New-York tribune., 1908-07-20
WOMEN AID IN RESCUE
CAMPERS ANSWER CALL.
Cres0 Taken from Wreck after a
Hard Fight.

Montauh Point. Long Island July 19 (Spe-
ciaD--Had it not been for the aid given to Cap
tain Caleb Hedges of the Montauk Point life
saving station by party Of campers who were
attracted twelve miles away by his gun, which
was fired constantly for assistance, the cap
tain and crew Of the steamship Chippewa. bound
from Charleston to Boston, which struck on
the rocks off Montauk Point three weeks ago,
would have perished in the breakers
She loaded with lumbe-, and also
mad number of animals aboard, which were
being sent to Boston to be distributed. The
Merritt Chapman company at once set to work
to clear the Chippewa off the rocks, and in
stalled machinery valued at $4,000, for pump
ing her out. So we'll did the work proceed that
it was decided yesterday to haul her off at high
tide.
About noon the captain and crew of twenty
men loaded the animals a float which was
alongside This required about three hours.
and just as the float was to be hauled off by
the Merritt tug wind blowing forty miles an
hour came up. and it was found impossible to
move the float. The captain and crew of the
Chippewa at once sought refuge again the
Chippewa until the wind died down. and the
seas. which were running high, had sub
sided.
There seemed likelihood that this would
happen. and to add to the peril Of the situation.
the Chippewa began to heave and roll in man
ner which the captain knew would soon cause
her to go to pieces
Signals of distress were sent aloft and were
seen by Captain Hedges of the Montauk life
saving station. but, as he was alone at the
government house. the crew being off vaca-
ton until August /, he in dilemma The
surf gun Captain Hedges hauled to the door
of the house. however, and began firing as fast
he could load.
The wind being from the ocean, the signals Of
distress were heard by the party OF campers
twelve miles away. In the party were Mr.. and
Mrs. David L. Van Nostrand and Miss Viola
Van Nostrand, of Great Neck; Mr.. and Mrs.
William Post. Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Post and
Mrs Scott Libby, of East Williston, Long
Island; also Mr.. and Mrs William Titus, Of
the same place, and Everitt Woodruff of
Flushing.
Hearing the signals from the booming surf
gun.. they jumped into the three automobiles
with which they went to their camping place,
and in twenty minutes were at the Montauk
prominent in the Meadowbrook colony and al
ways follows the hounds In the fall. All hands,
both men and women, Jumped in and helped the
captain of the station to haul the gun and ap-
paratus to the surf This required considerable
labor, but the women worked with will, and
after hard struggle the heavy gun was planted
in position. facing the ship which was by this
time almost hidden from view by the heavy
breakers, which covered her every time
struck. The float had broken loose and drifted
sidewise. to sea, with its cargo of helpless AMI
mails.
At 4:2o o'clock the first shot fired at the
vessel, but It fell short. Many more were fired.
but the wind would either carry them wide
they would fall short At 10 o'clock last ngiht
a shot landed squarely across the ship and
made fast
The heavier line was then hauled aboard. and
finally the hawser for the life buoy. All this
work very difficult board, as the
were breaking over her all the time and the
wind was blowing gale. The first OF the crew
was landed in the breeches buoy at about II
o'clock, the women hauling with will when
the buoy through the breakers.
AT midnight the captain was landed, and said
that the vessel breaking up. The Merritt
Chapman people would have hauled the Chip
pewa off just before the wind came up, as she
was lightened enough. but the storm upset all
their plans