The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-12-14


need not look far for cases TO strengthen
the claims of this heroic body of men.
Scarcely great wreck takes place that
docs not leave one or more rcscuers worse
off than tho rescued. Often whole crews
of lifeboatmen arc sacrificed, and still
more frequently some one individual is
the victim of a sad calamity brought
about by exposure In trying 10 ward of
calamity from fellow men. In writing
these stories of beroism at sea have pre-
ferred to dwell upon the particulars Of
life saving in the strict sense. But the
loss Of life among savers Is, alas too often
necessary part Of the story. Usually 1t
comes about by hopeless attempt to save
that which Is beyond salvation.
When the Elizabeth from Belfast, Nc,
went down In the entrance 10 San Francis
co harbor Feb 81, 1891, with II Of her crew,
the chances of giving help were Of the
faintest, yet Keeper Charles Henry Of Fort
Point station lost his own life and imper-
lied his crew because the traditions OF the
service are, Never say fail. " The Eliza
both crossed the outer bar in the after
noon with a fresh leading wind. Her cap
tain declined the proffered aid of tugs de-
claring that his ship could sail in alone.
The tugs attempted to follow the ship,
but couldn't keep up. As the seas grew
heavier the captain hailed tho tug Alert
and offered $25 for a tow. The skipper OF
the Alert asked $50, and as tho Elizabeth
was driving rapidly on shore her captain
offered to split the difference and make it
$37. 80. At last, when the ship was almost
on the rocks, he offered $50, but tho tug
captain declared he couldn't save her then.
Seeing the ship becoming unmanageable,
however, he passed a hawser on board. It
broke just as he got the Elizabeth headed
offshore Half an hour was passed in
getting another line aboard. Meanwhile
both vessels had drifted toward Point
Bonita. The tide was ebb, and the tug
could not make headway with tho ship
until her sails had been furled and her
yards braced back. Unfortunately the
hawser again broke, but the tug Reliance
was within hail and came to the assist
ance of the Alert. Before the Reliance
could get hold tho Elizabeth struck OH
Four Fathom bank and for the first time
hoistcd signals Of distress. The decks
were swept by heavy seas, one of which
struck the captain and disabled him. A
cutter was lowered, and IL Immediately
swamped, but the people, three in num-
Der, were taken on board the Reliance.
The dingy was then hois,ed out, and the
captains wife, with two children, was
transferred to the Reliance. Meanwhile
the Elizabeth had pounded over the shoal,
losing her keel. She aoated, but was
leaking badly
The distress signals whom hofsted quick
ly alarmed Keeper Henry at Fort Point
station, who launched the lifeboat with
out delay. 1t was blowing gale, with u
choppy sea, so that the surfmen could
make little Roadway with the oars For
tunately the tug Relief came along out
ward bound and took the humane craft
In tow. Night had set in intensely dark.
Both boats shipped heavy seas but plowed
ahead until they reached Point Bonita,
when the tug captain advised Keeper
Henry TO turn about, but the brave follow
declared that he must sail on until he
reached the vessel whose signals of dis
tress had been sighted from the lookout.
just at that moment heavy sea picked
up the lifeboat and hurled her unoer and
athwart the bow Of the tug. To save her
being stove Keeper Henry cut the towline,
the crew bont TO their oars and only with
the severest efforts saved the boat from be-
Ing driven on tho rocks toward which tho
fierce wind, a strong eddy and the heaviDg
sea carried her. Finally she met with the
tug Alert going In from the bar and ask
Ing for tow passed hawser on board.
In the excitement and haste the short
picco which had been cut loose from the
Relief was used. As soon rs the line was
fast the tug steamed ahead slowly, but In
getting under headway the lifeboat took
broad sheer, filled with water, and when
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