The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-05-01
POLICE SAVE SHlPWRECKED
TAKE 81 MEN AND 3 WOMEN
OFF 4 FISHING BOAT.
The Sioop Crusoc Got on Middle Ground
Bar In R0ckaway Inlet In . SQuall
Two Other Boats Tried Vainiy to
Help Her-Small BOat Was Capsized.

Help Her-Smai1 bOat was Capst2e0.
While heavy seas pounded the big
motor sloop Crusoe as she lay heeled over
on the edge of Middle Ground Bar in
Rockaway Inlet. o mile of the Rockaway
Beach shore. during squall yesterday
afternoon. fifty-five men and three women
were taken from the imperilled craft in
small boats by policemen Of Harbor
Squad C and carried to the police boat
and other craft
A roller capsized one OF the sloop's
small boats as il was being headed from
the grounded sloop in an attempt to gain
the Rockaway shore and the seven men
in her were thrown into tho water. A
second roller smashed the rowboat to
pieces against the sloop's side.
Fortunately five of the seven men
thrown into the watet, two Of whom were
OF the crew Of the Crusoe, could swim and
these managed to keep sfoat until ropes
we're thrown to them ThP two members
Of the crew, George Walters and Bill
Brown, also managed TO obtain holds on
the two non-swimmers. whom they kept
afloat also.
For fear the men might be swept away
and lost Capt. Bergman quickly tied rope
about his waist and with the other end
held by men aboard the sloop jumped
overheard and helped his two men in
their work of rescue. Everybody was
hauled out safely.
The Crusoe. a 30 footer, was returning
from the fishing banks when heavy
sea mist suddenly shut down upon her
as she was heading from the ocean into
Rockaway Inlet. which leads into Jamaica
Bay and to Canarse Landing. where
the CrusOe docks.
Breakers just ahead shee.' of! Hard
aport there" yelled one of the crew for
ward Capt. Bergman threw the wheel
hard over. but the trusOe could not an
swer quick enough and there was a heavy
lurch as a big roller struck her. The
surf was all around her in an instant
and she went around with several thumps
that shook her from stem to stern.
Those aboard were thrown from their
feet. Roller after roller swept over the
crafts dech
1t had begun to blow and as the fog
was dissipated a rain squall whipped up
heavy cross seas The fishermen and
women were frightened
We'll get off here in a minute or two.
said Capt Bergman. but in spite Of the
pounding Of the Crusoe's engines. re-
versed AT full speed. in an effort TO work
of the bar on which she was being
pounded. she seemed to go only the
harder aground
CPpt Bergman ordered one Of the two
small boats lowered In addition TO the
two men cf the crew. Rill Brown and Wal
ters. five nen leaped into her in order
10 help at the three pairs Of oars. She
was hardly in the water when a roller
struck her and hurled hsr against the
side Of the sloop
The plight Of the Crusoe was discovered
by the Shamrock. Capt. Plag. and the
Duane. sister fishing sloops, as they came
in through the inlet an hour after she
went aground.
Each of them thrust their noses upon
sandbars while trying TO work up TO her
but managed to pull out safely into deep
water.
The police boat Of Harbor Squad e,
on patrol of the inlet, was attracted by
the whistle blasts Of distress, and being
Of lighter draught than the fishing sloops
got in close 10 the grounded boat. The
policemen launched small whaleboat
and put in through the breakers with
Frank Ford. Edward Tanek and John
Walker a, the oars. The Crusoe and the
Duane also put out boats and assisted
the policemen in getting everybody
safely to their launch, which was so heav-
lily loaded that some Of the rescued ones
were put aboard the other sloops
Every body was landed safely in Canar-
sic and last evening the Crusoe was
pulled of the bar.