Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-03-03

KELLER, VA, Feb. 27.-The Spanish
steamship San AlbanP, lagasvaga master,
of Bilboa, Spain, mine days from New
Orleans for Norfolk, to sail thence to Ham
burg Germany, encountered a heavy gale
with thick weather and had no observa-
outer shoals of Hog Island at 8 p. m. on
the 22d instant, and shortly afterward
worked off, but it was impossible to go to
sea, as there were shoals outside and all
around her. She anchored and lay afloat
about four hours, when she dragged her
anchors and went ashore again, this time
on the beach.
islander, jumped overheard on plank
and made an attempt to swim ashore but
was taken out by the current and drowned.
The vessel lay about six miles N Il. of
Hog Island life-saving station, and was
observed by the captain on the morning Of
the sd. He at once started with his crew
and apparatus, for the ship seemed near
enough to shore toshoot line over her,
but on arrival he found the distance too
great. He then returned to the station
and got the surf boat and an additional
shot line.
On rearrival at the scene of the wreck,
the steady crew placed their gun and APP
paratus and fired q six-ounce shot, which
parted about 20 yards short of the ship.
They hauled in and fired again, this time
with more elevation and got the line across
the ship, but the sailors pulled the small
line across wire stay and parted it, They
again loaded and fired four shots, each
falling short. Finding the ship could not
be reached with shot line, they launched
the surf-boat as Inst resort, but owing tc
the roughness of 1.-The sea and the strong
current, the boat loon filled. After Il DIES
perate struggle Ihe drenched life-saycrs
managed to reachtthe shore.
They made antther attempt. but with
the same result ds before This time tn,
boat drifted well Hown the beach and tn,
crew came near losing their lives. As il
was now growing dark, the sea running
over the beach, the life-saving crew wer,
compelled to de4ist, exhausted and half
famished, nothing more could be don't
until the next morning.
AT 3 o'clock on the morning of the 9th
the station crew took dry shot line anC
started for the ship. At daylight they sig
nailed her to look out for line. The It'd,
had now fallen somewhat and in order t,
get the shortest possible range, the gun wa
placed in the horse cart and securely la;het
and run down into the surf. They ther
.waided to their armpits in the water so a
to get the gun rs near the snip as possible
and fired. The shot barely reached tn
ship, just falling inside the rail.
The current was so strong that grea
difficulty was experienced in getting OF
the larger lines and setting up the gear
All being ready ut IL a. IN. the life-car wa
run off and in IS minutes the crew of 9
men were safely taken to shore. The
were taken to The station and cared for.
The rescue OF the crew, which seeme
impossible, was made under the most try
ing conditions and severe toll to the crew
and shows the discipline and pluck of th
life-saving corps.
Superintendent Rich of the Fifth lif,
saving districF was on hand, directing tn
operations. agents for the Merritt Wreck
ing Company, the Gulf and Atlantic Con-
pany and the Lewes Wrecking Compan
are on the spot.
The steamers North America and Tame
are in the offing awaiting thezmoderatio
of the storm, so as to get to work on til
wreck, which will prove a total loss. TIL
value of the ship is about 100000 and
insured for $4,000. The value of ii
cargo, which is composed of cotton, OF
cake, wheat, &C., is about S120 900, insure,
A large proportion of the cotton will pro-
ably be saved, while the other part OF I'll
cargo will be total loss. No estimate ca
yet be placed on the amount of salvage
Captain Johnson of the Hog Island lif
saving station and his gallant crew, hay
had some of the toughest experiences
the annals of the service, having bee
twice blown off at sea in their lifeboat az
fortunately picked up by passing steame
and landed.
The placing of the gun in the horse ca
and wading out in the surf is somethii
ever before resorted to in the service al
is without doubt this expedicnt th
saved the lives of the 26 men on the shi
as they could not have held out mu,
longer.