coal The vessel is in good condition,
her sails well furled and everything stand
ing. She will probably be saved when the
storm abates
The volunteer life savers, after seeing the
rescued men well provided for, continued
the patrol of the beach, and at daybreak,
sighted third vessel ashore about half a
mile northwest of the Abbott She could
not be reached by the breeches buoy, and, as
their surf boat bad been demolished, the
tireless men started for Strawberry Hill sta
ton, four miles away, and returned with the
Humane Society's new boat, built by Bur
CESS, after model by. Capt James.
With this, which marvellously withstood the
high breakers, the crew of nine men was
landed on the beach. This schooner was the
three master Bertha f. Walker. Philadelphia
for Boston, also coal laden. Her crew were
in the rigging several hours before being res
cued. Captain Westgate and mate Thomas
were swept overheard and drowned by the
heavy sea. Captain Westgate belonged in
Berkeley, Mass, Mate Thomas in Isleboro,
Me. The crew were taken to Boston by the
tug W. A. Cove. The Walker will be total
wreck.
Not satisfied with the task already accom-
plished, Captain James about o'clock start
ed for Atlantic Hill beach, where two more
vessels. were reported ashore Here he was
Joined by Captain Anderson of the Humane
Society's stations Crescent beach, and Cap
tain George III. Brown, of the government
station at North Scituate beach, and their
efforts were directed to the rescue of five
men who could be seen clinging to the rig
ging of their vessel. The sea was running
higher than was ever known before at this
point and IL was thought impossible to reach
the wreck with the surf boat. Guns we're
brought into use and two lines
almost at once fired across her foretop
by Captains Anderson and Brown. A
men in the rigging eagerly seized the line
and the hawSer was pulled aboard, but Just
as the buoy was about to be sent out the line
became fouled, and the buoy was rendered
useless. AT this critical moment three young
men, named Ainslee, Antono and Salvador,
manned a small dory, and at great peril at
tempted to deliver the line They were un-
successful, and the surf boat was then put
out on its third perilous journey. The waves
were enormous at this time, lifting the boat
as high as the maintop of the disabled
schooner, but the brave crew never faltered
and at last reached the vessels stern. AS
quick as they were within hailing distance,
nearly exhausted seaman crawled from un-
der the furled sail at the miZZentOp and came
cautiously down the shrouds. Capt. James
threw him line, which he fastened around
his body and jumped into the sea, and was
rapidly drawn into the boat A desperate
attempt was then made to force the surf
boat forward to the foremast, but the waves
would beat her back, and for nearly an hour
they. struggled before they succeeded in
reaching and holding their desired place.
The men in the rigging were terribly ex-
hausted. but after four had descended,
jumped overheard, and like the first been
drawn into the boat, it was discovered
that the fifth sailor was a corpse
The surf boat then fastened for the shore
and safely landed its cargo amidst the cheers
Of the spectators. These sailors belonged to
the schooner "a. 9. Higginson, Capt Falls,
from Hillsboro, n. B., with plaster for New
burg, n. Y. When the storm struck the
vessel, Capt Falls and one seaman refused
to go aloft and were swept overheard. The
others took to the rigging where the steward,
withstand the cold, died early Sunday morn
ing and was lashed to the mast by his COM
panions. If the vessel rideszout the storm,
as now seems likely, the body will probably
be removed tomorrow
About 1000 feet Northwest of the Higgin-
son, high and dry on the sand in the beach,
within reaching distance of Damon's pavil-
ion, lies the the three-master Matte K. Ea-
ton. $50 tons, Capt. Gamage, Boston for
Fort Spain with general cargo The cap
tain and crew were in the rigging for nearly
eight hours before she struck but they sue
ceeded in reaching the shore in safety in
their boat. A young son of Rev. DIR. Plumb,
of Boston, who was on board for a pleasure
trip was also saved. The Eaton is not bad
ly damaged and will probably be saved.
Still another vessel, brigantine, was seen
drifting about by the untiring band OF res
cuers and. getting no response to their at
tempts to place life line, the vessel was
boarded by the gallant crew, but no one was
on board. This was the brigantine Alice.
The crew then returned to the shore and
their noble work was done. The names of
the men, who suffered untold hardships in
their work of rescue, are Captain Joseph
James, Eben L. Pope, 0sceola james, George
Pope, Eugene Mitchell, Eugene Mitchell,
Jr, George Augusta, Alonzo l.. Mitchell,
John L. Mitchell, Alfred Joseph. Louis
Galen, Frank James and William Bachelor.