The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-08-03
CLUNG TO UPSET
BOAT FOUR HOURS
Party Of -Four Rescued After
Exciting Search.
YACHT WAS OVERTURNED
Cries For Help Was Searehers' Only
Guide IN Darkness Three Miles or
Coast Of Avalon, N. J.-All Were
Lashed 70 Overturned Boat.


Avalon. y j. Aug. -Four hours
near death. clinglnE with desperation
TO the slippery bottom Of an overturn-
ed bat;eau. and finally aShrilling res
cue by the life saving crew. made up
a night Of Wild adventure for Or 4.
4. Sargent and his wife. OF Philsdel-
phia. with their sailing guests. Mrs
Reba +. King and Adolphe Chalase
of Paris.
DR.. Sargent and his party had been
swept out TO sea. and the life savers
were vaiuly trying TO hnd the capsized
craft. The rescue came just after mid
night. three miles or shore
Dr. Sargent and his family pass the
summers ia Avalon. having a cottage
here Mrs King and Mr.. Chalase were
week end guests at the Sargent cot
tsge
The party went sailing in small
boat and after short time fouad
themselves caught in the heavy tide
that runs through the Thoroughfare
DR.. Sargent got over an anchor in a
twinklinE knowing we'll the dangers
| OF crashing into instructions OF other
|
was too short and the boat was rush
ed along by the tide stream. despite
all that could be done with the sail
There was a terrific jolt as the mast
struck the ironwork OF the horseshoe
railroad drawbridge This tore the
| rigging down. smashed the mast and
sail and all fell. overturning the little
boat. and ~ course. spilling the Occu
pants into the water In the swirl o.
the tide the crippled and upset battesu
was swept on toward the sea.
At the moment there was immi
nent danger that the two women and
the two men would not be able 70
reach the wreck. Fortunately Dr. Sar.
sent IS a powerful swimmer He first
turned his attention 70 the women.
and with the help o. Chslase got them
all to the boat The doctor. noticing
that faster and faster they were being
swept 10 sea dashed the women. and
afterward Chalase and himself 20 the
espsizei sailhoat. II &c had not been
for this the women possibly could not
have survived the ordeal
Cries For Help Heard
! When frs upset. after all hal reach
ed the wreck DR. Sargent stood high
MP on fhe submerged side OF the boat
which had not then turned completely
! over and clinciug 20 The side out OF
water as high ms as possible. called
for help
The cries of the party were heard
by Captain Richard Holmes. Of Cape
/ Nav who gave the alarm After a
life boat Was launched and pushed its
nose out through the breakers bea-
| cons We're liz on the beach. shots were
| fired and rockets were sent high into
the air 20 let the imperiled party know
their call for help had been heard.
Il WIS blind search for the little
boat. helpless IN the current For over
four hours Captain Nichols and his
crew pulled stoiidly mp and down the
coast without once coming within
| hearing OF the cries When about 10
abandon the search they heard faint
| cries iu Tho distance u was a half
hour after that before they came upon
the wreck. so exhausted was the little
party on tho upset craft and so weak
their cries Tor help
Fsints When Saved.
When Mrs King was hauled into
the nfeboat she tainted. either from
exhaustion OF from the Sudden release
from Ions nervous tension. She had
been pluckv while in the water never
once giving way 70 was some time be-
! fore she re2aincd consciousness Mrs.
Sargent was too weak 90 even minister
10 her friend o. seemed as ~ the res
cue cane just in time