Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-06-11
4 GALLANT RESCUE.
Thrilling Story Of q Winters Cruise
On the New England Coast.
WRECKED on LITTLE GULL ISLAND.
s,x Men, Black, B.grimcd. and Benumb-
ed, saved--Perfis Of Breakers ana Icy
Gale Bravsd-Ths skippcr's Tale.
,ooro.condouce Of the Richmond Di.pa,ca.i

ecorrespondence OF the Richmond Dispatcn.l
NoxroI.y. Va. June 10.--A revepue-cut-
Ger. the Dallas. has Just had severe tussle
of the New England coast with south
cast gale Of unusual severity. She is
now bound to Southwest bsrbor for fresh
proyis,ous. water, and mail. All hands
are tired of the constant tumbling and
bumoing about they have received and
are looking forward 10 few days rest and
a run on shore with feelings entirely IN
known to landsman's breast. The
vessel 10 badly iced up, every drop
Of water blown against the hull and
rigging from the crests Of the lofty seas
having frozen. Spars. decks. and rails are
thickly coated with ice. making pictur-
esoue and impressive sight, The vapor
over the surface OF the water ~ bali mast
head high causing the discernment OF OBJ
jects only few ships length distant al
most impossible.
The officers aud look-outs on duty are
carefully peering through the mist IN oil
directions for signals Of a distressed vessel.
They know only too well from the
many sad cases that have come under
their observation that these outlying
islands and reefs of the rock-oound
coast of Maine have been the grave;
yard for many a staunch Vesse,
and many a brave and hardy mariner. and
that the bowling gale aud binding snow
storm of the previous night formed Just
the combination that the mariner most
fears and which has caused most OF the
shipwrecks on this dangerous cost.
MAKING Tos PORT.
The fshing-vessels from the Grand. 10
Hare, Georges, Aud other iishing-banks
"come on the coast, as sailors say, bound
70 Portland 10 find a market for their fish.
The eacerness of each captain 10 be the
first 70 get his fish 10 market causes
enormous risks TO be taken. The gale
IL never so angry. nor the seas
so tempestuous, nor the snow 50
binding. nor the tog SO impenetrable
e. 70 deter tho brave, hardy skipper OF the
fshing-smacks from attempting 20 make
port. A day. or even an hour, may. and
often does, make material difference IN
the price. meagre and insufficient at pest,
that he receives for his catch, and on this
price depends the comfort, almost the
very existence. Of the dear ones IN the
neat little cottage IN Gloucester. mus
grim necessity forces the fisherman 70
take most desperate chances chances
that no other class OF sailors along our
coasts dream OF taking.
As soon az the smack has had her
"par" Of fish, it IA All hands up anchor
for home. b0ysn All sal, "a " cracked
on" the little vessel il headed in the direc-
ton Of Portland Boston. or Gloucester.
usually the former II she is from the Grand
or Ia Hare banks. Blow high or blow low,
sail ls carried as long az II viii stand IN the
bolt ropes. and the hearts Of the hardy
fishermen beat high with ardent hopes
for a GOOD Jun and fair price for the
catch, and Few days home with the wife
and children.
AHISpIyG GAZE.
But before the land IS sighted heavy
gale. accompanied by binding snow
storm. sets in observations for latitude
and longitude are Imp0sN Die; oUtlvin.
islands and aids 10 navigation are lnylsi-
bic. the grU0, uncguny means OF the
whlstnng buoy, rs well ~, the shrlll,
powerful notes Of the steam siren, are
swallowed up IN tho bowling blast of the
gale: the fierce tides and swift currents
of tho dreaded Bay OF fnrdr play their
cruel part. and suddouiv, without
warning, above the noise OF the gale.
the roar of tne ruthless break
crs is heard. bat. alas too late. The
smack strike, one OF the OUTLYING rocks
or islands and quickly goes 80 pieces, ana
the poor fishermen tIe indeed fortunate Il
7 icy f'~t 1fIN IT. kAlf NI4NfAt W44A Alitti n't'
Many of these islands ere unlnhablted
and far from tie mainland, and If their
s!rial- age not seen from some passing
vessel amt ~uCror promptly rendered,
ttcy nave but exchanged aqulck death oy
drowning fortho more lingering and pain
iul one by cold and exposure.
The cutter ha, by this time rounded
Swan Island and Is slowly feeling her WAY
up for the loll-buoy of Bunker's Ledge.
STRANDED vrssEr.
Suddenly vessels masts are indis.iuct-
Is seen above the yapor. At first she APP
pear, o. be under way. The slcnderness
eli the thread upon which human life
sometimes hangs WAS never more forcibly
Illustrated than IL was in tins instance.
2 he officer VINO has sighted the maets de-
C,dcs tga' the vessel 20 which they belong
j. under WAY and turns his glass IN an
other direction. Fortunately the sweet
Little cherdb that sits up aloft and looks
cut for the life of poor Jack - was not
nCddiug on this partlcu ar occasion and
tie officer Is impe.le1 by some strange,
unacCountahle force 10 take another LOOK
az the vessel. lis does 80. and quickly
discovers that the masts are inclined to-
ward the wind, hence she must be-
stranded. He promptly reports to the
captain: the vessels course Is changed.
and IN a few minutes Little Gull Island Is
sIg1ted, and on its southern shore Is seen
the wreck of lumber laden schooner with
the red nag of 81. George, union down,
floating from her masthead. Great waves
are breaking clear over her hall masthead
high, straining and wrenching her SO badly
that the maSts are sWaying from side 10
side IN "a frlghttui manner. making II GER
tain that her utter destruction Is matter
OF only few hours.
WHERE ARB TIE CREW?
No persons are seen IN her rigging. and
to stay on her deck would be impossible
between decks she must be tull of water.
" Where are her crew. Have they all
persisted ?" is asked hv one - another.
The shore Is closely scanned. and a sigh Of
relief goes up as q thin column OF smoke
is seen slowly ascending near the vessel.
A heavy surf Is breaking on the island,
and even on the side away from
the breakers the back lash " is
terrible, making boat-auding extreme
" difficult and perllous. But 1t Is
quite certain the men must be taken of
the island. 1t IS desert. an unlnhabitod
pile of rocks, ah0rding little shelter. and
the poor fellows would perish long before
help could reach them the following day.
1t IS seen that they have roughly impro-
vised tent from one of the vessels sails
and as none Of them can be seen thev are
probably huddled together under IL
around the little FIRE whose smoke We have
seen.
NO TINE TO Re LOST.
The short winter dsy is rapidly drawing
10 q close. The men. If still alive. must be
taken Oh the island before DARK. and there
Is no time TO be lost. The captain and Off
cers hold hasty consultation. IL is the
opinion of all that it would be madness 70
attempt TO send boat IL on this side Of
the island. The sharp, shrill notes Of our
steam-whistle sound on the frosty air
egain and again. We are trying TO
attract the attention of the poor fel-
lows on the island. Carefully the rude
u Ia annrrnoA tIrn,,rh