The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1908-11-04
TELLS OF WRECK
Schooner Abandoned On Voyage
From Georgetown North.

BRAVE LIFE SAVERS
Bodies Island and Nags Head Crew
Worked for Hours-Captain ant
Wife Thrice Wrecked-Rodger
Carried to Charleston as Prize O
Steamer Fert Several Years ago.
| Capt. s. E. Lawry. of the abandon
ed schooner Flora Rodgers, we'll
known trading vessel at Charleston
tells an interesting and thrilling sto
ry Of the wreck OF his boat a few
days ago at Bodies Island and The
rescue Of himself, his wife and the
crew. The following account Of the
wreck and rescue We take from the
ClaGleSlOD fOSl-
1t Is not the hrst time that the
Flora Rodgers has been wrecked
having had the same experience sew
eral years ago of the Carolina coast
when she was towed into Charleston
as a prize Of the Italian steame,
Fert, being later libeled and solo
by order of the United States court
In al interview in The Norfol:;
virginian-Pilot, Captain Lawry re-
lated a few days ago in dramati,
manner how Mrs. Lawry, his wife
his crew Of six men and himself
stood waist-deep in water with waves
from thirty to forty feet n height
lea ping and swirling over the wreck
nine hours before line was shot
over the vessel and how two anchof
chains of links of an inch and hall
in thickness we're snapped like pipe
stems which sent the vessel to her
doom.
It was also brought out how Mrs.
Eawry had been il two other wrecks
with he1 husband and how on one
occasion she was willing for every
thing aboard to be lost-that is.
property-but to only save her ca
nary bird.
When the gale was sweeping the
coast and carrying everything before
it the Rodgers, lumber laden, was
tugging at her anchors. She was
from Georgetown. S. c.. for New Ha.
ven, ,and Captain Lawry seeing that
he could not sail in such a storm.
had the vessel anchored of the
island.
Two anchors were thrown out and
these were held by many fathoms
OF chain, the links Of which were an
inch and a half Of solid iron. The
vessel was double-reefed. Every
thing was done to prevent the craft
from stranding, but to no avail, AMI
at 10 o'clock at night the anchors
tore loose and two and one-nalf
hours later the stern Of the Rodge-:
vas battered away.
Masts and rigging and spars
crashed to the deck and lay in an
inextricable mass. The wind was
increasing from the southeast, AMI
presently the vessel bega nto BE
working broadside on the beach.
Inky darkness prevailed. The waves
BY this time were running TO "a
height Of from thirty to forty feet,
and at one time it appeared that a.
must be lost. The life savers had
discovered the wreck and they so
notified those aboard the vessel ~
the Costen signals.
When daylight came the surfme9
from the Bodies Island station az
tempted to launch surf boat. but
they were beaten by the WiRd anu
waves. Line after line was frei
and fell short, and those on the
wreck despaired Of being rescued.
Word was sent to the Nags Head
station and soon the crew was on
The scene.
If ever set of men worked &c
save eight human lives it was the
crews from the Bodies Island an
Nags Head stations. and at I O'Clock
q the morning line was shot over
the side Of the vessel and made fast
20 the stump of the mainmast. linen
the breeches buoy was run out.
The captain and crew insisted that
Mrs. Lawry step into the buoy first.
rhe brave woman was reluctant u
10 this but was finally persuaded AM
she was hauled through the moul-
.ainous waves to the beach. 1t was
dramatic scene. Then the crew
one BY one, were hauled ashore ant
CAPTAIN Lawry was the last to ste!
INTO the buoy.
All hands were drenched 70 ths
skin when they hit the beach an
they lost all Of their belongings
which went down In the wreck. Ia
captain, his wife and crew had no
long been OF the vessel when she De-
ran to break up and the lumber ca,
20 to come ashore. One OF tn
masts washed ashore and there !
hope of securing the other two.
CantaIn Lawry said tnat the spar
and rigging might also be saved an
practically all Of the lumber cafs'
that has washed ashore will be save
The cargo vas insured, but the YES
sci was not. Captain Lawry ha'
$1,000 interest In the Rodgers.
N-nr1en Parade.