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

AS soon as the lines were re-
arranged, another shot was fired.
The schooner changed her posi-
ton so rapidly, however, that the
line fell beyond reach of those on
board. It was quickly hauled back
and the fourth fire dropped it once
more over the head stays. In the
meantime the vessel was fast be-
coming a wreck. The stern had
been burst in and the water along
side and to leeward was quickly
strewn with lumber and wreck
stuff. Scarcely had the remaining
men in the rigging secured the
shot line for the third time when
it was cut by contact with floating
wreckage.
With praiseworthy perseverance
the surfmen again hauled back the
broken line, and, after changing
end for end, again shot it over the
vessels jib-boom. The blight of it,
as the current swept it alongside,
was secured by the sailors in the
rigging, but they were so benumbed
and stiff, and in such an awkward
position, that their effort to haul
out the whip line failed. AS the
situation became more and more
critical, the two men who had life
preservers on resolved to attempt
swimming to the beach, leaving the
captain alone in the rigging.
They had scarcely left her when
the schooner fell over on her side.
1t should be remembered that dur
ing all this time she had kept
steadily in motion, preserving the
same relative distance from the
shore, with mad whirl of waters
between, which would have swamp
ed any boat attempting to leave
the beach. The two men, buoyed
upon the crests of the waves by
the cork-belts, gradually worked
themselves shoreward and were at
last thrown within reach of the
surfmen, who, joining hands, waded
out as far as possible, grasped
them and carried them to the beach
hills clear of the wash of the water.
One of them was insensible, but
by the energetic application of the
method in vogue in the Service for
the resuscitation of apparently
drowned persons he was soon
| brought to and taken to the nearest
( house for shelter. All but one, the
captain, were now safe. He chung
to the rigging, anxious, but evil
IDENTIFY with stern determination, al
though the very loneliness of his
position, surrounded by the terri
BILE waters, was in itself appalling
At about half-past three, just
as the life-saving crews were about
to fire again in the hope of placing
the line within his reach, to haul
him ashore by, the main-mast
broke and he was thrown into the
surf. He exhibited rare GOODNESS
| and presence of mind, and made a
/ gallant and successful struggle;
for quickly disengaging himself
from the wreckage he clambered
to the rail which was out of water,
and thence by degrees reached the
rigging of the foremost, which still
remained intact. This movement
was watched by the surfmen with
intense interest, and as soon as he
was again ensconced in the rigging
the sixth and last shot was fired.
At this juncture the man lost
his hold and was swept out of
sight, apparently under the wreck.
His disappearance was momentary,
however, for to the great relief of
those on shore, he quickly reap
peared on the surface amidst the
fragments of timbers and planking,
and catching at the first piece
within reach flung his arms and
legs around it with the grip of
death or despair.
By great good luck the piece of
timber to which he chung was cast
shoreward by the sea, and willing
hands grasped him as soon as he
was within reach. When drawn
ashore he was insensible. He was
at once taken to a place of shelter
and by proper manipulation and
the administration Of the usual
remedies was soon brought to con-
seriousness.
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