Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1909-08-07
Party Of -Four Rescued After
Exciting Search.
YACHT WAS OVERTURNED
Cries For Help Was sesrohers' Only
Guide In Darkness Three Miles Of
Coast of Avalon, NJ. J.-Ali Were
Lashed to Overturned Boat.


Avalon, N. j., Aug. -Four hours
/ near death clinging with desperation
TO the slippery bottom of an overturn-
. cd batteau, and finally thrilling res
cue by the life saving crew. made up
Q night of wild adventure for DR.. A.
A. Sargent and his wife, Of Philadel
phia, with their sailing guests, Mrs.
Reba b. King and Adolphe Chaiase,
Of Paris.
DR.. Sargent and his party had been
swept out to sea, and the life savers
were vainly trying to find the capsized
craft. The rescue came, just after mid
night, three miles off shore
DR.. Sargent and his family pass the
summers in Avalon, having cottage
here Mrs. King and Mr.. Chalase were
weekend guests at the Sargent cot
tage.
The party went sailing in a small
boat and after a short time found
themselves caught In the heavy tide
that runs through the Thoroughfare.
DR.. Sargent got over an anchor in a
twinkling, knowing well the dangers
of crashing into distractions or otter
boats Unfortunately the anchor cable
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 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. of course, spilllng the occu
pants into the water. In the swirl oil
the tide the crippled and upset batteau
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 tc
reach the wreck Fortunately DR.. Sar
gent is a powerful swimmer. He first
turned his attention to the women
and with the help of Chalase got them
all to the boat The doctor, NOTICING
that faster and faster they were being
swept to sea. dashed the women, and
afterward Chalase and himself to the
capsized sailboat. If 1t had not been
for this the women possibly could not
have survived the ordeal.
Cries For Help Heard.
When first upset, after all had reach
ed the wreck, DIR. Sargent stood high
ND on the submerged side of the boat
which had not then turned completely
( over, and, clinging to the side out Of
Z water as high us as possible, called
for help.
The cries of the party were heard
by Captain Richard Holmes, of Caps
May, who gave the alarm. After
life boat was launched and pushed its
nose out through the breakers, bea
cons were lit on the beach, shots were
AIRED and rockets were sent high into
the air to let the imperiled party know
their call for help had been heard.
It was blind search for the little
boat, helpless In the current. For over
four hours Captain, Nichols and his
crew pulled stolidly up and down the
coast without once coming within
hearing of the cries. When about tt
abandon the search they heard fam
cries In the distance. 1t was a hal
hour after that before they came upoI
the wreck, so exhausted was the little
party on the upset craft and so veal
their cries for help.
Faints When Saved.
When Mrs. King was hauled into
the lifeboat she tainted. either from
exhaustion or from the sudden release
from long nervous tension. She had
hean rlrnlrv whila In the water never
once giving way. It was some time be
fore she regained consciousness. Mrs
Sargent was too weak TO even minister
to her friend 1t seemed as il the res
cue came inst In time