The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-11-08

ted any llfe-bOat crew. To have ~
tempted to 10 near tho great ships side
TO let her people climb down or arop into
the boats moant certain destruction 10
tho rcseping party. 50 while tho boat
waslowered by lts painter from the ahlpa
leo quarter and was kept clear By two
mon at the oars and by the steersman IL
the stern. another line was used 10 send
down men from the ship.
Each man slung In the center OF this
rope was hauled through the water IN
most cases To the boat and then tumblod
i over tho bow. IL was a slow, but safe
process, as the result proved, for BY s
O'Clock every man, 80 far as we could
see, was safe on board the Merritt.
The force Of the gale and height Of
The sea may bo best understood By the
fact that although only 90 fathonia Of
hawser separated the Teresa from the
vulcan. tho watchers on the latter vessel
owing 70 the heavy seas, driving rain and
spray were only able 10 see the boats Of
the rescuing party at long intervals when
they came out Of the trough Of the sea.
The Merritt herself. although a splendid
boat, was hurled In the trough Of the
sea at times 20 that only tho ends Of her
mast heads we're visible.
"The first boat lowered made IN ali
four round trips between the Teresa and
the Merritt and the second made three
trips 30 that TO rescue all hands the boats
had to make the passage through those
heavy combing seas "A times, and right
gallantly those brave fellows accom-
nlished the work. Lucky It was for those
rescued that the boats were manned by
oast masters at the oar and the helm.
For two hours. men with axes. under
direction OF the executive officer. had
been stationed aft. ready to cut away at
a moments notice. the lines that held
the hawser, In case the Teresa should
founder during the transfer OF her men.
Every Vulcan man watched the great
ship with an anxious eye as she plunged
forecastle head under the head seas
clear to the turret. coming out again
with the water streaming from her haw-
ser pipes and showing the heel OF her
ram above the next big sea.
"Forty-four shipmates Of theirs were
on board OF the doomed vessel, and II was
yet a question whether their rescue could
be effected before dark.
Heavy rain squalls beat the seas down
a little at this time. but the wind blew
harder than ever. Struggling for a foot
hold on the Teresa's bridge. her signal
man. crossett. wig-wagged to the Vulcan
at o'clock don't cast on the tow line
yet; two more boat loads will clear the
ship We replied. 'All right; will hold
on until the last
High uD on the bridge. siIhouetted
against the leaden sky and bracing him
self against the fearful ro..ng OF the Ter
esa. as she wallowed in the seas, stOce
the man at the wheel. He was alone and
probably the last person to leave his post,
for It was not until the final boat was re-
eeiving its quota Of men that he lashed
the wheel. came down the bridge ladder
and went aft to leave the ship.
1T was not until II minutes past
when Lieutenant Blow and his officers
were certain that the last boat load had
been taken OF that the order was given
TO cut away Two blows OF an ak sew
cred the lines and as the links Of the
chain bride ratified out through the
stern chocks. the vulcans crew. led by
Chief Engineer Gardiner. U. s. N. gave
three ringing cheers as a salute to the
stars and stripes flying. as II In defiance
Of the elements at the Teresa's backyard
and also to the bravest Of the Merritt's
men who had made such gallant rescue
of their shipmateS.
Twenty minutes later, 1t was so dark
that the Teresa was only black speck
against the horizon. and at s o'clock
nothing but the lights on the Merritt and
LeonIdas could be seen. while the gale
howled and the sea rose higher than
ever"