The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-08-17
With All Sails Set Schooner
Is Driven Ashore on
Long Beach.
LIFE GUARDS SAVE
CREW FROM DEATH
Boats Driven Back by Great Waves
But Rescuers Battle
Through.

NEW YORK, Aug. i7.-With
eight men clinging to her rigging,
while the seas swept over her decks,
and drove back life-saving crews,
eight men faced death today on
board a three-maSted schooner,
which was driven ashore 200 yards
of the Nassau Hotsl, at Long Beach,
L. l., at $50.
Shortly before noon, one of the
eight men lashed to the rigging
of the ship crawled down to the
deck and launched life raft. A
cheer went up from the shore as
the sailor, holding line, began to
drift toward the beach. Then the
wind caught the raft and drove it
to the open sea, and the effort to
get a line ashore almost cost a life,
for the life raft was driven far down
the coast before If came ashore,
long after the Others were rescued.
CREW IS SAVED.
Driven to desperate action by
the courage of the sailor, the life
savers combined their efforts and
finally drove a lifeboat through
the surf It was an hours fight
before they could reach the ship,
and the life-savers were ex-
hausted. They managed, however.
to take OFF the fast weakening sur
vivors Then began the fight to
return.
More dead than alive, reseuers
and rescued were buheted by the
winds, while thousands who lined
the shore cheered their daring ef-
forts. The boat finally got into
the breakers and was dashed on
shore. where volunteers rushed
out and dragged ashore the life
savers and the seven members Of
the shipwrecked crew. Three Of
the members of the crew we're in
such a serious state they we're
taken to the Hotel Nassau for
medical treatment.
The vessel proved to be the Airing
ton, for Jacksonville. Fla, from Bos-
ton. laden with lumber.
She will be a total wreck.
The Rescued.
Those saved from the wrecked snip
were Capt. J. S. Small, who refused
to leave the ship, and had to be lassoed
by the Iife-savers and taken of by
force; First Mate Davis. James Brown
a ffteen-year-cld cabin boy. and cook
and four sailors
Davis was on watch when the ship
went ashore. He mistook the lights
Of the Nassau Hotel for those of an
Atlantic liner, and steered toward
them. When he discovered his mistake,
he called the captain. and 1t was then
discovered that the steering wheel was
sails set, sped before the gale into the
shore. The waves began washing over
the deck, and the captain and crew
we're forced into the bow, and then
onto the bowsprit 10 save themselves.
The Arlington registers 507 tons, is 145
feet long, and carried a crew of eight
men. She cannot be salvaged, II is
All Sails Set.
The schooner loomed up out Of the
darkness shortly before dawn today, fly
ing in the face of a fifty-mile gale di-
ractlv into the shore. VIII sass set.
she iammeG her way up TO the beach.
Early watchers saw her and signaled
her. but received no answer.
Until some time after daybreak, when
the fog lifted sufficiently for the vessel
TO be seen plainly. il was thought the
crew had deserted the ship in small
boats.
The instant the vessel grounded, great
waves began breaking over her. The
waves al times completely hid the ship.
onlv her lofty masts and set sails being
Attempt to Signal
Iife-savers from Bay Side and Point
Lookout rushed 10 the scene and al
tempted to signal the vessel. No answer
came back. and it appeared as though
she had been deserted - her crew, al
though the ship seemed 10 be in good
condition and seaworthy. Life-savers
made an effort 10 launch their life
boats. but the high seas drove them
back. An effort to fire a line on which
breeches buoys might be sent to the
vessel also failed. the high wind hurting
the line into the sea 100 yards away.
when the ship went into the sands
her sails began tearing 70 pieces In the
| gale, but her masts are still standing
/ Though there is no danger the vessel
| viii break up in the gale. she is filling
up. her matches having been LETT open.
You can only tell Piper Heidseick is