The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-11-07
RESCUED
IN BREECHES
BUOY.
British Schooner Barker Stranded
Near Orleans, Mass, but
Crsw Is Rescued.

Orleans. Mass, Nov. THE large Brit
~ H.. bound from that city for a sound
port with cargo OF lumber. struck on
the bar off here during heavy north
east gale early this morning and was
wrecked
Captain Ernst ana his crew OF five
men were rescued i'm the breeches buoy
by the Orleans Life Saving crew after
gallant struggle.
The vessel was first seen by Patrolman
Murphy shortly after a. m. The other
life savers were quickly notified OF the
wreck. and capt. Charles and his crew
left their quarters at once for the scene,
some two miles distant with their appa-
ra tus. The schooner was at this time on
the outer bar with the sea running COM
pletely over her and threatening every
moment 20 wash the crew overheard. IL
was impossible to launch boat i'm such
a sea and the life savers were quick To
see that the only means OF rescue lay IN
the breeches buoy. After some difficulty
line was shot on board and made fast.
Soon afterwards a second iine was sent
TO the schooner. The schooner did not re-
main stationary, but worked her way
southward and closer to the shore The
line from the schooner 10 the beach was
fully a mile long. and took some little
time TO arrange il so that the buoy could
be pulled in safely.
Finally one OF the sailors was brought
ashore very much exhausted and inform
ed Capt. Charles that the crew had under
gone "A terrible experience and lad suffer-
ed terribly from exposure.
For nearly i've hours the work of res
,ue went on. with the schooner constant
~ shifting over the treacherous sands,
and eventually bringing up on the inner
bar. where her cargo and loose fittings
began 10 wash upon the beach.
The work OF the life savers was the
| most difficult experienced by them for
several years The wind was against
them and nearly the entire time con-
sumed in rescuns the crew was attend
| ed with unusual difficulties, principally
| because OF the vessel continually SHIFT
| ing At times IL was difficult To make
| out the craft Ii was after daylight
| before the last man, Captain Ernst, was
| hauled ashore.
| The Parker was badly damaged and
| may he total wreck. Part of her
! cargo was strewn along the beach fer
| miles.
Captain Ernst states that he left 81.
| John last Monday All went well until
| last night when he encountered n heavy
1 northeast gale, which dashed the water
| over the bow of his vessel and caused
| great suffering among his crew. At dark
! he made out Highland light and at
| o'clock this morning had Nauset light
| abeam He judged that he was ten
miles off shore and kept her before the
| gale on the port tack. About an hour
| and half later the schooner struck bot
| tom with "A thump that sent every man
| sprawling TO the deck.
| The vessel struck several times after
| this, and after pounding a while on the
! outer bar brought up hard and fast
| Later the schooner gradually worked on
the outer bar and was carried by the
breakers onto the inner bar. Every
| thing movable had been swept over
board and IL was with great difficulty
| that the men kept their places. Torches
| were burnt for assistance aud in a few
| minutes the Orleans life savers begar
the arduous task Of rescuing the men
| Great praise is given the Orleans crew
| for the work they accomplished.
The John s. Parker is large schooner
| of 2t0 tons. She was built In Tyne
| mouth. ST. John, n g.. in 1891 and Il
| owned by Robert G. Elkins and others