The Philipsburg mail. [volume] (Philipsburg, Mont.) 1887-current, 1894-12-20

VI Va for surfmen who
~ VII become disabled
- in the line of du-
ty and for the
families of those who sacrifice their
lives in behalf of others need not look
far for cases to strengthen the claims Of
this heroic body Of men. Scarcely a
great wreck takes place that does not
leave one or more rescuers worse off
than the rescued. In writing these sto-
ries Of heroism at sea have preferred
to dwell upon the particulars Of life
saving in the strict sense. But the loss
of life among savers is, alas. too often
a necessary part of the story.
When the Elizabeth from Belfast,
Me-, went down in the entrance to San
Francisco harbor Feb 81, 1891, with il
of her crew, the chances Of giving help
We're of the faintest, yet Keeper Charles
Henry of Fort Point station lost his
own life and imperiled his crew because
the traditions Of the service are, t'Nev-
er say fail. The Elizabeth crossed the
outer bar i'll the afternoon with fresh
leading wind. Her captain declined the
proffered aid of tugs, declaring that his
ship could sail in alone The tugs at
tempted to follow the ship, but couldn' t
keep up.
AS the seas grew heavier the captain
hailed the tug Alert and offered $25 for
a tow. The skipper of the Alert asked
$50, and as the Elizabeth was driving
rapidly on shore her captain offered to
split the difference and make it $37. So
At last; when the ship was almost on
the rocks, he offered $50, but the tug
captain declared he couldn't save her
then. Seeing the ship becoming unman-
ageable, however, he passed hawser
on board. 1t broke just as he got the
Elizabeth headed offshnre Half an honr
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 the 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 assistance Of the
Alert Before the Reliance could get
hold the Elizabeth struck on Four Faith
ON bank and for the first time hoisted
signals Of distress. The decks were
swept by heavy seas, one of which
struck the captain and disabled him. A
cutter was lowered, and it Immediately
swamped, but the people, three in num-
Der, were taken on board the Reliance
The dingy was then hoisted out, and
the captain S wife, with two children,
was transferred to the Reliance. Mean
while the Elizabeth had pounded over
the shoal, losing her keel. She hoated,
but was leaking badly.
The distress signals when hoisted
quickly alarmed Keeper Henry at Fort
Point station, who launched the life
boat without delay. Tt was blowing.
gale, with a choppy sea, SO that the
surfmen could make little headway
with the oars Fortunately the tug Re
lief came along outward bound and took
the humane craft in tow. Night had
set in intensely dark Both boats ship
ped heavy seas, but plowed ahead until
they reached Point Bonita, when the
tug captain advised Keeper Henry to
turn about, but the brave fellow declar-
I'D that he must sail on until he reached
5he vessel whose signals of distress had
been sighted from the lookout. just at
;hat moment a heavy sea picked up the
ifeboat and hurled her under and
athwart the bow of the tug. To save
aer being stove Keeper Henry cut the
;ow line The crew bent to their oars and
only with the severest efforts saved the
BOAT from being driven on the rocks to-
ward which the fierce wind, strong
9ddy and the heaving sea carried her.
finally she met with the tug Alert 60
ng in from the bar, and asking for a
ow passed a hawser on board. In the
excitement and haste the short piece
which had been cut loose from the Re-
ief was used. AS soon as the line was
asst the tug steamed ahead slowly, but
n getting under headWay the lifeboat
ook a broad sheer, filled with water,
md when she righted the rudder was
,one and along with it Keeper Henry,
Who had been steering. The first in
tinct Of the surfmen was to save their
eader. Selling hatohet, one Of them
evered at blow all but one strand of
hn harJco,. xrba,, ~, cooo,,1