The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-05-06
A Daring Rescue.

A veteran MEMBER Oh the nVe-SaNlnS
service who has passed many years on
the storm beaten coast of Virginia,
gave a Star reporter today an interest
ing account of a thrilling rescue recent
ly effected by the crews of stations 2
and 3 in the vicinity of Virginia Beach.
ION the night of the Goth of Deem
Der last, or more correctly speaking,
of the morning of the 21st," said he,
occurred one OF the most tragic events
that has marked the history of the Vir-
ginia coast.
Nearly ten years ago, March q,
1891, the Norwegian bark Dictator was
wrecked at Virginia Beach, and almost
every soul was lost, notwithstanding
the bravery of the life savers. On the
night of December 20 last, when the
storm was at it's height, the schooner
Jennie Hall met with a similar fate
about three miles below the scene of
the other tragedy. At $50 o'clock in
the morning the schooner was sighted
coming ashore head on. Captain Barco
of Station No. was Immediately noti-
fed by the patrolman then on duty,
and at daybreak his force was joined
by Captain Partridge and his crew of
life savers from Station No. 2. AT the
time it was impossible to launch a life
boat in the tremendous surf; however,
the mortar was fired. hawser landed
on the deck of the distressed and now
[hopelessly grounded schooner The
brooches buoy was manned and John
Moore and Joseph Cosby (both color
|ed) of Gloucester county, Va, were
safely landed. Upon the second trip to
the buoy Mate B. T. Bragg was brought
ashore in a critical condition, being al
most frozen. Bragg had been wrecked
on this coast once before, having been
saved by Captain Partridge, then sta
toned at No. 4.
THE next rescued was Richard
Coombs an able-bodied seaman of
Newfoundland. Coombs was in good
condition, and recounted the horrible
situation of the remainder of the crew.
He said that the steward was tied to
the crosstrees and absolutely numb
from cold: his condition was such that
it was necessary for some one to go
out to him. At once John Neil of Sta
ton No volunteered to risk his life
in the effort to save the helpless man.
Throwing off every piece of unneces-
sary clothing, Neil stepped into the
errand. The wind was blowing sixty
miles an hour, and several times the
brave man disappeared from sight. At
last he reached the almost frozen man,
and found it impossible to do anything
without help, so he returned to shore.
Then several men volunteered to
launch the lifeboat, and, though Neil
had done his duty bravely, he insisted
on returning to the fated vessel. There
upon Captain Barker, with crew of
picked life savers from numbers 2 and
8, launched the lifeboat, taking with
him Neil and Horatio Drinkwater, an
iex-lifesaver These two men volunteer
ed to go to the vessel, and consented to
be left there to complete the rescue, or,
| if necessary, die in the effort to save
the helpless men still aboard, for a
stowaway was also tied up in the rig
| ging, apparently frozen. The lifeboat
made the trip successfully, and Drink
water swung himself aboard, followed
! by Neil. In order to escape being dash
| ed to pieces the lifeboat Immediately
returned to the shore, and on its way
thither another tragedy threatened.
| AN immense sea broke over the boat,
throwing Life Saver Sparrow over
board, and the boat passed over his
body. Every member of the brave
crew bent his energies to the rescue of
this man, and they finally succeeded
| in pulling him in safe and sound. Be
fore the two rescuers reached the
wreck, the stowaway. Ben Maui OF
Trinidad, who had been hanging by his
heels in the rigging, where he was tied,
dropped into the sea, frozen to death
| Upon reaching the wreck Drinkwater
apparently unmindful of the snow and
sleet, barefooted and without even oil
skins or coat, made for the rigging
where he united the stiff body of the
steward, dead weight of ESQ pounds
put rope around the helpless mans
waist, but on account of his immense
bulk could not get him into the buoy
SO tied the body under the buoy an6
sent it ashore, where it was received
and medical attention rendered. After
1ncessant work of five hours there were
Ievidences of life at last Neil was next
sent ashore in the buoy, and last tt
! leave the ship was Drinkwater, who
landed in good shape and ready fol
more work If necessary. The unfortun.
ate schooner Jennie Hall was bount
from Trinidad to Baltimore, loaded
y with rhnSnhafQ WI CD, !, e.