The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-08-30
Built Station in Rigging of the
Foundered Vessel When the
Waves Destroyed Other
HIS DISTRESS SIGNALS WERE
ANSWERED BY REVENUE CUTTER
Worked the Wire at Imminent Risk
Of Life From the High Wind Which
Threatened to Tear Him From His
Seat.

Charleston. 8. c., Aug. 30.-To the
courage of Wireless Operator Sheesly
a l6-year-old lad, the liner Lexing-
tons twelve passengers and the
Whole crew of forty-four say they owe
their lives. The storm ragged for
twenty-four hours. Her nose was
driven deep into quicksand off Hunt
ing island, with seas dashing over
her, the Lexington threatened to
break up and fling her human cargo
to death in the seathing water. 1t
Is said the Lexington will be q total
loss.
But Sheesly, the wireless operator
did not despair. Persistently he licked
out his call for help and kept the ter
ror stricken passengers from aband-
oning hope. Finally a terrific wave
swept the ship and wrecked the wire
less station on board. For moment
1t seemed that all hope was lost but
Sheesly climbed into the rigging and
hastily fixed up station. In imminent
danger of his life from the high wind
which threatened to tear him from his
seat and blinded by the spray, Sheesly
sent out his plea for aid. Suddenly
through the storm he was answered
by the revenue cutter Yamacraw who
had heard his call and came on to
save the lives Of the Lexington crew
and passengers.
Twelve passengers, the stewart and
three negroes employed on the Lex
ington were brought here early today
by the Yacaraw. The captain and q
crew Of forty-three men were left on
board. Two fremen were reported to
have been burned to death and third
terribly scalded when the vessel
grounded. First Officer Chamberlain
suffered q fracture Of the right shoul-
der, u '~' - ~. ~. 81 y.
The Lexington, which is Mer-
chants and Mariners. liner, was bound
for Savannah to Philadelphia. Three
times she was covered with water, the
pumps expelling enough to clear the
upper portions and float the stern
The passengers incessantly prayed
for the abatement of the storm and
when the government steamer hoved
In sight, a mighty cry of relief went
up from the sorely stricken people OF
the Lexington. When the captain be-
lieved the danger of the liners break.
Ing up at any minute was apparent
he had life preservers' strapped on
every passenger.
The Lexington was tossed about TO,
hours by the hurricane of Sunday
night and Monday morning. Captain
Cannally. almost naked and halt
frozen, stod heroically at the wheel
and the stokers worked desperately
while standing to their armpits in the
water trying to increase the small
pressure OF twenty-five pounds OF
steam to sufficient power to enable
the Lexington to steer away from the
treacherous shore toward which they
finally were blown and ground Mon
day after two anchor cables had part
ed and the Lexington went hard
aground of Hunting island. She is
lying today in about eighteen feet of
water listed almost forty degrees to
port with her bow pointing up the
coast.
Captain Cannally. veteran in sery-
Ice of tha Merchants and Mariners
line, declared the hurricane was the
worst of his experiences at sea he
claims, and his statement is attested
by the first mate and stewart, that the
wind came in gusts at times making
130 miles an hour.
THRILLING Evnorionoo