Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1895-09-12

v S4oOh WotOu was sou Will every Ii
centive to make the surfmen alert. That
day the crew had taken 81 people from
the British steamship Oliveto, which
had stranded near the station. The cap.
tain and four Of the crew had chosen tc
stay on board, and the life savers ex-
pected 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 roaring sea
when one Of them saw through the mist
a faint glimmer of light ahead of him,
mile or SO distant. Hurrying ON, he
found that the rays came from the red
port side light Of vessel lying ground
ed on the outer bar, 800 or 400 yards
from the mainland. Flashing Coston
light as signal to the shipwrecked peo-
pie that their situation was known upon
shore, he ran back to the station to
alarm the crew. He found the keeper
alert and the life savers in harness, all
ready to start out with their beach ap-
paratus.
Keeper Smith had seen the red glare
Of the Coston signal sent up by the pa
trolman and supposed it to be response
to call of distress from the men on the
Oliveto, whom he had warned Of danger
when they decided to stay upon the
wreck. He had summoned all his men
from their beds and ordered the breeches
buoy gear out, because the wild state Of
the surf, which he had already braved
within the "a hours and which had in
creased in violence, would render the
ifeboats perfectly useless All the lines
were stiff with ice and frost, having
been soaked in the operations at the
Oliveto wreck. Once under way the
difficulties increased, but the brave life
savers quickly warmed to their work,
spurred by the recollection of their re-
cent good luck in taking off the Oliyeto
people. But the elements may battle
mans most spirited labors The high
storm tide rolled far upon the beach,
leaving the sand in burrows and holes,
SO that even with the 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 torrents
Ia freezing rain driven in to tho skin
by the fierce wind and chilling muscle
and bone in spite Of the activity Of the
life savers. Impatient at last with the
slow, stumbling gait Of the oxen, the
keeper and several Of his men placed
the line throwing gun and few articles
necessary for firing it in light beach |
cart and set out at full speed for the
scene Of the wreck.
They reached there soon after half |
past s, or less than 30 minutes from the |
firing of the wary patrolman's signal.
Fortunately the light still flashed upon
the wreck, and the surfmen were able
to locate the position by known land
marks on the beach. Before the gun
could be rugged out, however, the 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 be trained, a tremendous
crash was heard out in the sea, a crash
chat drowned the roar o1sthe surf.
Then the bold outlines of the wrecked
vessel suddenly disappeared. She had
burst open under the powerful sweep of
The sea, her masts going by the board
;ogether and her forward part going to
pieces instantly. 1t seems that the ship,
which was the British bark Charlie
Hickman of St. John, N. B., had heeled
,ffshore the moment she struck, and
consequently lay at the mercy Of the
torn driven sea, which poured through
very opening and soon filed her hull,
,ausing tremendous outward pressure
mon the sides as she arose and sank IN
he heaving tide. When the break came,
I was complete. Only the stern remain
d upright, that portion having firm
anchorage in the sand Upon that, for
unately, the crew had all taken refuge
,efore the catastrophe struck the ship,
nd there they chung, dashed to the rail
nd other upright projections to save
themselves being washed overheard py
be terrible waves.
At 9 o'clock, with nothing whatever
0 guide the aim except recollection OF
specter that had stood ont in the wild
urf and suddenly vanished, the men
red the line seaward. Then followed
ainful suspense. Was the wreck but a
lass Of floating planks and spars? 1t
,emed so, for fragments Of the hull and
ecks and Of the cabin furnishings had !
cen cast upon the shore. With throb- ]
ing hearts the men watched the line |
u an indication that it had fallen /
cross the wreck. A strong lateral cur /
mt swept the blight Of it far out Of di- ,
,ction, but by and by, slowly and yet /
the line crept to the wind
ard against the powerful current. {
here was life behind that slowly creep l
u line-life and fellow men upon the '
reck to be saved.
Oh, how it cheered those faithful I
lrfmen at their almost hopeless task,
,enched with the freezing storm, to
low that their aim had not missed, for
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