Evening star., 1936-09-19

. binding rain and the waves rushed
over the shore with terrific force.
AZ the boat reached the shore
breakers it filled and capsized and
the four sailors were thrown into the
water. They were hauled out by the
surfmen through strenuous efforts
and at great risk. The captains wife
and son. meanwhile. were sheltered
in the cabin. The four sailors had
been instructed to signal the captain
If Q lifeboat could be launched to
get to the wreck. The keeper of the
station decided this was not possible,
and resort again was had to the
breeches buoy. 1t was hauled back
to the shore empty to test 1t and it
worked all right. Sent back to the
wreck the sailor who first tested it
climbed into the buoy and was drawn
ashore. but with extreme difficulty.
as it frequently dipped into the surf
and was jerked violently into the air
by the constant rolling Of the vessel
The buoy was drawn back and forth
empty several times and finally the
captain directed the ships carpenter
to get into it and If he reached shore
he thought 1t would be safe to attempt
sending his wife ashore in it. In
meantime Mrs. Jorgensen had emerged
from the cabin and sought shelter in
q small deck house on the poop. When
she saw how the carpenter was tossed
about into the surf and the air she de-
clared she never could 60 through such
an ordeal, and that she would rather
die on board. She entreated the cap
tain not to send her in the buoy. At
this juncture some Of the crew made
the fearful discovery that the bark's
sternpost had been wrenched out of
place, and as this permitted free en-
trance to the seas, the after part of the
vessel soon showed signs Of breaking
up, and the situation Of those aboard
the wreck assumed still more alarm
ing aspect.
d EALIZING his ship was doomed
~ and despairing Of the rescue Of
his wife and son by lifeboat, the cap
tain finally persuaded her to let him
take her aloft with view to getting
her into the breeches buoy. The tim
bers of the bark were cracking with
every heave of the sea. The captain,
unable to allay the fright Of his little
son, who clung frantically to his
breast, was almost overcome. He gave
his son into the care of the mate. and,
with the aid OF two sailors, helped his
wife aIoft to the crosstrees. There he
found that the slings Of the buoy were
jammed against the rigging by the
whip. The sailors were unable to free
the buoy sufncientIy to get Mrs. Jor-
eensen into it and the captain was
forced to abandon this means of rescue
for her.
Two sailors . little later succeeded
In freeing the buoy from the rigging
and, one ut time, were hauled to
the beach after hazardous trips. The
bark now had broken in two amid
ships, 30 that the forward part Of
the hull was nearly submerged. The
deck frame was coming apart be-
meath the feet Of those on the wreck
and all began casting about In the
growing darkness for the safest place
when the final crash should come.
The captain lashed his wife to. the
standard Of the windmill pump at the
forward part Of the poop and was
holding his child In his arms. The
two mates, together with . sailor,
decided to 60 forward to the jib boom,
but the captain preferred to remain
On The after -. hoping it might