The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1952-02-08

TO the N0fCnWard OF the VeSSel az
about twenty minutes to 5. The
ship was about half a mile south of
the place where the patrols of the
two stations met, and therefore,
within the Little Island patrol
limits. The respective crews sprang
from their beds as soon as they
heard the alarm, and set out upon
the mission from which some of
them were destined never to re
turn alive.
Surfmen Lost Their Lives
The ship being within Keeper
Abel Belanga's precinct, he pro-
ceeded to the scene with his beach
apparatus, while Keeper Barco, of
Dam Neck Mills, took simply
spare shot line. The latter and his
men thus comparatively free-foot-
ed, and having the wind at their
backs, reached the neighborhood of
the wreck shortly after four
o'clock, finding that Belanga's
men had not yet come, pushed on
south to meet them and give them
helping hand. This aided the lat
ter materially, as they were nearly
exhausted from drawing the heav-
lily laden cart against the wind,
and through the snow drifts in
some places almost waist deep.
The ship meanwhile had been max
ing signals by torch or Coston
lights, every ten or fifteen minutes
from the time of her discovery by
the patrol.
1t lacked but twenty minutes of
o'clock, when the party arrived
and commenced operations for an
attempt to establish communica-
lions by means of the wreck-gun.
Although the moon was nearly at
it's full, it was deeply hidden by
the snow clouds and the morning
was dark; so dark that only a dim
outline of the vessel could be seen,
not plainly enough, in fact, to dis
tinguish the rig.
The gun for firing the shot line
being placed in what was judged
to be the most advantageous po-
sition, abreast of the vessels bow,
and just clear of the wash of the
surf, four attempts were made
while it was yet dark to throw a
line on board. They were all I'M
successful. The first shot was
with No. 9 line, the largest used
by the Service; the elevation being
twenty-five degrees. The line drop
ped into the water short of the
object, and quickly drifted off to
the southwark with the strong cur
rent setting in that direction. This
was quickly hauled back and an
other shot made with no better
result, although a smaller line, a
No. Z was substituted. The eleva-
ton of the gun for this shot was
twenty degrees.
At the third shot, the No. 9 line
was again used, but being wet and
stiff, with ice, it broke in the bend
close to the shot. The same line
was now re-faked not in the box,
but on tarpaulin spread upon the
sand, and a fourth shot fired. This
failed as before. There being now
but two charges left in the haver-
sack it was agreed to suspend OPP
erations until daylight. While thus
waiting, fire was built and the
men busted themselves re-arrang-
ing the lines for the renewal of
operations.
At the break of day the vessel
was made out to be a large ship.
Shortly after this as the life-sav-
ers were about to fire the gun
again they discovered a dark OBJ
ject in the water alongside the
ship, under the port quarter. This
was first taken for piece of
wreckage, but closer observation
showed that it was a large boat
crowded with men. The crew had
abandoned their ship. How long
they had been in the boat will
never be known, but no signals
were made after the firing of the
second shot, it is believed that the
boat was lowered towards five
o'clock when, with the rising of
the tide, the sea began breaking
over the deck. AS the sequel prov
ed, it is pity they had not rather
taken to the rigging. At the fifth
and sixth shots the gun was given
greater elevation. The first fire
dropped the line short, as before,
but the next time the line ranged
well to the windward and lodged
over the .headstays. But it was
only for moment, as the line
quickly slipped off into the sea.
The powder being now exhausted.
Keeper Beianga. who directed the
operations, decided to return to his
station for fresh supply and also
for his surf-boat taking Surfmen
Stone and Ayres to assist him.
The three men reached the station |
on foot soon after s o'clock, Be- |