The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-04-12
4 BATTLE FOR LIFE
Death OF the Knte Aarkee's Crew wstehsa
from the shore.

Death OF the Knte Aarkee's Crew watched
IRON the shore.
Caught By the storm on lee shore. twisted
and racked In the swirlinR belt OF foaming
waters along the treacherous Jersey coast. the
schooner Kate Markee was pounded to pieces
and every soul aboard Of her drowned yestsr-
day morning.
Almost within the mouth OF New York har-
Dor with but q trifing zap between her and
safety. she was driven upon Sandy Hook. that
narrow strip OF sea-made land which projects
like a row OF naked teeth to menace and Oft
times to crush the ships that seek the quiet
waters within. Known as It's dangers are. 10
Ia dotted with llfe-savinR stations. and blow
high. blow low. DAY and night men patrol the
beach from end to end to warn OF vessels or
to summon assistance for those who are In
peril.
So Drawing the storm. there started out the.
two men who FIRST sighted the Kate Markes A.
she was vainly trying to edge OF from destruc-
ton. One was from Capt Jack Edwards's crew
at Spermaceti Cove opposite where the Sandy
Hook boats used 10 land. and the other from
Capt. A. II. Vests crow OF the seabriRht
station. Just north Of the Hotel Shrewsbury.
Hardy men they are. surimen and fishermen.
but no man IL too hardy for that duty. The
tide was low and but Just beginning to make
food but even then. with sixty mile hour
wind driving them. the waves were preaching
clear over the high bulkheads with which the
New Jersey Southern Railroad has girded .
great part OF the shore.
Rain. snow. aud sleet fillsd the afr. and be-
yond the white Rirdle OF breakers none but
practical surfmsn could see ship as far -
half q mile out. Picking their way toward
each other. these two men would have met
three-quartsrs OF . mils north OF Highland
Beach stati on II they had finished that patrol
hut they did not meet
Out OF the gray storm each suddenly saw .
big three Inasted schooner drifting hslplessly
toward the breakers She lay deep In tho wa
ter. as II heavily laden. and when frst sighted
she had her forestaysail set As they watched
her they saw an effort made TO raise the peak
of her foresAiL II was hopeless attempt TO
get sail enough to draw 10 enable her to CLAW
OF the coast and get ofhnR sufieient to:round
the point OF the Hook
The patrolmen knew Il was hopeless. and
each started on a run 10 summon his com
radss with their life-sAving apparatus to the
help OF the vessels Grew. Robert Benson was
Capt. Vests man.
Here comes Bob on q runi" cried the Sea-
bright men. as he hove In sight There must
be a vessel ashore"
There was no delay In getting ready. for
every man had his storm clothes on. but the
ssabriRht station has no horse. Capt West
sent mile away for team. but. not waiting
for them. he and his remaining men started
with part OF their apparatus. dragging 1t bJ
hand
Could he have got 10 the scene OF the wreck
with his outfit some lives might have been
saved.
He has one OF the new lifeline mortArs
mounted Ike an army neld gun and carrying
the shot lines on reels on its eAIsson. Drag
ging It along. they were finally oyertAken 6y
the horses and got Gs far as where the sea had
Highland station There thsy we're forced 70
abandon the gun. and they proceeded without
1t 10 lsnd help 70 Capt EdWsrds's men. Wh0
were already on the ground,
The MaFkes had been sighted at S:l5. DriV-
ing down with the northeast BY east gale abe
struck about 9 o'clock on the outer bar. here
only about 800 lset on shore. Perhaps her
anchors we're out for her head Was held al
most due north. As she came within the outer
breaker lines the seas rose above her And
swept her decks With solid Eater. The crew
were driven 10 the rigging. Those Who took
TO she 'Iasts we're driven clear 70 the cross
tree. Two men we're seen IN the mlzseh head.
three on the foremost aud two had ikea ref.