The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1952-01-18

keepers deemed it prudent to ven
ture. Both were masters of surf
manship, and by their skillful and
judicious maneuvering soon had
the grateful survivors safely in
their boats according to the plan
agreed upon, without the most
trivial mishap. Sail was then
made, and both boats started for
home, where they arrived at about
five pm, having performed one of
the most noteworthy rescues ever
effected in the vicinity of stormy
Cape Hatteras.
The fact that the shipwrecked
men were not relieved for a per-
iod of forty-two hours would seem,
in view of the testimony as above
narrated, to need no comment in
the way of explanation. To have
attempted such feat during the
second night, when the uncertain
light was seen which raised a bare
suspicion of disaster, would have
been, as one of the most competent
witnesses declares, simply fool
hardy, and without justification of
the dangers involved. Until morn
ing, when the telescope revealed
the unmistakable evidences of
wreck, no time was lost that would
have in any way fastened relief,
and after the wreck was made out
not a moment was wasted in
reaching her and taking off the
survivors. 1t is a clear case of ex-
tremely creditable work.
Had the entire ships company
remained on board none would
have persisted. Happily the fifteen
men who put to sea in the port
lifeboat were sighted and picked
up twenty-four hours after they
went afloat by the steamer Ell
Paso, bound from New York to
New Orleans, where they were
landed and properly cared for by
the British consul. When taken
on board the Ell Paso they had
been without food or water for
twenty-four hours, and were near
ly worn out by constant bailing of
the leaking boat and their ardous
labor at the oars. The six men
who persisted were First Engineer
T. S. Valley, Stewart S. Peck,
Seaman Cook and Olsen, and Fire
men HOLMAN and Wegan.
The following letter was hand
ed to the keeper of the Hatteras
Station by Captain Samuels:
"Cape Hatteras Life-Saving Sta
ton, May 5, 1900.
eve, the survivors of the British
steamship, Virginia, wish to ex-
press our gratitude to the crews
of the Cape Hatteras and the
Creeds Hill Lffe-Saving Station
for rescuing us under most dan
gerous circumstances to them
selves.
"The vessel was nearly awash,
being broken into three pieces, al
her jagged sides made it danger
Gus for the boats to approach in
such a heavy sea as was running
at the time of our rescue.
eve were nearly exhausted,
having been exposed for forty
two hours without subsistence, and
cannot thank the life-saving crews
sufficiently for their bravery in
boarding the vessel. Since our
rescue we have been treated most
kindly, and clothed.
"At the time of the casualty,
six pm. of the End instant, the
state of the weather rendered it
impossible for the ship to be
sighted. On the Bird instant the
haze that settled over the shoals
rendered it equally impossible to
sight the ship, as have discovered
since being ashore; the night being
clear, my distress signals, which
gave flame of fully six feet, were
sighted at nine pm. On the fourth
the ship was sighted at seven
thirty am, and We on the wreck
saw the lifeboats at ten-thirty and
were rescued at eleven-thirty am.
Charles Samuels, Master.
''Thos. A. Wyness, First Officer.
arthur Simmonds, Second En-
gineer.
"Geo. Mictebler, Third Engineer.
Martin Rasmusin, Seaman"