Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1895-02-16
DIED IN THE RIGGING.

MuiihiuS, "eic -tcsSuC' mum tut"
sinking craft Friday morning by the
life saving crew of the Lone Hill
station. The Manning had driven
ashore and was pounding to pieces on
the beach. Two hours after they
reached the shore in safety the men of
the Manning were helping the life
savers in an attempt to rescue the crew
of another schooner
This attempt failed, despite the fact
that the men from the Manning and
the crews of two life saving stations
riskcd their lives again and again in
attempts to launch the surihoats. Two
lines were shot over the wreck, but the
unfortunate men on the second wreck
were too far gone to make either Of
them fast. and the life savers had 10
stand by and see the sailors freeze to
death and drop from the rigging into
the water.
The Manning went ashore about 1
o'clock Friday morning. She was
midway between the Lone Hill and
Blue Point stations. Both crews re-
sponded to her signals before she
beached and were ready for her. As
soon as she struck the beach the gun
was rugged, and after five attempts.
which failed through the wind blowing
the line back, the life savers got a
line across the schooner. The breeches
buoy was rugged and the men were
taken off.
The newcomer proved to be a three
masted, coal-laden schooner. She was
firmly fixed in the sand about an
eighth of mile from the beach. The
sea was too high to launch a lifeboat,
and later when the life savers attempted
it they were tumbled back ON the
sand The gun was set and after
many attempts the line shot across the
schooner and ratified to the deck.
When discovered the seven men on
the schooner had dashed themselves 10
the rigging. They were there before
the schooner grounded. When the
line shot across the vessel the lie savers
and the men of the Manning set up a
cheer. but it stopped short when they
perceived that there was no movement
ON the part Of the men in the rigging
to secure the line. Thct some OF them
were alive was known by the fact that
their heads could be seen to move.
After time one of the men made
an attempt to lower himself, but the
effort failed. The life savers then sent
another line aimed high toward the
schooner, but it failed to reach. Eight
tries were necessary to send the line
into the rigging The last effort was y
success, and the line caught within
easy reach of one Of the men.
Still he did not move to take it, and
one OF those who seemed to have Il
little life left in his body waved his
hand and shook his head, evidently as
a signal that it was no use to try to
save him and his companions.
This spurred the life savers to des-
perate action, and the surfboat was
dragged to the water. A crew of the
strongest of the men present was pick
ed out, and they stepped into the boat
and sat with the oars ready.
The others ranged themselves along
the sides and at the stern of the boat
and at the word pushed off. The men
pushing waded into TIE water up to
their waists to steady the boat over
the first comher When it came the
boat and they were lifted high and
dashed back on the beach, Time and
time again the attempt to ride the
breakers was made, but each time it
failed.
Ii was then mid afternoon and the
fate of the men in the rigging was
sealed. While the rescuers stood on
the beach trying TO devise some other
way 10 aid the men one of the sailors
loosened his grasp of the foremost aud
tumbled backward into the sea.
His body went through the Ice
which had formed ON the lee side of
the schooner, and was not seen again
There is little doubt he was dead when
he tell. There was no sign Of life
from the others, and the life savers
believe that all on board are dead.
At nishtfall only three men were in
the rigging. the others having relaxed
their hold and tumbled into the sea
4 big fire was kindled on the beach
and watch stationed. 1t is feared
that the men will fall from the rigging
before morning. The name OF the
schooner cannot be ascertained. She
is coaler and is loaded Her bow is
covered with ice, and so is everything
else about her.
The Manning halls from Barnegat,
y. j., aud is owned by Amos Burtsell
of Toms River She has II capacity
of 700 tons. She left Providence on
Feb. 5 for Philadelphia.
! OYSTER INDUSTRY PARALNZED.
The oyster industry, in which
hundreds of vessels are engaged in and
about the Chesapeake Bay, is paralyzed