The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-03-08
A CORRECT ACCOUNT
or the Rescue Of the Crex Of the
Point Iona.
Soldiers in NeS Mole risy Their rsrts
Seli-Tate the PLACE Of Disabled
LiiesaVing Grew.

As full and correct accounts Of the
Point Iona disaster have bern hard 10
obtain, the AStorian has made some Fpe-
cial investigation OF the facts In the case.
II Il not generally supposed 10 be ths
duty OF soldiers TO save life. except per
haps In the most Indirect manner coa-
scquenily the incident OF the wreck OF the
steamer Point Iona At Long Beach on
the 18th ult.. marks an episode in this
respect. Various accounts OF the wreck
and the saving OF the passengers and
crew have been published. but none
give the credit thought tn be due to the
soldiers AT Fort Candy. As a matter OF
fact no people arr more worthy OF prais
than the captain and members OF the
Cape life saving crew themselves. but no
account 10 far published has recited the
fact that the life saving crew are also
enthusiastic over the bravery OF Uncle
Sans troops No mention OF this long
night vigil aud the march made fro n the
Cape by the soldiers with the life ere
and apparatus with the wagon carrying
the material over rough road good
part OF II being covered with mud up 70
the bellies OF the mules. has heen made.
When the wreck was located at day
light. two soldiers were the first on the
ground. having come out from the Oyster
willie road to the beach. directly oppos te
the wreck. at the first streak Of dawn.
While Captain Day. commanding the
troops. and who had been patrolling the
beach on horseback for several hours,
was the next TO reach the spot. In find-
Ing the wreck. bringing up the rigging
and apparatus. firing the gun with the
lines. bringing the surf boat from nwaco
on the cars and helping TO man Il. when
II put TO sea in the surf. In fact as rble
and enthusiastic assistance to the regular
life saving crew, the soldiers were right
In II from first TO last. The life crew, AZ
ter doing all that men could do under
the circumstances, were knocked out in
the first round. so to speak, Capt. Stuart
and several OF the men being severely In
tured, and all nearly drowned Yet the
plans OF the crew were ably carried out
by their assistants, the soldiers. Ilmme-
diately that Captain Day saw that the
life crew were disabled, he took com
mand OF afialrs, and hts well trained
troops faithfully carried out orders. The
nrst business was to get the life crew
out OF the surf and dangerous wreckagA
and have them cared for This was
promptly dor,, Next Il was necessary
to nsh from the sea somewhere bltwetn
the ship and shore, a missing man. who
was said to be In the water, but who
could not be seen This was ace cc,mplish.d
by running out the life raft found on
the beach and holding II in position by
the lines which had been previously Sc
cured tc the wrecked vessel. The man
soon appeared clinging to Il and was
hauled In as far as possible, the lines
fouling near shore. but from which posi-
ton the man was rescued by seyeral
brave fellows going out hand over hand.
es II were on the line through the
breakers. and bringing him to land. Then
attention was turned to the people stin
on the ship, which was fast breaking up
ana by skilful use OF the lines, on which
all citizens and soldiers alike who touId
get hold bore willing hand. were oy re-
peated trips. brought safely to shore. all
saved
The soldiers may well be proud of their
successful battle with the elements. and
the commander Of such men is to be
congratulated. When the life crew first
asked the troops for assistance, Captain
Day obtained permission from his COM
mandlng officer to respond to the call.
ana battery h, OF the Fifth Artillery,
went on the double quick to save life.
Saptaih Day was warm in his praise OF
certain oil his own men, as well as crate-
ful and appreciatlvc OF the assistance
rendered by muny of the citizens who
were present. but whose names he dId
rot Know. liz spoke particularly of a
gentleman by the name 81 arthur he
thinks from Portland, who took charge
OF one of the lines in working the raft.
and to whom he says he was Indebted for
valuable suggestions and assistance. and
who was always to be seen farthest out
on the line in tho surf when working the
ratt' He spoke also OF Mr.. L. b. VIII
Hams, OF llwaco. as sticking TO him like
a brother" through the fight and render
Ing most valuable assistance In reading
the signals for the ship and IN other
ways, DR.. Brooke. the surgeon OF Fort
Candy. was also on hand, and rendered
prompt and valuable services in his llne
by booking after the rescued and injured
as they were brought out of the water.
A word about Captain S. A. Day may
be OF interest TO Astorians He comes
from the Virginia family to which the
pioneer John Day belonged and for whom
the river is named, not bad kind OF
people, II may be thought, to have in
new country, or any other, for that mat
ter. and 1t Is regarded by many that II
is unfortunate that his tour OF duty here
has almost expired