New-York tribune., 1900-12-05
SAVED BY BREECHES BUOY
THREE MASTED SCHOONER DRIVEN
ASHORE AND WRECKED ON
JERSEY COAST

Chadwick. n. J.. Dec. 4.-The three masted
schooner Oliver Schoheld drove ashore south Of
this place and near Lavalette this afternoon at
3 o'clock Her crew was taken of in the breeches
buoy after much difficulty. The schooner was
FIRST sighted about > o'clock by the lookout at
Life Saving Station No. 13. near Lavalette. She
was vainly endeavoring TO work out into deep
water in the face Of a sixty-mile gale. The seas
were breaking over her deck and her sails had
been hauled down TO the last reef
She was laboring badly. and the life savers
at once made ready to aid her DO what the
crew would. each effort 20 drive into the teeth
Of the gale only worked the schooner further
in shore. Every possible tack was taken, but
without result. other than loss OF ground. The
life savers ran out their gun and hauled it along
the beach. About a thousand feet outside the
outer bar. as nearly as could be from the
shore the anchors were let go. One was lost in
a minute and the other did little 10 retard the
progress Of the vessel. Every stitch of canvas
was taken in or blown away and the schooner
was seen TO still work landward.
Fifteen minutes after the anchors were Jet
go the schooner in the outer breaker line,
and doomed. It would appear that at this time
her last anchor cable parted 1t was fortunate
for the that this took place, for when the
last restraint went the vessel shot shoreward
she fioated into the deep water between the bar
and the beach Breakers twenty feet high were
rolling the bar. and the Schofield was lifted
on Of these and carried over.
Had she hit the bar and remained there moth
ing could have been done to save the crew. as
the lifeline would not have carried. The seas
were so high that was foolish enough 10
think Of trying the Iifeboats. The Schofield
drove broadside on. and grounded three hundred
savers had begun 70 sink their shore anchor,
and then the lines were coiled and got ready.
The gun was called into use. Life Saving Sta
tions Nos. u and 13 were the ground with
lines few minutes after the schooner grounded.
No. IA came up little later.
The first shot fired went wide Of the mark.
The second was true. but the wind drove the
missile back and the line fell short. There was
then a long wait for the wind 10 moderate. The
wind held strong and IL was finally decided -
make another try. This appeared to hit the
deck, but slipped back before the sailors who
were waiting could fall on It Each wave was
working the schooner further in At times the
schooner was on her beam ends. and every time
she rose on a wave and then dropped back on
the sand she could be seen TO come closer in.
After several further attempts the line was shot
clear across the vessel, and a moment later
was hauled taut. The heaving line was then
made fast to the ship end OF the breeches
tackle. The crew. being an American one had
trouble in handling the apparatus. Blocks
were already waiting on board the schooner. ana
the heaYing line was run through these, and
with this aid the crew drew their end of the ap-
paratus quickly board. 1t was run 10 the
mainmast and the signal given that the crew
was ready. The breeches We're sent cut Ihe
first mar TO enter was the steward
Captain A. Sprague, of the schooner, took
position at the mast end OF the line and super
intended the work He strapped the steward in
Srae e4r- to han
went on her side just then and the life
waited. AS the schooner righted again
the life savers their end OF the line inShore
and landed without hitting the water. He was
the only man fortunate, as each of the others
got ducking route. By . o'clock Captain
Sprague took his place in the breeches, carrying
with him his papers and instruments, and, when
all was ready. gave the signal. He was the last
man ashore.
The rescued men were taken to the station and
attended 10. They did not suffer much and
later were able TO aid the life savers in gathering
up their tackle. Half an hour after Captain
Sprague made the trip along the line the fore
mast, under the influence Of the whipping OF the
waves, rolled out Of the vessel carry ing with II
both topmasts Of the other sticks. An hour later
both the other masts went. and the hulk began
TO pound the beach. She is rapidly going TO
pieces, and the beach is strewn with the lumber
which formed her cargo.
This evening she is less than hundred feet
from the shore line Very little will be left OF
her by morning. The crew consisted OF six men,
in addition TO the captain. The schooner was
bound from Norfolk 10 New-York, with cargo
OF lumber.
In the Record Of American and Foreign Shipping
for 1907 the Oliver Schoheld is listed hailing
from New-London. with tonnage Of 374- She was
built at Tottenv1lle y. Y in 1867. She is owned,
eoroing 10 the record, by Z. p BrockWay.