Year: 1878

aided by CharleS Seaman, loo5ened the


foressil and succeeded in setting sail


which remained but few minutes until


it was carried away, and it was necessary


to clew up the port, owing to the sail;


shortly after the ship struck amidships,


evidently breaking her back, but she


continued to drive on toward the beach.


The management of the helm assisted by


the foresail, maintained the ships posi-


tion until besched. l then took my sta


tlon on the hurricane deck, at the desire


OF the commander and officers. Some


one raised the cry OF fire, which was


quickly found 10 be false alarm. Soon


after this the main mast went, and the


ship began to break up fast, the first seas


that boarded her having destroyed or
crippled ali the remaining boats but the


dihgy, which was attached to the star


board forward dsvits. On that boat l


placed my chief hope of safety, provided


l could make possession OF the boat for


the purpose OF sending q line ashore at


low water, but while my attention was


otherwise engaged, the boat was lowered


and my purpose defeated. Without man.


agement, save the providence of God, 1t


was borne to the beach, perfect ark Of


Sofety for the six or seven poor fellows


who had the courage TO secure the oppor-


tunity. During the trying hours of the


day several of the ill-fsted passengers,


bravely trusting themselves to the tide,


lost heart with the passage of the first


breaker over their hesds and abandoning


sll hope sank without struggle, and


others, either washed or lesped of the


wreck, would almost seem to have COM


mitted suicide, SO deliberately did they


seem to bury their heads beneath the


waves and meet their doom. To-


wards evening, the second officer,


Mr.. Cousins, having behaved with


admirable gsllantry through the day,


proposed a passage to the shore, and TAX


ing leave OF the narrator. left the ship,


falling foul of q mass of the wreck under


the ships bow, which had been fatal TO


maLy during the afternoon. Here he be-
came entangled, but the gallant fellow,
using small pocket knife, and while
dozen heavy breakers passed over him,
succeeded In cutting several ropes that
confed the mass of the wreck to the hull,
and was swept away with 1t to the north
along the beach. l am happy to say that


be succeeded in getting out and landing
safe. The foremsst falling att, and the
foressiI being still partly spread, sew
eral were killed by its falling, or buried
beneath the mass of the sail in such
way as made death certain. One young
man, particularly conspicuous for his
daring during the day, at last sought
refuge on the top sail yard in
the hope that the mast would fall over
the bows or the side. Of course instant
death was the result Of his mistake. On
the fall Of the foremsst at about 4:30, or
perhaps 5, p NJ, the midship body of the
hull (the lore body being already gomez,
began to break up rapidly, while urged
all who would listen TO me to trust to
Providence, the waves and their life
preservers. Many did SO, and the ma
jority with success. At length the clol-
ing scene was upon US. The lower
deck beams gave way, and the starboard
side, after few more heavy shocks from
the surf, sank slowly down. Then the
narrator, assuming that neither advice nor
example could be OF service, struck out
for the beach and fortunately reached it,
but IN such an exhausted state that
he would have gone TO the bottom
a victim OF the undertow but
for friendly hands and sid. The Captain
and his officers are highly complimented.
Qlsrtermaster Poland made three at.
tempts to get line ashore, and only
gave up when the line proved too short;
and Timothy O'Brlen, on reaching shore
himself, returned in the water and res
cued some fifty persons as they were
dashed toward him by the waves. The
scattered dwellers along the shore are
given warm praise for their prompt aid
and hospitality.