The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-02-10
Charles Sutton, North Carolin.
Iinian. Who Rescued Miss Nc.
Combs in the Monroe Wreck
Young Hartford Engineer Tells
of Events of That Terrible
Night in Which His Struggles
Save the Pretty lngenue-

II ON Charles Sutton, a young
Carolinian. whose home is III
HEREFORD. deck engineer of the i'll
collision with the Nantucket, herol-
cally rescued Miss Sallie McCombs.
the pretty ingenue OF the Macaria
Theatrical Company, is a story of in
terest.
!. Young Sutton went to his home in
HEREFORD on Saturday night after the
wreck, to visit his mother. who is a
widow. His story of vents OF that
night, told modestly and simply, show
him a hero Of h first water. In
correspondence sent out from Hertz
ford it reads:
Il was in my berth in the engine
room when the crash came. am q
light sleeper and, quickly realizing
that W. were in danger, pulled two
of my companions out OF their berths.
We could not find the engineers, so
went out on h deck.
'The boat had already listed to
starboard and things looked pretty
bad. One Of the men suggested that
we all shake hands and die together.
but I said, No, we are not lost yet
"About that time Miss McCombs
came up to our party and asked {"
be taken to her friends and I said,
We are all your friends now. It is
every man for himself
"She then asked one Of US to help
her n I noticed she was thinly
clad and had no life-preserver. I
fastened a preserver around her and
told her to stay by me, that I would
do what I could to save her.
George Sturgis. Of New York,
another member Of the crew, was
standing near by and said, That's
right, Charlie. I'll stick by you and
help save the lady"
by this time the boat had listed
so tar that we were compelled to
climb over and stand on the side.
Miss McCombs did not show the
least sign of fear and her composure
ana bravery in the face OF danger
went q long way owards keeping
my own spirits up. AS we stood there
with wafer s~plashing around our feet.
she wanted to start right off: hut
there was q great suction as the
water was pouring into the hold ana
staterooms and l made her wait until
this had subsidized.
took to the water just before
the Monroe sank. Sturgis and { sun
porting the girl between us. At frs,
!, she grasped my neck so tightly that
l hao 10 tell her to let go. After
nat we got along all right units
oturgls began TO weaken- We SIN
ported nm for a while but he finally
, uropped out, although he was picked
" 10y the same boat that got us.
) 1he sea was calm, although there
was a heavy fog close to the $3.50
put could see the stars in the claaI
sky above. -'oai
We had been in the water ahor,,
dn nour n It was bitter cold. when
saw d sulphur candle burning il
q ooat | said to her, Il see a life
I nod', ana h actually laughed as
sayed?' nv we dfe
don't know. It's a long NO.
on yet, | replied and we were nra+t,
ieoilS exhausted. [ started +o col
~ I'LL ana n Joined me, her voice
$ carrying about as strong 80 mina
t iney hnaiiy picked US Up.
. uar hee were almost frozen. Som,
men threw their coats aro,,na 80
, but She was badiy br,,;ead ne efF
q trdIhpled on. for the boat NO.
Ioaued. When We reached tho b.
euchtt' she was taken TO 2 ctata.oaa
ani asked them to send mo ~ ~,
J, go Ioolh. 1t was 10 O'clock he
- got my feet thawed out,
,n+1 - not see Miss McComhs aea;,
onHi L called on her at tha neSti
cello hotel Just before ,Monti
4. Eertiord. She was in her rong ~
piettE badly exhausted h.,+ 80
= 70 she made me promise neTe
70 go on a ship again" hFNe