The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1951-09-07

yarQS from the Deacn. one lay
stern to the sea, which at once
commenced breaking over her with
such irresistible volume that the
crew were compelled to take to the
rigging for safety, the captain
ascending at the main while the
rest went up forward. By the time
the life-saving crew had arrived
the sea and current had cut the
vessels stern around off-shore. The
wreck-gun was, soon placed in po-
sition and fired, the shot lodging
the line across the end of the iib-
boom. Watching their opportunity
between the seas the men in the
fore-rigging quickly descended and
went out on the boom and secured
the shot line, and by that means,
after considerable difficulty, owing
to the action of the current upon
the lines, succeeded in getting hold
Of the ship, the tailblock of which
they made fast to the flying-jib
stay. The hawser was then sent
off, and also made fast above the
book.
At this moment the crew of the
Big Kinnakeet Station arrived upon
the scene, and with their assistance
the hawser was quickly tautened,
and everything arranged in work
ing order for bringing the people
ashore. While the life-saving crews
were hauling the breeches-buoy
/ off. however, an accident occurred
which, as events proved, nearly re-
suited fatally.
The schooner had during this
time gradually swung around until
her head pointed to the northward,
thus bringing the jib, which re-
manned set, fiat aback. This had the
effect of canting her bow offshore
and throwing her stern towards
the beach, thus fouling the lines.
The strain was too much for the
hawser, as it stretched and surged,
for after the men on the beach
had Stacked as much of it as they
dared without letting go altogether,
it snapped in twain, the sudden
jerk throwing the mate from the
jib-boom into the surf.
The man was at once swept by
the current to the southwark, along
the shore. Seeing his peril, three
surfmen quickly donned their cork
life-belts and followed down the
beach to a point some three hun
bred yards distant, where, by ven
turing out until the surf actually
broke over their heads, they sue.
ceeded in catching him and bring.
ing his safely ashore. He wa
pretty well exhausted when rescued
but stoutly refused to go to thu
station for shelter until he coulC
see his shipmates also safely OF
land.
The schooner once started from
where she first struck now began
working along the bar to the south
ward and ere along the tail of thu
whip-block also parted, thus fol
the time completely severing con
nection with the beach. The life
saving crews quickly hauled the
lines out of the surf, and after
clearing them of turns and kink.
reloaded the cart and moved along
abreast of the schooner, watching
an opportunity to again use the
gun. It soon came and the line wa:
once more dropped within reach Of
the people on board.
At this time the schooner wa!
lying parallel with the beach, heat
to the northward, having turned
completely around since leaving he
first position. The whip was again
hauled off and the tail block mad,
fast as before, to the flying jib
stay. When this was done tn
b C h m e n, as a precautionar,
measure, sent off four life-preserv
ers. Three of them were secures
and put on by the steward an
two seamen, who were thus mad
comparatively safe. The other life
preserver fouled in the wreckag
alongside and was lost, leaving on
man, the captain, without any.
was extremely fortunate that eve
three of the belts reached them, 70
they were scarcely in their posses
sion when the schooner agai
swung around with the same result
as before, viz, the parting of tn
line.
At the time it broke one of tn
sailors had just started in an at
tempt to reach the beach hand owe
hand on the line. He was of cours
thrown into the surf, but by grea
good luck managed to retain hi
grasp until quickly drawn ashor
by the life-saving crews. He wa
slightly injured by contact in tn
surf with floating lumber from tn
deck load, but little brandy from
the medicine chest soon revive,
him.