Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1895-09-12

tn6 Sur1Inen alert. mat Gay inc crew ltlu
taken 81 people from the British steamship
Oliveto which had stranded near the sta
ton. The captain and four of the crew
had chosen to stay on board. and the life
savers expected signals of distress from
that quarter The patrolmen had scarcely
separated on the beach for their lonely
tramp up and down the margin of the roar
ing sea when one Of them saw through the
mist faint glimmer Of light ahead Of
him, a mile or so distant Hurrying on,
he found that the rays came from the red
port side light of vessel lying grounded
on the outer bar, 800 or 400 yards from tho
mainland. Flashing a COston light as
signal to the shipwrcckcd people that their
situation was known upon shore, he ran
back TO the station to alarm the crow. He
found the keeper alert and tho life savers
In harness, all ready to start out with their
beach apparatus
Keeper Smith had seen the red Plarc Of
tho Coston signal sent up by the patrol
man and supposed it to be = RESPONSE to a
call of distress from the men on the Olive
TO- whom he had warned Of danger whom
they decided to stay upon the wreck. lie
had summoned all his men from their beds
and ordered the brooches buoy gear out,
because the wild state Of tho surf, which
he had already braved within the 81 hours
and which had increased in violence,
would render the lifcboats perfectly use
less All the lines were stiff with leo and
frost, having been soaked in the opera
tiOns at tho Oliveto wreck Once under
way the difficulties increased, but the
brave life savers quickly warmed to their
work. enurred by tho recollection Of their
recent good luck in taking of the Olivcto
people But the elements may battle mans
most spirited labors. Tho high storm tide
rolled far upon tho beach, leaving the sand
In burrows and holes, so that even with
tho aid Of strong oxen the hauling of the
cart was slow and tedious. Not only was
the night one of pitch darkness, but rain
fell in torrcnts-a freezing rain driven in
to the skin by the fierce wind and chilling
muscle and bone in spite of the activity OF
the life savers. Impatient Mt last with the
SLOW shambling gait of the oxen, the keep
er and several If his men placed the line
throwing CUR and few articles necessary
for firing ii in a light beach cart and set
out at full speed for the scene Of the wreck.
They rcached there soon after half past g,
or less than 80 minutes from the firing Of
the wary patrolman S signal Fortunately
the light still flashed upon the wreck and
tIe hlTlIlltIl were ilDlt 10 lOttllt lIlt posi-
ton by known landmarks on the beach.
Before the gun could be rugged out, how
ever, tho light disappeared but the faint
lines of masts could be seen against the
black wall of sky. Just as the gun was
secured in position ON eligible high ground,
but before it could he trained, trcmcn-
dous crash was heard out in the sea,
crash that drowned the roar of the surf.
Then the bold outlines of the wrecked
vessel suddenly disappeared. She had
burst open undor the powerful sweep Of the
sea, her masts going by the board together
and her forward part going to pieces in
stantly. 1t seems that tho ship, which
was the British bark Charlie Hickman Of
st. John, y. b, had hcolcd Off shore the
moment she struck and consequently lay
at the mercy Of the storm driven sea, which
poured through every opening and soon
filed her hull, causing Il tremendous out
ward pressure upon the sides as she arose
and sank in the hoavinR tide. When the
break came, it wGs complete. Only tho
stern remained upright that portion hay