Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1899-11-24
WRECK MANY SHIPS.
The Manacle Rocks Where the No
hogan and Paris Struck.

cles. One fisherman who is still in the
middle of lie recalls SO. His list, how
ever, is incomplete, for more than so
have happened during the past so years.
OF these considerably more than half
may be classed as total wrecks. 10
turn to the lifeboat records, it seems
that the Porthoustock boat, which, by
the way, was sent to the hamlet in con-
sequence of three quickly ensuing
wrecks, has since the year 1872 been OH
active service 16 times and has effected
the rescue of liz persons. The same
records show that 119 lives were lost
from the vessels to which the lifeboat
went out. There were at least 16 other
wrecks during that period, resulting in
the loss of A lives, to which the lifeboat
could render no assistance. In some in
stances the crews rowed ashore in their
own boats. In others a hurricane from
the east made launch impossible.
When one looks at this terrible array
of facts it may appropriately be asked
if the means of averting disaster and of
saving life are adequate in the neigh
borhood. A bell buoy certainly exists
at the Manacles, but it is of so little use
that it hardly deserves to be mentioned.
Next, there exists at Coverack, go miles
from the Manacles, very good coast
guard station. The men attached to
this station have by their untiring vigil
lance saved many ships from destruc-
ton. Only single coast guard is sta
toned at Porthoustock, but previous to
the wreck of the Mohegan it was de-
ni, ln1 81.
and to erect cottages for them in the
cove. 1t may be pointed out, however,
that from Porthoustock only limited
view of the sea is to be obtained and
none ut all of the Manaclcs. Persons
thoroughly acquainted with the situa-
ton are most strongly convinced of the
eminent desirability of stationing these
men on Manacle point. Had they been
there last October they would probably
have been able to signal the Mohegan in
time to. prevent her from being
stranded.
Next, the fact that on the night of the
wreck of the Mohegan the rocket ap-
paratus at Coverack had to be laborious-
ly pushed by men up great hill directs
attention to the unfavorable position
in which the machine is placed. Save
in the actual cave itself there is no road
along the shore from Coverack in either
direction. In fully nine cases out of ten
n steep ascent has to be made with the
apparatus before it can be conveyed to
any point outside half-mile radius AS
horses are a scarce commodity in
Coverack human labor must be en-
IllnNnI lAti, l.. l.
the apparatus is St. Keverine, where
horses are always to be had, whence by
an easy descent any part Of the neigh
boring coast may be reached. In the
great blizzard Of 1891, when four vessels
were wrecked in two days, the delay in
getting the rocket apparatus to the
scenes OF the CataStrophcS is locally
held TO be responsible for much unnec-
essary loss Of life. Finally, it might be
suggested to the iifeboat institution
that boat stationed ut Coverack would
be likely 10 prove useful. Occasionally
very serious wrecks indeed. accom-
panied by great loss Of life, occur III st.
keverne. Four wrecks alone within
the last 90 years have resulted in the
drowning Of no fewer than 40 persons.
In such cases one life boat is rIdniicstly
insufficient. Boats coming from s. dis
lance, however brave and skilled their
crews may be, cannot render much
service. 1t is not possible for men who
have no intimate knowledge of the
Manacles to take their craft safely at
night through all the intricacies Of the
treacherous waters. At Coverack there
are enough experienced fishermen, ac-
quaiDted by reason Of their vocations
with every rock and cove and shoal and
headland in the neighborhocd, to man
boat. These men i'm a lifeboat might
have been able to save many Of the TN.
fortunate passengers and crew of the
Mohegan, who for time were kept
afloat by life belts only to be dashed
finally against the lifts and powders of
the inhospitable coast.
Perhaps II the proposed coast guard
station were established on Manacle
point instead of in porthoustock cove,
if the rocket apparatus were removed
to st. Keverne and If lifeEoat were