The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-02
LIEUT.. H. s. MORGAN DROWNED
DYED A HERO TRYING To SAVE
sHTPWRECKED SAILORS.

Niles From Tybce-Caught in the
Breakers Their Boat Was over
turned and Lieut.. Morgan and Bar-
ry smith Were Lost-FoUr survI-
vors Chung to the Craft for Five
Hours Until washed Ashore on
Observation-Disclosures Search
for the Bodies.
While attempting to rescue the crew Of
the wrecked Italian bark Noe Wednes-
day afternoon Lieut.. Henry s. Morgan of
the United States Engineer Corps, who has
been stationed at Tybee Island in charge
of the fort and Harry Smith, a rigger
employed on the fertilization work, were
drowned. The body of neither has been
recovered. and it is feared that they have
been carried out to sea The government
boat Dandy jim" in charge of Assist
ant Engineer Cooper, spent yesterday aft
ernoon searching for them. but to no pur-
pose.
The drowning took place shortly after
o'clock During the night before, while
the storm was at it's height, Lieut.. Nor
gan and others on the island had seen the
rockets sent up by the sailors on the i'll
gun as they fred it in The vain hope of
bringing relief to them from the shore.
When the morning dawned the vessel
could be seen in the rare intervals when
the rain ceased falling ana through the
glasses the men could be discerned cling
ing to the rigging 10 escape the heavy
seas which were sweeping over the deck
The bark was on the shoaI running paral-
lei with the shore of Daufuskie, about
two miles from Tybee Island.
After the storm moderated and the rain
ceased toward noon, Mr.. 3. NJ. Atwood,
the head rigger and steam engineer on the
works, decided with four other riggers,
Harry Smith, w. II. Dallas, Thomas Bee
ton and Charles Anderson, to make an
attempt to reach the wreck and rescue
the sailors. Some time was spent in
searching for a suitable boat for the trip.
The island was hunted all over before a
skin. belonging to the government, was
found. Nothing had been said to Lieut.
Morgan, as it was feared he would refuse
to allow the trip to be made When the
skim was decided on for the purpose,
though, the oars could not be got with
out acquainting the lieutenant with their
purpose
Just the thing" said the officer when
Mr. Atwood asked for the oars. Il have
been wondering all the morning whether
we couldn't do something for those poor
fellows and not let them be drowned
within our sight. I'll go with YOU
The oars were brought out, but the skiff
Nc TaFHV on 49,.
worthy Then a sallboat belonging to Mr..
A. B. Evans was procured Mr. Evans
is one of the engineers on the works and
is the son of Mr.. Evans, the lighthouse
keeper. The boat was large, In good con-
ditlon, and the six men made just enough
ballast TO keep her well in the water
SO eager were the party to start ON the
voyage of rescue that they did not stop
Tor any change of clothing. All of them
save one, had on heavy cloth. Lieut. Nor
gan was in his uniform, with heavy
macintosh over IT, When they pushed
off from the island there was only a good
sailing breeze blowing and the sea was
comparatively calm. There was no rea-
son to apprehend the terrible ending to
the trip. Just before he stepped into the
boat the lieutenant gave his class ring
and poclzetbook TO Mr. Evans Keen
these for me- said he, zone can't tell
what may happen"
The party were all strong, able young
men, every one swimmer, and the ma
1ority we'll acquainted with handing sail
ing boats. They were in good spirits at
the prospect of saving life ONLY a small
sail was carried, in order to avoid danger
from sudden gusts, which might strike
them before reaching the wreck Lieut.
Morgan entered heartily into the spirit
OF the occasion. Il couldn't sleep last
night thinking Of those poor fellows on
that boat" said he The sail was delight
of ha q
danger 10 tend peculiar zest to 1t. Lieut.
Morgan seemed to enjoy 1t hugely.
Il have often wished that had gone to
Annapolis instead of to West Point" said
he in talking to the man. Il love the wa
ter 50. l would like to be on it all the
time
All went well until the sail boat was
within short distance Of the wreck
Then the ugly line of breakers reared be-
lore them 1t was nasty looking sea
ahead.
Il think we had better tack" said one
of the men in the boat
The words reached the lieutenant He
evidently understood him to say that the
boat should go back
No" said he, in reply, don't lets think
OF ourselves. Just look at those men in
the rigging. We couldn't go back and
leave them there"
minute later the boat was in the ter
ritle seas that were sweeping over the
bar great wave ran down upon the
boat and swept over her, filing her ana
capslznS her. As she rolled over in The
breakers the sis men caught hold OF and
chung to ner. Atwood swan off a few
feet and Invested himself of his outer
clothing. Dallas, Beeton and Anderson
partially undressed, as best they could.
and freed from the weight Of the wet
heavy clothing were able to hold their
places on the upturned boat Lieut. Nor
gan had secured a seemingly firm grasp
on the boat but as it rolled a few min
utes later was thrown off into the sea.
MY God, the lieutenant's gone" said
one Of the men 10 Atwood, who had just
reached his place by the boat.
But as he spoke the officer came IN
again. He caught hold Of the boat again.
but there was wild, staring look on
his face, and a deathly white color TO ii.
as though some sudden terrible sickness
had seized him. A moment later. before