The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-01-29
GALLANT SURFMEN.
Kill Devil Hill Life Savers Make a
Brilliant Record.

tNtlI oCSll E1iIt NIdhe d
Brilliant Record.
Within tho short space of o week
has Kill DevlitH,ll, on the North
Carolina coast. been the scene of
four disasters to shipping, which
has eDtailed loss Of many Thousand
dollars, but has not resulted in one
life being lost, due to the gallant
work of the little band of heroes
who man the Kill Devil Hill Life
Saving Station. Thirty FIVE human
beings have been saved by this
crew, who have made an enviable
record for themselves. The first
of the series of wrecks was
that of two barges, belong
Ing TO the Trinidad Sugar Com
pany, and the tug Manati, which
went ashore at this point after
breaking loose from the tug Penn.
wood, which was towing them
South, and the crews wore safely
landed. Friday night the life savers
again
SHOWED THEMSELVES HEROES
by snatching twenty six men from q
watery grave. After the disaster to
the tug and barges the big wrecking
steamer l. j. Merritt, belonging to
the Merritt WreokIng organization,
of New York, WAS dispatched to tn @
scene to try aud pull the vessels off.
The barges had floated by them
selves, but the tug Manati lay high
and dry on the beach. The tugs
Pennwood and Asher j. Hudson,
which had been working ut this
point, left the scene on tho arrival of
the Merritt. Friday night the
wrecking steamer had hawser at
tached to the ManatI, when 1t became
entaDgled in her wheel and left the
vessel helpless. The crew of the
Manati, seeing that nothing could be
done before morning, made their
way to the station. About this time
a HEAVY SOUTH GALE.
sprung up which dashed the sea into
fury and put the lives of the Mer-
ritt crew III peril of being drowned
III sight OF land. So strong was the
winu that the vessel was blown on
the shoals, and the life-savers seeing
their danger, at once made prepare.
tons to land the men. This was
about 1880 o'clock and the darkness
was intense. 1t was useless to
launch the surf boat in such n sea,
snd the life-saving apparatus was
placed in position. The HE saving
men burned rockets to let those
lmperilled know of their presence.
a line was shot to the Merritt and
secured, and the perilous task of
landing the twenty six men was
begun. The breeches buoy was run
aboard and the first man stepped in
it. By good work he was safely
landed through the waves between
tug and shore. One alter one was
landed Ill the same manner until
THE WHOLE GREW WE'RE SAFE
on shore. The crew spent the night
at the station as the guests of the
life saving men. The Merritts were
notified of the disaster and tue
steamer VIM. Coley, of the same
company. is at the scene to save
what IL possible.
sseIhe record of the men OF Kill
Devil Lie Saving Station is one of
thSJ 'uhJ ncll lGcl pEOull
aud demonstrates the Importance of
this branch OF our government, who
have already saved SO many lives
that old ocean was SO eager to grasp.
WILL DE FLoATED.
The wrecking steamer J. D.
Jones. Capt. Tooker. which left
New York Immediately on receipt
OF the news of the wreck of the
Merritt, arrived at the scene yester-
day morning aud at once began
preparations to float the big lug
and WAS partly successful. Her
large hose were run aboard and
with the aid of her powerful en-
gines soon had the Merritt free of
water. The Merritt Is now living
easy and there is some hopes of say.
ing the vessel.