Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1907-01-04
WRECK OF The CASPER HEFT.


ber 24th, about o'clock p. m. She was
bound to Norfolk with 16O tons of coal.
Off Point No Point she sprang aleak,
and the captain endeavored to &. .ato
Cornfield Harbor, under Point Lookout,
but failed. He then hoped to make
Great Wicomico, but the water in the
hold gained so fast that he feared she
would go down in the deep water and
lose all hands. He drove her for shoal
water on Smiths Point, and stopped in
about eleven feet in depth, about mid
way between the shore and the light
station. The captain and crew imme-
diately climbed into the rigging and set
signals for help. The heavy seas were
washing completely over her, compelling
the men to stay in the rigging exposed
to the bitter cold.
Mr.. Louis E. Hall, who lives at the
mouth of Little River, happened to see
the vessel when she struck, and imme-
diately began looking for volunteers to
attempt rescue. Many of the men
were away from home, and the few he
saw had reasons sufficient to deter them.
At last he started up into the land to
hunt assistance, when he saw the writer
and his oldest son coming down the
river. AS they reached their home
landing, Mr.. Hall ran down and hurriedly
stated the case, and then went back
home after some necessary clothing.
BY the time he got back the others had
secured a small 12-foot skiff, and were
ready to go. These three started in a
30-foot fishing bateau. The tide was
very low, and much difficulty was ex-
perienced in getting over the bar. The
engine had 10 be stopped and sail hoisted
to lift the boat over. The run was made
to the wreck under a three-reefed
mainsail
The sight of the bay was appalling,
but there We're lines in the balance, and
the men had to go. On the run, plans
were made, and each man assigned to
his place. Upon reaching the wreck
sail was taken in and the engine started.
Running as close as was safe, Mr.. Hall
got into the small boat, and carried a
long line to the vessel and one of the
crew plunged into the water and made
it fast. The man was taken into the
small boat, when about that time the line
snapped, and the rescuing boat fell
away before the wind. The engine was
quickly run backward until the small
boat was picked up. After that the
boat would run slowly to windward,
towing the skiff. Then Mr.. Hall would
drop off, get another man, and meet
the big boat as she circled around to
leeward. The crew of three colored
men were broughtoff first, one at time.
Several attempts were made before
the captain was got. In one of these
attempts the small boat was nearly
swamped by a heavy sea, and Mr.. Hall
had to drift away to bail out. The
captain, who is seventy-six years old,
was nearly helpless from the cold, and
when a favorable chance occurred to
lay the small boat alongside, he tum-
bled in, not being able to get himself
all in the boat Mr.. Hall pushed off,
and then pulled the captains legs in.
AS he came alongside he said: "Be
careful with this man; he is nearly
gone" Eager hands grasped him, and
hauled him on board, passing him for
ward into the small temporary cabin.
The rough return trip to the shore
was made without any mishap, further
than being boarded by an occasional
coinber thatit was impossibly to dodge,
until the bar at the mouth OF the river
was reached. The tide had run out
until there was not enough water for
the boat to get in under engine. The
main boom had got broken out. at the
wreck and the sails were useless, even
if any could have been used In the gale
that was blowing. After several in
effectual attempts, and the boat having
gotten ashore, the rescued men were
carried to the beach on the island on
the lower side of the river, and fire
kindled under the lee of the woods to
warm them, from which place Sam
Dunaway carried them to his home and
cared for them.
The rescuing party, however, stayed
by their boat, hoping the tide would
rise enough to get into the river, but il
did not do so. Along about z o'clock
the ballast was thrown over board and
everything portable was taken ashore,
lines run, and the boat hauled as close
to the beach as possible through the
heavy drift of slush ice. In half ar
hour she was tightly locked in the ice
which extended some ten yards beyonC
her by o'clock.
Every drop Of water that flew that
day turned to ice as it struck anything
and made everything hard to handle
Each man was coated with ice from
head to foot. Leaving their boat on tn.
beach, the three walked across tn,
Island, borrowed skiff and had to fighI
ice nearly all the way across the moutl
of the river to their homes.
Later Captain Dix said: ''When mn
vessel struck climbed high into tn,
rigging, so / could be seen in hop,
that help would come. But Their
was not sail to be seen. No
a steamer in sight. gazed towar,
the light house in hope that help Nigh
come from there, but in vain. I fel
that I must die. was looking in tn
face of death, and soon expected to b
in his arms. Ihad run my legs throug
the ratlines in such manner that whe
/ became unconscious nv BODY shoul