The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-10-30


had lost her anchors the night before and
lay broadside to the bar "A total wreck.
The men were taken of in surfboat.
A report having reached Lewes that the
crew of a dismasted and stranded vessel
near the Cape Henlopen station was in
danger, Keeper Salmons, with one of his
men, started for the scene. On passing
the iron pier they saw five men on a him-
sy raft making for shore and in great peril
OF drowning on account of the high winds
and turbulent surf. Fortunately the Lewes
surfboat, which had been drawn TO the
spot the day before to aid the people on
the Italian bark, lay at hand and with
the help Of volunteers the life savers pull
ed out TO the raft, rescuing the five men,
who belonged to the schooner Henry NJ.
Clark of New York.
Proceeding toward the cape. Salmons
discovered a wreck just off the point, with
her masts gone and the seas tumblipg
over her with great violence. No boat
could be pulled off TO her, and the keeper
sent for his crew. When they arrived,
accompanied by Keeper Truxton and the
Rehoboth crew, Salmons had brought up
his beach cart and apparatus, but it was
with great difficulty that the combined
force dragged it abreast of tho wreck.
Meanwhile the imperiled sailors lowered n
boat, with the intention of making land,
but she filled and sank almost immedi-
ately. The wreck lay 600 yards otfshore,
but having no spars TO catch line the
chances of establishing communication
with gun seemed hopeless. Luckily the
first shot carried the line across where the
crew could seize it. In few minutes the
breechcs buoy started on its errand, drag
ging half the distance buried out of sight
in the surf, and 90 sailors were landed
without mishap The ship proved to he
the William X. Grace of New York. She
went TO pieces where she lay.
During this time the surfmen OF Lewes
crew rescued nine sailors from the brig
antine X. T. Green OF Boston, which
parted her cables that morning and
stranded near their station house.
They next turned TO the Nettie Cham
pion of New Jersey, ashore outside the
wreck of the j. ID. Robinson, whose crew
had been taken off early that day. 1t be-
ing impossible TO fire line TO the Cham
pion or 10 pull boat off to her, the ap-
paratus was placed in q surfboat and after
o hard struggle landed upon tho deck of
the Robinson. The eager sailors of the
Champion hove line TO the surfmen, and
although the lie savers had all they could
do 10 Keep footing on the old wreck.
Finally the crew OF the Champion was
transferred 60 the Robinson, then to the
lifoboat, wnich was pulled ashore by
safety lina
1t was Low o'clock. The surfmen had
labored s.nce daylight without touching
food bes ides being drenched TO the skin
and completely eircd out. AS there APP
pcared TO be no more wrecked crews in
danger, they returned to the station house
for the night
Tho following morning, the 12th, all
three crews of life savers again united and
continued their exciting and porilous
work. The cyclonic winds that had pre-
vailed nearly five days died out at night
fall, but the rain continued, and the surf
beat with awful violence upon shore.
During the day several gallant Iescues
were added TO those above described, com
plotting the wonderful achievement In
which the actors were only Is surfmon
and the three keepers
GEORGE l.. KILNER.