The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-04
FACED DEATH FOR HOURS.
AWFUL EXPERIENCE OF THE
CREW OF THE HENRY MAY.

CIinSing to the Capsized Hull of
Their Vessel, the Drowning Sail
Ors Watched the Intellectual At
tempts OF the Life-Saving Crew to
Reach Them-ThrOugh the Dark
and Fearful Night They Prayed
for DeIiverance, Which Came with
the Morning.
Atlantic City, N j., Oct. S.-The crew of
the schooner wrecked off Long Port last
night were rescued to-day and landed on
the beach at Ocean City.
The luckless craft was the Henry May,
Capt. w. o. Perry, from Portland, Me-.
with a cargo of railroad ties.
For over twenty-four hours the captain
and his FIVE men faced death. The story
of their experience was told by Capt. Per-
ry, 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 head
ed for Delaware breakwater, but the
storm grew in fury, and she sprang a
leak. All hands were called to the pumps,
but they were feeble against the roaring
waters. Head on, the weakening ship
drove before the storm, when a crash
sounded above the screaming of wind and
wave, and the painting mariners knew that
the sails had gone. A moment later the
ship swired in a tremendous sea and
capsized. This was off Longport.
Meanwhile she was sighted from shore,
but the task of rescue then was hopeless.
It was clear that no boat could live in the
sea for more than few minutes. The
Ocean City life crew determined to try,
however, and Peck's Beach crew turned
in to help. The life boat was launched and
almost Immediately a huge wave broke
over her and flung her back upon the
sands. Again and again was the attempt
made, only to meet with the same rebuff
Eventually the futility of the work was
recognized and the would-be rescuers were
compelled to abandon it. The news of the
wreck had spread and the beach was
thronged with people, helplcssly gazing
at the tossing hull. She drifted slowly
down the coast, her anchor chains drag
ging and wave after wave breaking over
her When she capsized, a thrill of horror
later the forms of the sailors were seen
clinging to the piunging hull.
Capt. Perry tried to give some notion of
what they felt as they watched the fall
ing attempts at rescue. Death loomed be-
fore them, but they prayed that it might
be balked. Night fell like a pail. With the
cold benumbing their faculties and ex-
haustion 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 lull
in the storm, and they knew their pray
ers had been heard. At the first streak of
light the weary watchers on shore put
out boat, safely reached the wreck and
carried the weakened seamen back to
earth.
There was a burst of the joy that is
akin to tears when the gallant boat
crllnched against the sands, and the
storm-b bound sailors were tenderly lifted
out.
Women hugged the lifesayers, men
danced madly about, and cheer went up
louder than the breaking waves. Then all
were fed and warmed.
Capt. 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.