The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-01-02

which ho supposed TO DO not far away.
Tho fog and darkness combined were 20
thick that no could not SEQ tho length of
tho vessel The only sign TO tell the mar.
liners their true position was the roar Of "a
tremendous surf caused by the breaking of
long easterly ground swell upon Shore
md that shore was tho outer bar Oft the
beach OF Long Branch. although this the
mcn ON shipboard could not divine Tho
bark sailed slowly under light canvas
making west course. At $50 she struck
on the bar, $50 yards from tho bluff, and
all hands quickly sprnng on deck and
tried to head tho vessel oifshorc The
wind was SD light, however, that she
wouldn't movo only as the sea lifted her
higher and higher upon the bar. In that
position the waves broke over her, gradu-
ally swaying tho hull until it lay broad
side To tho sen, receiving its full force. The
bulwarks were quickly torn loose and car
ricd overheard, and the tons of water COM
ing down ON tho docks stove thom in show
ing those on board that tho ships doom
was sealed. though they fondly believed she
would hold out until daylight. The sail
ors could do nothing but try to save them
selves. The halyards were cut to let the
sails run down, fagots made of oakum
distress, and the men took refuge on tho
highest part OF tho deck preparatory to
launching thoir boat The wreck lay off
tho bluffs where they rise 25 feet In height,
but not even these nor tho houses upon
them could DO seen, except through an oc-
casional rift In the fog. No answer COM
ing from offshore to their signal torches,
the sailors gave up all hope Of summon
ing help through that means. The boat
was their last resource, although its
chances In that wild surf were not much
better than those Of the wreck itself
While they were loosening tackle and get
ting out the oars "a tremendous sea swept
over and carried 1t away, breaking the
davits like pipe stems. Life lines were thon
strung along tho deck, and the men, be-
licving they were doomed to n night of 1t
on tho wreck, took refuge upon the cabin
roofs and tho rails on the port side which,
owing to tho listing Of the ship seaward,
arose some feet out of the water. As hours
passed on, realizing their extreme peril,
they from timo to time hnllooed at the
tops OF their voices, hoping to attract the
attention OF some ono at the houses whose
dim outlines they had seen carly in the
evening These forlorn cries at last pone-
tratcd the cluster OF cottages on the bluffs
Of the west end, Long Branch. One of the
occupants aroused his household and hur-
ried to tho beach, where no lit fire 10 on
courage the men whose voices he had
heard out at sea- At tho same time
watohman at the West End hotel, hearing
the same cries, hurried to the Long Branch
life saving station, mile below the
wreck. Notwithstanding the admirable
system of beach patrols sent out by the
life saving corps, the presence OF the wreck
had escaped their attention. At that point
on the beach the patrols are compelled 70
walk along the bluff because the sand
shore is broken by series of jcttios ex-
tending from tho bluff cut bcyond low wa
tar mark. In dark and stormy nights
travel Is slow and also hazardous along