The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-03-08


stones from catapult. In her shattered
rigging were 10 dark objects showing the
outlines Of human beings, some Of them
moving about ON the ropes and some as
still as mummies. One figure held long
well mutIled parcel clasped to the breast as
though it were q priceless and breakable
treasure. The vessel was the schooner David
H. Tolck. from Cuba to New York with a
cargo of sugar. She had struck nj 3 o'clock
in the morning within 200 yards of the
beach and about half mile from Life Saw
ing Station No 49,
The people in the rigging were the cap
tain of the schooner, Irving +. Sawyer, his
wife, Ida Sawyer and the crew of eight men.
Captain Sawyer and his wife were both sick
and were dashed to the rigging to prevent
them from falling into the sea. The figure
with the bundle in its arms was second mate
Emanuel Clausen, and the bundle was the
captains baby girl, Genevra Sawyer, aged
year and months. The vessel struck, no
matter why nor how, as vessels always
have and always will, in the wrong place
The patrolmau Of No. 10 saw the danger
and alarmed the corps at the station.
The sailors on shipboard attempted to
back the schooner from the bar, but found
that her bottom was crushed in, and in a
few minutes the hold showed 10 inches of
water There was nothing to do but await
daylight and rescue, so the sick man and
woman were carried from their berths to
the top of thecabin, and the sailors grouped
around them; the rough old mate turned
nurse, holding the baby as though it We're
all the earth and heaven thrown in. The
decks We're swept by angry seas, the life
boat had been smashed like a shell, and
every one on board was drenched with the
freezing water cast up in Jets as the waves
struck the ships sides
Keeper Martin of Life Station No. 10 hur-
ried to the scene with a strong surfboat in
its beach carriage. The wreck could then
be seen in outline from shore, but not
clearly enough to distinguish her condition.
The surf risn so high that Martin deter
mined not to risk his boat, but to attempt
salvage with the life buoy. The first shot
from the Lyle line throwing gun fell short
but the second carried the line within reach
of the sailors on the boathouse. The heavy
seas were now breaking the vessel up around
the decks, and before anything could bt
done all hands took to the rigging, the sail
ors with the precious line in their hands
The captain and his wife were dashed tc
the mizzen rigging and the mate was sta
toned beside them with his helpless charge
Two active and CHEEKY hearted seamen
r 81
the crew, and after hours of the most terri
BILE toll the whip line, or the first installment
of life saving rope, was strung between
the wreck and shore. The sailors in the rig
ging, balancing on the rope footholds, had
but little power, and not more than two
could haul on the line at once. Sometimes
the sea ran so high that the men were
Strengthened out horizontally on the waves,
and the water between the wreck and shore
flowed laterally in n strong surface current
which carried the line as fast as it was paid
out on the beach away to the leeward.
So much rope was paid out in this way
that the weight was doubled tenfold fol
the poor fellows hauling on board ship
Fortunately the crew of Life Saving Station
No. IS reached the scene, and the two crew,
together dragged the slack of the line wei
to the windward and then let 60 Thi,
maneuver eased up the labor of the men OF
the wreck, and they soon had the tai
block of the whip line within few rods Of
the goal. Alas, just when rescue was in
sight of the wretched mariners the shot
line by which they hauled was sundered
probably b. the saving of some heavy
piece of wArckage with which it had be
come entangled in the current, and the try
ing labor of the precious morning hours
was lost 1t was then between 9 and II
o'clock. The victims in the rigging were
holding out well, and had the life buoy
travelled to them on that first cable all
might have been saved.
1t was l o'clock before another whip line
was carried across and the tail block made
fast to the vessel. \ breaches buoy wa.
ready for transit, and all eyes were rivetet
upon it to watch the first rescue, when 9
calamity which sent shock through the