The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-08-22
FISHERMEN DROWN Off
new JERSEY COAST
Boats Crowded With Pleasure
Seekers Run For Shelter
HER0lSM OF THE LIFESAVERS
Men Row Through Rough Sea and
Pick Up Those Clinging to
Wreck, Transferring 1S to Yacht
Violet to Avoid Swamping.

Violet to Avoid Swamping.
Anglesea, N. J.-Eight men were
drowned here by the capsizing Of two
yachts on the Hereford Inlet bar, one
mile off shore. The yachts were COM
ing in from the fishing banks, and
were crowded with fishermen, most
of whom were from Philadelphia.
Seven lost their lives from the auxil-t
iary sloop yacht Nora, which plies
for hire, and one from the Alvin B.,
small sloop, owned by E. L. Hall
man, a lawyer, Of Pottsville, Pa.
Hallman was entertaining twelve
friends on the craft, which was
turned completely over by terrific
wave.
Bodies of the following persons.
were recovered: Frederick Fisher.
Sr., Philadelphia; Herbert Hammell.
Lansdale, Pa; Walter Snyder, Phila-
de!phia; John Fogarty, Haverford,
Pa; ]. Starkey, Philadelphia; Jerry.
Donohue, Philadelphia; unknown
man.
The body of Samuel L6dner, OF
Woodbury., N. j., was not found.
The waves were breaking over 1t
when the Nora came running in, and
the yacht was riding on the crest OF a
billow when a gust of wind threw her
IN her beam ends. Instantly wave
strained the craft, and the mast
snapped close to the deck. The Nora
hen turned turtle and all ON board
were caught under the yacht.
That man was saved was due to
Captain Henry S. Ludlum, Of the
Hereford Inlet life saving station,
who assembled a volunteer crew and
put out to the rescue.
1t was half an hour, however, be-
fore the lifeboat reached the spot.
All that time score of men were
making a desperate struggle for life.
They were gathered around the over
turned yacht, and were constantly
being carried away by the seas. The
battle was marked by many heroic
deeds. One of these was the saving
Of the one boy in the fishing party.
FIe was being swept away when
caught by two men and dragged to
the side of the Nora. Then half a
dozen men, gathering around, sue
c.eded in pushing the half-insensible
lad out of the water until he lay.
face downward across the keel. He
was held there until he was taken of
by Ludlum and his crew..
The 'e~boat arrived in the nick CT
time. r'Uur men were picked up.
when floating away from the Nora.2
They had held on until all their
strength was gone, and then with!
help almost at hand they were lifted
by wave and swept toward land to-
seemingly inevitable death. All four,
were unconscious when dragged into,
the boat, and they lay in heap until
other rescues had been effected.
The waves were so high the bar,
that it was with great difficulty. that
Ludlum steered the lifeboat to the
yacht. After several vain attempts
he succeeded in running close to the
overturned craft on the lee side, and!
then began the work of taking in the,
fishermen. Fifteen had been pulled
over the gunwale when a new dim-
Guilty presented itself. The lifeboae,
was overburdened and was in immi-;
nent danger of being swamped, yet.
there were ten men still in the water,
Ludlum was. filed with fear lest
the attempt at rescue might end in a.
second and greater tragedy, when he
saw the sloop yacht Violet coming
out. Then, with the ten men holding
to the gunwales, Ludlum slowly
steered the lifeboat toward the yacht
Two of the men were torn away by,
the waves, but they were rescued
again with boathooks. The Violet
was splendidly handled by Captainl
Lilley and two youths. She is only
twenty-five feet over all, but with,
several reefs managed to stand up in
the storm. Taking advantage of a.
lull in the wind, the lifeboat was,
lashed to the side of the Violet, andl
then as both boats rose and fell,
eighteen men were slowed away in;
the yacht. The lines were cut, and
while the Viole.., ran to an anchorage
Ludlum drove the lifeboat toward
the pier.
Thousands of persons watched the.
rescue from the shore, among whom
u,oe 1T,vor NJooyor of pbi1a6llOhia