The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-31
Rescue OF Four of Columbian's Crew
Recalls Loss of Steamship on
North Carolina Sand Bar

an exploration revealed the ships bell
still attached to the roof. 1t had
strangely escaped our attention till
loosened by the action of the waves.
We hauled IL on deck as an omen OF
good luck somehow. we knew not how.
and managed with our rope to rig II up
on our little mast, and decided that
when night came on we would ring IL
at intervals. alternating with halloos at
the top OF our voices. During day.
light II was useless. as we could see as
far as 1t could be heard.
The water still gained upon lis and
was now half way to our knees. Dark
ness was approaching our only support
was gradually sinking beneath us. II
was only n question Of time when some
one OF us would have to cast of.
dared not think who II might be nor
how it might happen.
When complete darkness enveloped
us each in turn would halloo as loudly
as he could and then we would ring
our bell and listen with strained ears,
though we could not conceive of any
response. Not a sound broke the awful
silence save the dreary moaning OF the
waves. 1t was enough to strain the
stoutest nerves.
About s o'clock. while gazing intently
through the blackness. my heart sud-
denly stood still at the sight Of what
seemed a small black spot on top OF n
distant wave, but which instantly disap-
peared. 1 dared not speak but some
how thrill of hope went through me as
| concentrated my gaze upon that spot.
1t seemed to bob up again, a little
larger, but again vanished. still could
only remain mute and gaze, my tongue
clinging to the roof of my mouth.
Once more II appeared. this time much
larger. and evidently was some object
rapidly approaching. / called my COM
panions' attention to II and we re.
doubled our efforts with voice and bell
and soon were rewarded by an answer
ing cry. We nearly fell overheard In
our excitement, when we had the I'M
speakable JOY Of greetings from a boat
containing eleven of the crew of our i'll
fated ship. including our friends of the
| cotton bale and the hawser box, whom
we had never thought to meet again.
With grateful hearts we gladly aban-
| doned our own sinking craft.
That boat proved to be the one which
| had broken adrift the day before-an
| rreparable loss II seemed at the time.
| but ii proved at last our only salvation.
| II had drifted around In the vicinity OF
the wreck bottom up. In the morning
| II had been discovered by some OF the
| sailors floating on drifting spars, and
/ 10y swimming they succeeded in Fighting
| 1t, bailed II out. and as the oars had
been dashed In they were all ready for
action, and at once began searching
about, picking up all they could find,
| following the direction in which one
had seen another drifting. In this way
| they had d's"o"erod our early visit )-s
OF the morning, who told them of our
plight.
All the afternoon they had scanned
the ocean without finding any trace OF
us, till as darkness came on, the boat
| being nlrea'" ""0"laden, they gave us
| up. They had turned about and were
pulling for shore when they heard the
mournful tones of our bell, which guided
| them To our rescue. My friend the cap
tain and the first mate were among
them. they having been washed over
board from the last timber of the ship.
| We at once turned shoreward and
| tai, ng turns at the oars rowed la Nlri-
ously nearly all night till we could hear
the angry roar of heavy line of surf
that skirts 'Not entire coast without
|
| Morehead City and about a mile from
the shore, through which not even q
ship could pass. There was nothing to
do but to pull back and forth during
the night.
With the dawn a terrific thunder
storm burst upon us, with Egyptian
darkness, except for the vivid flashes
Of lightning which would reveal the
white line of breakers. \ deluge Of rain
""ured down, threatening to fill the boat
.ster than we could bail out the water.
This, however, subsidized somewhat
after time, though a steady rain con-
tinued all that day. AS daylight APP
peared we could see the beach in the
distance, the inside surf beating upon
1t.
There wins no means Of knowing
which port was nearest, so the captain
finally decided to take the chance Of
steering southerly for Morehead City.
Thus without food, but with water
sucked from our rain soaked garments
we YEARLY pulled along the coast as
near as We dared, the beach and safety
ever before our eyes, but we utterly
helpless to reach It.
This tantaliZlng sight and our over
wrought nerves began To tell upon our
mental faculties and one by one the
men began to beg the captain TO take
the chances OF getting through those
surglng breakers. We knew in our
hearts it was sheer madness, yet the
desire to take the hazard seemed to
grow stronger as we proceeded hour
after hour without any sign of harbor.
The strain was becoming unbearable,
and our tired muscles We're sore to the
slightest touch. The captain, however.
remained firm. and ] sided with him
till the night came on, when, aching in
, every bone. I also began to waver and
became willing to risk anything. As
n last resort, he promised that II by
s o'clock we did not make the light he
would yield to our desires and attempt
the passage.
But as the hour approached and still
all blackness around save the white
crested surf, ever singing in our ears.
as II were siren song Turing helpless
victims to a death embrace, the clamors
OF the now well nigh frenzied crew be-
came more furious, till mutiny seemed
imminent. The captain was about to