The Red Cloud chief., 1912-08-01

sea which froze In their clothing, cut and bruised
from the buffeting they received.
"And then" says the Service Report Of the oc-
currence 1.-The last time the launch was attempted
the boat was hurled high on the shore. her crew
we're spilled out like matches from the box and
the boat was shattered. And Captain Atkins and
his men, having eaten nothing since the even
ing before. spent. faint. heartsick. had been baf
fed and had to endure the modification OF see'
ing a rescue effected by an unworn volunteer
crew In a fresh boat brought from the town. The
Investigation revealed that the men upon the
wreck might have been properly landed by the
life.lines but for Keeper Atkins failure to employ
the Lyle gun which had recently been furnished
the station, through Q singular inapprehension OF
its powers"
1t was a bitter pill for the ssrvics-the defeat
OF it, men by volunteer crew.
The night Of November 80. 1880. was clear but
windy. heavy gale was piling the surf over
.the outer bar of the Peaked Hill Bar station
surfmen Fisher and Kelley left the station at four
o'clock to make the eastward and westward
patrol Kelley started from the door hrst. 40
he did so he heard the slatting OF sails and the
banging Of blocks above the wind At the west
ward he saw the lights Of vessel close inshore
Shouting to Fisher to give the alarm. he ran
down the beach. burning his Coston light. Keep
or Atkins glanced at the surf and ordered out
the boat The men dragged 1t eastward until
they were opposite the stranded vessel. which
proved to be the sloop C. r. Trumbull OF Rock
port. The crew manned the boat.
The story Of what took place out there under
the darkness on Keeper Atkins last errand OF
rescue Is best told. perhaps In the personal 40
count OF Isaiah Young one OF the SURVIVORS, The
narrative Of this man, In his own words. Is taken
from the Life Saving Report Of 1881. It reads:
"When We launched, the vessel was still some
to the eastward. We went OF in this manner to
take advantage Of the tide that was running to
the eastward between the bar and the shore II
was low tide. The sea was smooth on the
shore. but. on the bar, where the vessel lay. II
was rough enough to bs dangerous.
I'VE hauled up from the boat until the bow
Tapped on to her quarter Keeper Atkins called
to them to Jump In.
I'VE landed four persons This trip could moi
have consumed moro than fifteen minutes.
when We pulled up again. after being thrown
back Taylor stood In tho bow with the limo ready
to heave. cautioned Keeper Atkins to have q
care for the boom. He said. BE ready with the
boat.hook; ! will look out for the BOOM wal
just taking up the hook when sea came around
the stern. threw the stern of the boat more
toward the boom ~ the vessel rolled to leeward
and the boom went into the water.
"As the vessel rolled to windward and the boom
rose It caught under the cork belt near thu
stroke rowlock and threw us over. bottom up
I'VE rolled the boat over. right side up. and
was the nrst to get into her. Others got in;
am not positive how many. She did not keel
right side up more than two minutes when Sci
: rolled us over again. We got on again and wer'
washed of two or three times before struck ou
for the shore. I asked Mayo to strike with me
az I knew him to be an excellent swimmer: bu
he said that We could not hold out to reach th'
shore and he would stay by the boat Keepe
Atkins was holding by the boat.
Kelley had already struck out. / heard Taylo
groan near me a. started. but did not see him
II saw gap In the beach which must hav'
been Clara Bell Hollow. two miles from Station
No. Z. When about three seas from the shor
my sight began to fail and soon could see moth
ing; but kept swimming
II recollect Surfman Cole saying For God
sake Isaiah, IL this your and Of his taking M
up knew nothing more until found mysel
in the station. after being resuscitated shoul
think that remained by the boat half an hou
before struck out Tho cork belt was all tina
enabled me to reach the shore. The cork belt
In the boat are a good thing and should be kep
on"
Thus Keeper Atkins died with his boots on. q
he said he would die II necessary. In the pei
Torrance Of his duty.