Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1897-10-09
A NIGHT OF TERROR
Terrible Experience of a Wrecked
Crew Off Atlantic City.
OLUNG TO A oAPsIzED VESSEL.

I ----
Heroic But Futile Efforts or Life
Savers co Reach the ImperiIIed Mon
During the storm-Rescued After
the storm AbRted.
Atlantic City. oct. 4.-The crew Of the
schooner wrecked or Longport Satur-
day night were rescued yesterday and
landed on the beach at Ocean City.
The luckless craft was the Henry May.
Captain w. o. Perry, from Portland.
Me-, with a cargo OF railroad ties.
For nearly "a hours the captain and
his 1--WE men faced death That they
did not meet IT is little less than a
miracle. The story OF their dread ex-
perience was told by Captain Perry.
after food and warmth had restored
him. The vessel ran into the violent
northeast gale which ragged along the
coast Friday night when on Barnegat.
She was headed for Delaware break
water. but the storm grew IN fury and
she sprung a leak All hands were
called to the pumps, but they were
feeble against the roaring waters
Head on the weakening vessel drove
crafty before the storm, when a crash
sounded above the screaming OF wave
and wind, and the painting mariners
knew that the sails had gone. A mo-
ment later the ship swirled In a ire
rnendous sea and capsized. This was
on Longport-
Meanwhile the schooner was sighted
from shore. but the task OF rescue then
was hopeless. 1t was clear that no
boat could brave the sea for more
than few minutes. The Ocean City
NE crew determined to try. and Pecks
Beach crew turned In to help. The
lifeboat was launched, and almost inn
mediately = huge wave broke over her
and hung her angrily back upon the
sands. Again and again was the at
tempt made. only to meet with the
same rebuff
Eventually the futility OF the work
was recognized. and the would-bs res
cuera were despairingly compelled to
abandon It, The news Of the wreck
had spread and the beach was thronged
with persons, helplessly gazing ut the
tossing hull. She drifted slowly down
the coast. her anchor chains dragging
and wave after wave breaking over
her. When she capsized q thrill OF
horror went over the onlookern, but q
moment later the forms Of the sailors
were seen clinging to the plunginE
hull.
Captain Perry tried to give some no.
ton OF what they felt a. they watched
the failing attempts at rescue. Death
doomed before them. but they prayed
that 1t might be baked. Night fell
like death pail With the cold be-
numbing their faculties, and exhaus-
ton creeping over them, they chung to
the spars with the desperate love of
life known only to those who have
faced death. Thus the awful night
passed. With the welcome sunlight
came lull in the storm, and they
knew their prayers had been heard.
At the first streak OF light the weary
watchers on shore put out q boat.
safely reached the wreck, and carried
the weakened seamen back to earth.
There was burst OF Joy that is akin
to tears when the gallant boat crunch
90 against the sands and the storm
bound sailors were lifted out Women
Rugged life savers. men danced madly
about. and a cheer went up louder than
the breaking waves
Captain Perry says this is his last
sea trip. he thinks the hull of the
schooner is worth saving She was
owned by the Berlin Mills company. of
Portland.