Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1893-09-22
HEROIC WOMEN.
They Saved Eleven Men, and then "a
Down ana Cried.

They Saved Eleven Men, and then Sat
Down ana Cried.
A story of womanly heroi.m comes
to US in the records Of disaster that
followed the wild southeast storm last
week, which brought such destruction
on the Atlantic coast. The bark
Martha P. Tucker was wrecked of
Point Lookout on tho shore OF Long
Island. The life.savsng station was
not yet open, and there were i, the
building only Capt. Andrew Rhodes
and his daughter Jennie, fifteen years
old. Visiting them were Mrs. James
3. Rayner and her son, Reilly Ray
ner. and Mrs. Emma Mary Moseman.
The description Of tho wreck, and
the efforts of the women, is graph
cally given in the New Yo,k Sun:
The vessel WAS driven ashore abou,
seven a. m. The gale was still rag.
ing, and tremendous breakers were
dashin0 away up the beach, and the air
was filled with spray that settled
down like fog. Reilly Rayner was
the first to see her as she surged up
and down on the great pillows. She
WAS then lying about 200 feet of
shore, with her storm sail set. Ever,
heaving wave sent her lurching fur
Their shoreward: Young Rayner i'm
mediately gave the alarm. Through
his glass, Capt. Rhodes made out
twelve men huddled in the top OF the
mizzenmast. From her position i,
was certain that she could not hold
together much longer.
Without losing any time, the beach
wagon was run out with only the life
lines nj annon on board. With
the surf boat on, eight men have all
they can do to haul it through the
yielding sands. The women seized
hold of the ropes, aud they started
for the wreck.
In the meantime Capt Van Sick,
len. OF Long Beach Life Saving Sta
ton, two aud a half miles further
west OF the stranded vessel, hurried
to assist the gallant little Grew, as did
also the Italian Waterman.
Il was half.psst eight O'Clock when
they gyt opposite her. Half the Wis
sci was then visible. She had broken
in half aud the stern had gone to
pieces. The crew was clinping to the
bowsprit, which was almost contin>
ually hid from view by the great
waves that broke over the wreck, and
threatened every minute to shatter It.
THIS time. through his glass, Capt.
Rhodes counted out eleven men. One
was missing. There was not a nom.
ent to lose.
AT nine o'clock the little cannon
gave forth punv roar that was los,
in TIE thunder of the surf, and the life
line went zgzaggicg through the air.
1t WAS q good shot.
The line landed directly across the
bow spirit, to which tn. men were
lashed. 1t was hauled in by them,
aud ten minutes lats TIE breaches
buoy was sent out from the shore.
The women helped man it, and seized
tho returning ropes, takin- their posi-
tions like the members of q we'll.
drilled crew.
The 6rst to come to shore was the
fourteen-year>old cabin boy. He Was
almost exhausted from fright and his
long struggle for lie. The others OF
the crew followed in quick succession,
as fast as the buoy could be- hauled
back and forth. The women worked
with blistered and bleeding haLds,
bu. never once stopped or made com.
plant.
The captain of the vessel was the
last to leave the wreck. When about
midway in the surf he was struck by q
gigantic billow. tina. came near break,
ing the lines and turned the unfor,
tunate captain upside down. He
was hauled ashore half senseless, with
his feet in the air aud his head in the
water. !