Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-03-10
THOUGHT THEY WERE DOOMED.
Another Daring Rescue by the Hog
Island Life-savers.

The Grow of the Schooner Union and %
Party From Lewes Had Given Up for
Lost, and Gone Into the Cabin to Await
Death, When the Rescuers Arrived
Other Victims of the Gale.
Special Correspondence Of Gazette md journal
LEwEs, March 9.-Mcssrs. John @. Ross,
William A. Pride and Ponder Morris. ar.
rived here Monday night from Hog Island
va, where they were engaged with Cap
tain 9. w. Johnston in a contract to blow
up wreck for the government off that
place. The schooner Union, OF Chinco-
league, was chartered for the purpose, and
III consequence of continued stormy
weather, nothing had been done prior to
last Friday morning. About O'Clock that
morning the vessel was gotten underway,
and ON going ont the inlet, from the force
OF the heavy sea running, she was driven
ashore fundamentally commenced break
ing to pieces. She filled in few minutes,
her masts going by the board and the i'm
lnense seas sweeping over her decks. Mr..
l'rlde was taken by one and thrown against
the vessels rail, injuring him severely in
the back, and only saved himself from
drowning by catching rope. Their boat
was made unseaworthy blythe tremendous
seas, and no hope OF rescue was at hand.
The whole party, consisting of the three
men named, Government Inspector Cap
tain Sooy, and the schooners crew of
three men, repaired to the cabin and
there, standing in water near waist high,
awaited the end Their reason for going
into the cabin was that their friends could
recover their bodies should they drown.
Captain j. II. Johnston and his brave
crew Of the Hog Island life-saving station,
who have saved many lives, were on the
lookout for suffering sailors and saw the
vessel three miles away. At once they
launched their large self-baling life boat
for the rescue. With strong head tide
they arrived at the scene of the wreck Just
in time to save all on board.
The rescued men declare that in Is min
utes longer all would have been drowned
as the vessel, which was 40 years old, had
nearly gone to pieces In two hours from
the time the lifeboat was launched all
were landed at the station and beautifully
provided for. Captain Johnston and his
brave crew have rescued large number of
shipwrecked men, and no one has per
ished who has availed himself Of their
services.
Captain G. w. Johnston had his outfit
and machinery, with 600 pounds of dyna-
mite, OH the schooner, all of which have
been recovered except the dynamite and
battery. The rescued men arc loud in
their praise Of the energetic captain and
crew OF the life saving station. The work
OF blowing up the sunken wreck will be
resumed by Captain Johnston so soon US
his gear can be refitted
The names of the crew of Hog Island
life-saving station are: X. G. James, ]. II.
Dunton, z. L, Carpenter, J. II. Dewald. j.
Il. smith, j. H. Carpenter, J. A. Daughty
and w. Il. Coiligon. And all deserve hon
orable mention FOR their efforts in saving
the lives of the men on board the schooner
Union at Hog Island on Friday last.
HAVOC CAUSED by THE GALES.
Vessels arriving at the Breakwater this
week report hard experiences of the late
northeast gales on the coast. The British
schooner Newburgh, from Nuevitas, Cuba,
With sugar for orders, arrived at the
Breakwater yesterday morning. The cap.
tain reports severe gales from the north
east and had been u days north of Cane
Hatteras. The American schooner Geor-
gotta Lawrence from Charleston, S. C., for
New York, with cargo of lum Der, arrived
at the Breakwater yesterday short of privi-
sions. The vessel was out u days, the
most Of the time in heavy gales from east
to northeast and lost sails had her decks
swept with heavy seas, damaging the Ak
lures. Captain Wyatt, who has followed
the sea for so years, says this is the worst
voyage he has had for many years.