Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-03-29
THE STRATHAlRLY WRECK.
Stories OF the Terrible Scenes by
Capt. Gard and Lieut.. Failing.

NoRroIK. VA, March 2s.-Speaking OF
the Strathairly wreck Captain Gard, pilot
OF the life-saying cutter Alert. said this
was the first he ever saw, and he now prays
God that he may never see another. The
Alert was lying of Chicamicomico IN the
sound. Lieutenant Failing had inspected
the station Monday, and the cutter was
coming up here early Tuesday morning.
The news of the disaster was brought TO
the cutter at about o'clock. and as quick
ly as possible all hands rushed TO the scene.
mile and a quarter south OF the station,
and rendered all the assistance they could
in saving life and caring for those with
spark of life lett.
THE LINE PARTED.
when we got there" said Lieutenant
Failing. 1.-THE life-saving men had succeed
ed after several attempts in getting a line
over the ship, and the crew on the fated
vessel were hauling it in, but just before
they got the hawser the line parted. ms
seemed to discourage the wrecked crew,
and though another line was shot to them
they were too benumbed by the cold and
so exhausted from exposure they could not
haul it in. This was nearly o'clock ana
the weather so thick that the men on the
fated ship could hardly be seen by those on
shore.
DEsPAIRISG ORDER.
Then above the noise of the storm the
cries of the men pierced the ears OF those
on the shore, and the order of the Captain
that Every man lookout for himself
God help you TO reach the shore was
distinctly heard by the life-savers. One
by one the twepty-six men either fell from
the rigging or plunged into the sea. Only
ten of them succeeded In getting 10 tue
shore with o single spark of life, and these
were more dead than alive when pulled
out of the water by the life-savers who
were powerless to do more than they did.
THE TEN DEAD BODIES.
With cork-jsckets on the llfe-savers
plunged into the sea at the sight of man,
but in ten cases life was entirely extinct.
The bodies of these ten were laid out on
the station floor, and after being identified
by the saved men were buried. 1t was re-
ported that another of the nineteen
drowned had been pulled out of the water
two miles down the beach. but this report
was not authenticated. The story as told
by the Lieutenant is decidedly interest
ing. In remarkably short time after the
vessel struck there was not vestige OF her
to be seen, except the wreckage, which
was washed ashore.
NEVER RECOVERED.
One poor fellow supposed TO be the cap
tain was sighted by life-saver, who
plunged into the sea to his rescue. but just
then the under-current took the life-saver
off his feet, and though the noble life
saver swan for him the poor sailor was
lost sight of and was never recovered.
The survivors were well taken care of at the
station. A number of native ladies cared
for them as only thew know how. and
provided coffee and other necessary nour-
ishment.
SWOLLEN AND SORE.
The men we're terribly swollen and sore
from their rough experience. Their names
have already been published, but the names
of those buried have not been learned.
The graves have all been properly marked,
so that the bodies may be moved at any
time. The facilities for burial were poor,
but the best that could be had were fur
nished.