The coastland times with which is combined the pilot and herald of Belhaven and Swan Quarter. [volume] (Manteo, N.C.) 1959-1973, 1961-03-17

a No. 8 line, the largest used by
the Service, the elevation being
twenty-five degrees. The lin
dropped into the water short Of
the object, and quickly drifted of
to the southwark with the strong
current setting in that direction
This was quickly hauled back and
another shot made with no better
result, although a smaller line, g
No. Z was substituted. The eleva-
ton of the gun for this shot was
twenty degrees.
At the third shot, the No. o line
was again used, but being wet ant
stiff with ice, it broke in the benz
close to the shot. The same line
was now re-faked not in the box
but on a 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 op
erations until daylight. While thu!
waiting, a fire was built and the
men busted themselves re-arrang.
ing the lines for the renewal Of
operations.
At the break of day the vesse
was made out to be a large ship
Shortly after this as the Life.
savers were about to fire the CUR
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 thai
it was large boat crowded with
men. The crew had abandoned theil
ship. How long they had been il
the boat will never be known, but
no signals were made after the
firing of the second shot, it is be.
heved that the boat was lowered
towards five o'clock when, with thu
rising of the tide, the sea begar
breaking over the deck. AS the
sequel proved, it is a pity they hae
not rather taken to the rigging. Al
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 we'll to the windwarc
and lodged over the headstays. But
it was only for a moment, as the
line quickly slipped into the sea
The powder being now exhausted
Keeper Belanga, who directed the
operations, decided to return to his
station for a fresh supply and also
also for his suIf-boat taking Surf.
men Stone and Ayres to assist
him. The three men reached the
station for a fresh supply ant
Belanga gave instructions about
the boat and after seeing to hi:
powder he ram over to his home
but a stones throw distant, ant
hurriedly asked for something tt
eat.
Never Saw Him Again.
Breakfast not being ready, his
wife set out some cold coffee anc
a piece of pie, which he hastily
swallowed and then left for the
wreck again, in his own beach cart
with a couple of dry lines, a CAMS.
ter of powder, and the medicine.
chest leaving the boat to follow or
its carriage. This was the last time
his wife saw him alive.
Mrs. Belanga relates a pathetic
incident of this visit. With some
anxiety she had asked her husband
as she stood at the table, what hi
proposed doing with the boat, a.
she well knew the sea was sc
rough. He replied that he intended
boarding the ship at low water il
case the line failed; then, as HI
kissed her and passed out at ths
door, he added "The worst has mo-
yet come! would give fifty dollar!
if the men were out of that boat.
Notwithstanding his foreboding!
the brave fellow little thought thai
in few short hours he would b.
borne back to that home a corpse
In the meantime, while the res
of the life-savers were awaiting hi!
return, miller named Oglesby hat
Joined the party, and learning tina
the powder had given out, Offered
them some sorting powder that h
had purchased the day before. Surf
man Barnes was therefore dis
patched to the mill for it. Befor'
the latter could return, however
or rather before a boy who over
took him on his way to the wrecl
on horseback, and to whom he CAV
the powder, could gallop dow
with it. Belanga arrived with his
and operations were resumed. Al
eight ounce charge and one Of tn,
fresh dry lines were used, but tn,
line failed to stand the too heav!
charge and snapped close to tn
projectile splashing into the waite
a few yards inshore of the ship
shot.
A Desperate Situation.
The situation was now desperate
For the eighth shot a line from