New-York tribune., 1900-10-18
SLOOP WRECKED IN. GALE
THREE SHIPwRECKED FISHERMEN
CLEVERLY RESCUED BY A PILOT
BOATS CREW.

Caught outside Sandy Hook in the gale OF
Tuesday night, the sloop Pledge. Captain oscar
Hansen, of Brooklyn. was overwhelmed by the
waves When 1t became certain that she was
going to pieces, Captain Hansen. with Hiram
scan and Olaf Jensen. his crew. took the chance
OF saving their lives in the dory and they won
Hansen and his men went out at noon on
Tuesday to take up the lobster pots which the
sloop had put down the day before. They an
chored outside the Hook and put off in the
yawls. They were about half through hauling
IN their travis when they the squaI COM
ing from the northeast. They abandoned work
and put back to the sloop in ample time. Cap
tain Hansen decided to remain at anchor and re-
sumo work when the blow was over Everything
was put in order, and with two anchors and
plenty of cable the men believed they were in
no danger.
When night closed down the men lit torch.
1t was seen by the United States transport Raw
lns, which hove to and was making ready to take
the men off when the torch went out and
the sloops crew had no more dry matches with
which to light another they drifted off in
the dark and were soon lost by the transport.
BY midnight it became evident that the craft
was being strained and then in a little time the
water began to flow in faster than the pumps
could carry it out and Captain Hansen decided
started and the deck began to crack open. Cap
tain Hansen then ordered his men to prepare
to take to the yawl. The three went to get
their personal effects, and while so doing the
sloop was hit by a wave that left little Of her
ahoat Her forward bulwarks were carried
away the bow was crushed in. and the decks
were swept Of every movable thing.
The stern Of the Pledge had risen into the air
when the bow was stove in. and the forward
parts were flooded. The men made their way
there and lowered the yawl and 1t was dashed
against the side and cracked and the joints start
ed but the men decided their only hope lay in the
smaller boat They got in and for an hour man
aged to keep the yawl afioat by constant bail
ing They could do nothing but drift, and the
wind and sea were carrying them away from
shore when running light showed up ahead
and to leeward. They united in shouting.
Boatkeeper John Rooney. of Pilot Boat No.
8, while beating into the harbor close reefed
and all hands on deck, heard a cry for help.
The flare lights were quickly got out, and en-
abled the men on board the pilot boat to locate
the yawl. The pilot boat went about and then,
running free swept past the three men. whose
boat was almost full of water AS the pilot boat
went by heaving line thrown out and all
three men in the yawl caught it. Instantly
the pilot boat was swung over, and in the min
were hauled on board.
The rescued ones were half drowned cold and
numbed by their experience. They were taken
below and were swathed in blankets and sup
piled with plenty of warm drinks. They soon
recovered.
pilot Boat No 9 yesterday morning ran TO
the steam pilot boat New-York and Captain
Hansen and his men were transferred TO her
Later in the day, the New-York being on sta
ton duty they were retransferred TO the pilot
boat James Gordon Bennett. NO. Z, and she,
being inward bound, landed them at last at sta
pleton in the early evening.
CAPTAIN Hansen said while at Stapleton that
had the williams not heard them when she did
there would have been no rescue, as he and his
men were exhausted and could not even con-
tinue to bail. The Pledge of ten tons burden
and belonged at New-LOndon, Conn. and had
been leased by Captain Hansen.
Galllee, N J., Oct. 1.-THE sloop Idaho. Cap
tain George z. Wilson. parted both her cables
and went ashore one mile south Of the life saw
ing station at Long Branch early this morning
Her sails had all been blown away on Rock
away. and after scudding under bare poles she
dropped both anchors off Monmouth Beach Life
Saving Station The captain and crew were
taken off by the life savers and are being cared
for at the station The Idaho was in the moss
bunker trade She is Of thirteen tons. and was
built in 1860.