The coastland times., 1952-03-28

the sailors began hauling it off
but when they had pulled it half
way to the schooner it snapped IN
two and communication was sever
ed. But this mishap delayed op-
erations only a short time, as a
third shot was fired with the dry
off shore end of the broken line
attached, and this caught on the
end of the flying jib boom and was
quickly secured by the sailors.
Greater caution was now observ-
ed by the latter in hauling the
whip off, and being aided in this as
much as possible by the surfmen
who would walk with both parts Of
it along the beach to windward to
offset the current, and then sud-
denly slack out they finally sue
ceeded in getting the block into
their hands and making it fast to
the flying jib boom.
The hawser quickly followed
and in due season the arrangement
of the lines between the schooner
and the shore was complete.
SchOOner's Captain Made Error
of Judgement
The work of rescue was not be-
gun by sending off the breechcs
buoy. There were seven men IN
sight at this time at the bow OF
the vessel, the eighth man, who II
appears was the captain, having
gone aft and climbed into the star
board mizzen rigging. He had done
this soon after the firing of the
first shot. The survivors give no
reason for his taking this step, and
perhaps, the best that can be ad-
vanced is that he thought as the
line lust thrown had landed aloft
on the after spring stay, no other
would be sent off, and that would
have to be used.
The gear worked smoothly, and
all seven of the men forward We're
landed safely by 9 o'clock. Bv this
time the schooner had gradually
settled in the sand until she was
almost entirely under water excent
the masts, which were still stand
ing. She was also fast breaking
up. Under these circumstances it
was utterly impossible to get for
ward to the jib boom. where the
breaches buoy hung in readiness
for him.
The only way at that time to
have got forward would have been
hv the mastheads, and he was
doubtless in no condition, then to
attempt such a perilous feat. 1t
was equally impossible to reach
him with the boat, or for anyone
to go off in the buoy from the
shore with any prospect of aiding
him. as the surf was dashing Wild
" over the submerged hull between
the bowsprit and the RIGGING.
where he was. After the lapse of
about three quarters of an honr.
or at a quarter to 10 o'clock, be
was observed tn descend the rig
oing as though he meditated a
dash for the bow of the vessel.
But he had scarcely reached the
sheer pole when he was swept a.
way, and after battling desperate
ly for a few moments with the
waves in a vain effort to regain
the rigging he sunk out of sight
and was not again seen until his
lifeless body was cast up by the
surf about an hour later. Immed-
late efforts were made to resusci-
tate the BODY, but without success.
sAs the head and face We're badly
bruised, it was quite likely that he
was knocked insensible by contact
with wreckage very soon after be-
ing washed overheard.
The seven survivors lost all their
effects, ard were furnished with a
change of dry clothing from the
simply of Women's National Re
lief Association, besides shelter
and sustenance until the following
dav (23rd). when passage was Oh
tGined for them on a small schoon-
er to Roanoke Island, when they
could proceed hv steamer to the
mainland. Nothing was saved of
+hn schooner or her cargo.
The following paper was left by
the castaways with Keeper Puph
and bv him forwarded to head
quarters:
"Gull Shoal Life-Saving Station
Sixth District. January 23, 1891
"The undersigned. crew Of the
schooner Nathaniel Lank, wrecked
on Chicamicomico Beach January
%, 1891, do heerby certify that ev.
erv possible effort was made t.
save all the crew of that vessel BY
thn keepers and surfmen of tht
Gull Shcal and Chicamicomico Life
Saving Stations, that the drowning
of the CAPTAIN was the result Of
his own action, and that It was no
by reason of any failure on tht
part of the life-saving crews t.