The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-10-04
A NIGHT on TERROR
Terrible Experience Of a Wrockd
Grew Of Atlantic City,
oLUNa TO A oAPs1zBD VESSEL

Heroic But Futile Efforts OF Lifet
savers to Reach the Imperilled MenI
During the storm-Rescued AfterA
the Storm Abated.
Atlantic city, oct. 4-The crew OF theI
schooner wrecked off Longport Satur-|
day night were rescued yesterday andI
landed on the beach at Ocean City.i
The lucltless craft was the Henry May;
Captain w. o. Perry, from Portland4
Me-, with a cargo of railroad ties.
For nearly "a hours the captain an
his five men faced death. That the
did not meet It is little less than
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 off 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
crazily before the storm, when 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 tre-
mendous sea and capsized. This was
off 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 a few minutes The Ocean City
life crew determined to try, and Peck S
Beach crew turned in to help. The
lifeboat was launched, and almost inn
mediately a huge wave broke over her
and flung 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-be res
cuers were despairingly compelled to
abandon 1t. The news of the wreck
had spread and the beach was thronged
with persons, helplessly gazing at the
| tossing hull. She drifted slowly down
| the coast, her anchor chains dragging
and wave after wave breaking over
her. When she capsized a thrill Of
horror went over the onlookers, but q
moment later the forms of the sailors
were seen clinging to the plunging
hull.
Captain Perry tried to give some no
tion of what they felt as they watched
the failing attempts at rescue. Death
loomed before them, but they prayed
/ that it might be baked. Night fell
| like a death pail with the cold be-
numbing their faculties, and exhaus-
tion creeping over them, they clung 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 a 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 a boat,
safely reached the wreck, and carried
the weakened seamen back to earth.
There was a burst of joy that is akin
to tears when the gallant boat crunch
ed against the sands and the storm
bound sailors were lifted out. Women
hugged 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.