The Washington times., 1895-02-11

FIRE ISLAND, Feb. 10. - Two men who
elung for forty hours 10 the rigging of their
vessel OF Fire Island Beach, were rescued at
midnight by the crew Of the Lone Hill life
saving station.
The vessel proved to be the schooner Louis
V. Place, Captain Squires, coal laden, from
Baltimore to this port.
She left Baltimore on January 2s, and was
wrecked during the height OF the gale.
Nine men took 10 the rigging when the
vessel went down, an eighth Of mile of the
shore, and there they clung in the raging
blizzard. with the spray freezing as it dashed
over them. until. one by one, seven of them
slipped into the seas, or hung hieless. bound
10 The rigging by a rope.
Two only were able TO endure the terrible
exposure. They are S. ]. Nelson, Dane,
whose home is in Providence, II. l., and
William Stevens. a German, of Rockland,
NE. The rescued men are badly frost bitten,
and it IS thought that Nelson will lose both
feet
ALL HONOR TO LIFE SAVERS.
The story of their rescue is a tribute TO the
brave hfe-savers who have for the past two
days been making almost superhuman ef-
forts TO reach the wrecked schooner.
Il was on Tuesday last that the Place ran
into the gale, and it was founo that she was
leaking badly. All hands were ordered 10
the pumus. but on Thursday the captain con-
cluded that the attempt 10 make port under
such conditions as prevailed would be sui
cidal.
The coast OF Long Island was then dead
ahead, ana after careful preparation the
vessel was allowed to drive straight at the
beach.
Half an hour later she touched her nose on
the outer bar and heavy wave lif ed her
high on the sand bar. As she settled on her
side the waves broke furiously over her and
chilled 10 the bone the men who had sought
safety IL the ropes.
The Iifesayers sent out life lines, but not
before the seamen were almost frozen to
death, and so sin as TO be unable to get TO
them
COULD NOT REACH HER.
They tried countless times 10 launch their
boat. but on each occasion the breakers drove
it back with renewed fury TO the shore.
For two days. each hour Of the day, the
same attempts were repeated. while those on
shore could see. hour by hour, that their aid
was OF decreasing value.
One by one the men in the rigging gave
MttN 10 Tie tA pOSUTt. anu hnGu III
the life savers. under command OF Capt
Baker, pushed their boat into the surf and
pulled like mad 10 the wreck there were but
two lives remaining of the nine.
During all that time the men in the ropes
had tasted neither food nor drink. Just 4
spark OF life seemed 10 remain and although
the two were able to drop from the rigging
into the life boat they were almost insensiDle.
One OF them presented terrible appear
ance
His face, hands. and feet were frozen. He
was unable to speak for several hours. This
was Nelson. His legs were encased in a pair
of long boots and the water in them had
frozen into a solid cake.
Stevens bad ses= more fortunate. He had
slipped his boots SS sS4 had wrapped his
feet in a huge piecS 80 canvass. 1t was
through his efforts that the other sur
vivor had been kept alive. Each time that
Nelson's head sank on his breast during the
binding storm Stevens would reach over and
pound him into sensibility again.
LIST OF THE DEAD.
The latter was able soon after his rescue Il
tell the story Of the wreck and the terrible
experiences OF the men.
The dead are:
CAPT. CHARLES SoUIREs. fifty years old
married. with one child. New York city.
ENGNEER CHARLES ALLEN, twenty-eighi
years OLD. single. of Providence, r. l.
MATE JAIBY, forty-four wears old, of Nor
way.
Fritz WARD. seaman, twenty years Old, sin
gle, Of Norway.
CHARLES MORRISON, cook.
CTS OLEsAR, twenty-eiGht years old, o.
Sweden.
AUGUST FULLERTON. seaman.
The bodies ofthe mate and the SWede are sill
lashcd to the rigging. The others droppeS
into the sea. Ward was the first TO 60 Capt
SQgires followed next
The Louis V Place was owned by Charlie
B. Parson, OF South street. New York Sh,
halls from New York and was built at Kenne
bunkport. Ne. She was 1887 feet long. So!
beam, and 1879 depth, and registered so
tons