The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1952-01-11

A Fatal Mistake
Believing his ship to be among
the Diamond Shoals, the master
feared she might work off into
one of the numerous deep holes
or channels and founder there, and
besides he was seriously worried
by the fact that the heavy seas
on the starboard side broke away
the three starboard boats, while
the ship was constantly heeling
ever to the starboard, making the
destruction of the boats on the
port side likely to take place at
any moment. He therefore held
consultation with the chief officers,
which resulted in a determination
to launch the port boats. Here ives
where the fatal mistake occurred.
Signals indicating that assistance
would be afforded from the shore
had already been seen and cor
rectly interpreted. AS subsequent
events proved, to a demonstration,
if all had simply stood by the ship
every sSul would have been res
cued by the life-saving crews.
Nevertheless, it must be remem-
bered that Captain Baines sup
posed his vessel to be stranded on
the Diamond Shoals, a place of
extreme danger, so far from shore
! that he might well have doubted
the ability of any boat to reach
her, and of course miles beyond the
range Of any life-saving gun or
rocket. Having in view those facts,
it may not be a matter of great
surprise that he should deem it the
part of wisdom to save his two
remaining boats and man them
alongside until the dawn of day
should make it possible to de-
termine his true position and the
proper course of action then to
be taken.
Put Boats Over
Accordingly the pinnace was
first got out and manned by
eleven men, including the chief
end second mates, who were
placed in charge with instructions
to "get away clear" and then lie
by until daylight. AS soon as the
pinnace cleared the ship the life
boat was successfully put over
and manned by fifteen men.
Twenty-six persons were now in
the boats while there still re-
manned on the ship four others who
were also to go in the life-boat.
These were Captain Baines, Third
Officer Reed, Chief Engineer War
rem, and Carpenter Peltonen.
Fortunately for them the life-boat
got away before they could en-
bark in it. To this providential &C
cident which probably to them,
seemed the worst of i'll luck, they
owed their lives. 1t would appear
that these entire operations were
conducted with such haste that
they were completed in less than
thirty minutes from the moment
the vessel stranded. Meantime she
was constantly intact Gas indeed
she remained for several days) and
the life-savers were constantly
firing signals of assurance that aid
would be afforded. It would there
fore hardly seem unreasonable to
suppose that the officers of the
Ariosto should have realized that
they were on the shore and not on
the Diamond Shoals. However, the
boats were now afioat, and the en-
tire crew in them, save four men.
In obedience to the masters in
structions, they lay to under the
lee of the ship, the men at the
oars backing and pulling to keep
them head to the waves. It was an
awful position, the sea constantly
growing rougher 'and rougher,
while the suction of the water
around the bows and stern of the
steamer, was getting to be ire
sistable.
Lasted Only An Hour
Captain Baines thinks the pin
mace held her position for at least
an hour, and the life-boat for fully
half that time (having been
launched last), but at all events,
from his place on the bridge he
saw the former carried by the
swift tide to the north into the
breakers, and the life-boat over
whelmed and capsized, throwing all
its occupants into the sea. AS
matter of fact, both boats were
upset, and all in them cast adrift.
Twenty-six persons were now bat
ting for their lives in one Of the
worts seas with which desperate
men have ever contended. And yet
one of them, Seaman Elsing, a
man of infinite skill in the water
and of brave heart and wonderful
physical power, ally swan
ashore, absolutely unaided even
with so much as the slightest
piece of wreckage to help bear
him up. Two others who left the
ship in the life-boat-C. Petersen,