Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-07
Two Wrecks ON the British Const.
Saturday Review


My companion was barely three yards
from me. He was making a speaking
trumpet Of his hands, and, by the move
ment OF his features, was shouting at the
top Of his voice. 1 heard nothing OF 10.
Then he pointed up the shore and began
to run; and looking up l saw the coast
guard and fisherman hur-ying with
the rocket apparatus. A few hun
bred yards to the north col
lier brig had driven in out Of
the semi-darkness. and. after humping on
the outer sands was lifted By tha next
sea and flung heavily aground. The crew
there were five Of them and a woman
We're huddled together in the bow. The
first rocket fire was successful. Then
one of the crew, clinging desperately %
every superior the vessel was rollins
fearfully--crawled along. secured the rope,
and went back to his mates They hauled
in about twenty fathOms OF the rope and
then stopped. We could see them making
the line fast to the woman. Then FOR five
minutes that seemed like hours nothing
happened. The woman chung TO the rig
ging with the rope round her; the men
hung on 10 the rolling vessel.
Had they known what 10 do with the
rope. to haul 1t in until they got the
whip aboard and 10 make that fast, all
OF them might have been safe ashore.
The coast-guardsmen gesticulated. rayed,
shouted; but the people on the boat r.-
NAMED STILL A fisherman, rather over
the middle age, with quiet decision fixed
a line round himself and prepared TO ven-
ture out TO almost certain-death TO get
TO these people and show them what 20
do He walked down to the water as
calmly as If he were going home 10 Bed
and vanished in the veil Of spray. Scarce.
had he done so when sea rose behind
the vessel, and I'm a minute II was over
The woman had a life-bouy on. and Kept
on the top Of the water; the others disap-
peared She was hauled In as rapidly as
possible, dead. Next moment an arm WIS
seen waving In the wash OF the sea. Ils
old fisherman, who had been drawn lv
when the boat turned over, went down
again, fought his way out and was
hauled back safely with the rescue'
man. unconscious. but living.
This was hardly over when. the gay
now growing brighter, another boat vas
seen driving in a little further up las
coast. The rocket apparatus was re.l
for her. when suddenly she struck ~.
sands. bow on and stumbled, Ike
tripped horse going down on It's hn,s'
| kicking 10 at the stern. The next go
swung her round broadside TO the shore
Her crew were In the rigging. ana a N'..
was fired over her. But even before
could settle. another sea had hfted ls'
| again, smashed her down upon her s.'
| and capsized her. Not hand was seen
The intense horror OF tho spectacle VIZ
heightened by the absence OF all huils-
| noises. She seemed 10 break up
magic to come and vanish, with ,s..
agonizIng waving OF hands from ner 80
| oirp seen for a moment like a phantom
| ship. We watched the sea for hsAo,
or a lifted arm. More ropes were NC.
over the spot. on the chance that SOM
hand might seize them. But nothing W
seen OF the crew again. For ~
minutes there was tumult and chu.s
| inc of white waters over whe'e VI
vessel had been. then tossing OF oa'
| timbers here and there on the suf".s
| and the sea. turbulent in victory. CAV,
to the eyes OF the watchers no sign "
what had happened.