The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1896-03-13

AL-. miles from Fire
| T :. island, the 8
O'Clock Watch was set with every in
centive to make the surfmen alert. That
day the crew had taken 2 people from
the British steamship Oliveto, which
had stranded near the station The cap
tain and four.of the crew had chosen to
stay Oh board, and the life savers ex-
pected signals of distress from that
quarter.
The patroimen 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 50 distant. HuTying on, he
| found that the rays came from the red
port side light of Il vessel lying ground
ed on the outer bar, 300 or 400 yards
from the mainland. Flashing Ccston
| light us signal 90 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 ont with their beach APP
paratus.
Keeper Smith had seen tho red glare
of the Coston signal sent up by the pa
trolmn and supposed it TO I've Il response
to call Of distress from the mon On the
Oliveto, whom he had warned uf danger
when they decided to stay upon the
wreck. He had summoned all his men
from their beds and ordered the breochcs
buoy gear out, because the wild state of
the surf, which he had already braved
within the "A hours and which had in
creased i'll violence, would render the
lifeboats perfectly useless, All the lines
We're stiff with ice and frost, having
been soaked III the operations at the
Olivo.o wreck. Once under way the
difficulties increased, but the brave life
savers quickly warmed to their work,
spur1ed by the recollection Of their re-
cent good luck in taking off the Oliveto
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
"a freezing rain driven in to the skin
by the fierce wind and chilling muscle
and bone III 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 ont mt full speed for the
scene of the wreck.
They reached there soon after half |
past :, or less than 80 minutes from the |
firing Of the wary patrolman signal.
Fortunately tho 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 Inc rugged out, however, the light
but the faint lines If masts
could be seen against the black wall Of
sky. Just as the gan was secured in
position On eligible high ground, but
before it could be trained, Il tremendous
crash was heard out in the sea, n crash
that drowned tho roar Of the surf,
Then the bold out lines of the wrecked
vessel suddenly disappeared She had
burst open under the powerful sweep Of
The sea, her mastS going by the board
ogother and her forward part going to
pieces instantly. ii seems that the ship,
which was the British bark Charlie
Hickman Of st. John, n b. had hecled
)tfshoro the moment she struck, and
lay at the mercy If the
torn driven sea, which poured I, rough
very opening and soon filled he hull,
'ausing a tremendous outward pr sHure
lp3n the sides as she arose and sank in
he he&ving tide. When the break came
t was complete. Only the stern remain
d upright, that portion having firm
anchorage in the sand. Upon that, for
the crew had all taken refuge
'cfore the catastrophe struck the ship,
ND there they chung, dashed to the rail
nd other upright projections to save
being washed overheard by
he terrible waves.
At o'clock, with nothing whatever
D guide the aim except recollection of
SItcttr til.iu nii stOOu UllJ In inc WILD |
urf and suddenly vanished, the men
red the line Scaward. Then followed
ainful suspense Was the wreck but
lass Of floating planl:s and spars? 1t
,ompd so, for fragments vi the hull and
eek; and of the cabin furnishings had
cen cast upon the shore. With throb.
ing hearts the men watched the line
II an indication that it had fallen |
cross the wreck A strong lateral cur.
mt swept the blight of il far ont of di-
,ction, but by and hv, slowly and Vet
the line crept to the wind |
ard against the powerful current :
here WAS life behind that slowly creep L
x liue--lifc and fellow men npon the '
reck to be saved 1
Oh, how it cheered those faithful Il
rfmen at their almost hopeless task,
enched with the freezing s:,rm. to
low that their aim had not I.itsscd, for
was chance in 1.nGn, and that the v
at the merry nf llr sea q