Rensselaer Republican, Volume 19, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 January 1887 — OCEAN DISASTERS. [ARTICLE]

OCEAN DISASTERS.

The Ship Elizabeth Founders in a Storm Off the Coast of Virginia. Not Ono of Her Grew of Twentv-five Men Left to Tel] tho Stoiy of the Wreck. ,\ (Norfolk (Va.) dispatch.] One of the most disastrous shipwrecks which ever occurred on the Virginia coast happened Sataiday morning, near the Little island Life-saving Station, fourteen miles south of Cane Henry. N<A less than twenty, and possibly more, lives were lost, among them five life-stivmg men, who, in the discharge of their duly, were drowned. The morning was bitterly cold, and a blinding- snowstorm prevailed, with the wind blowing a gale from the northeast During a lull in the storm, the life-saving patrol from Little Island Life-saving Station sighted a large ship stranded on the bar about 900 yards from the shore. When he saw the vessel he was going to meet t ie patrol from Dam Neck station, and exchange checks showing that both patrolnn n had been to the end of their beat. The Dam Neck patrol was only a few yards distant when the vessel was sighted, and both fired rockets to notify the crew of the stranded ship that she bad been seen. They hurried back to their respective stations and g-iyo the alarm. In a little while the crews with life boats and apparatus were abreast of the ureck, and the boom of a mortar announced that a line had been shot out to the ill-fated vessel. This was unsuccessful, and a second was fired with like result. After firing six unsuccessful shots, the lifesaving men determined to brave the furious sea arid the death which seemed certain to await their venture. The word of command being given by Captain Belanza, of LifeSaving Station No. 4, known as Little Island, six of the most expert boatmen manned each boat. At his command the men gave way with a will and in a moment both boats were breasting the furious waves. They reached the ship in safety, and four of the ship’s crew were taken in a life-boat and ten in a ship’s boat, which was launched for tho purpose. The boats were, headed for shore and not a word was spoken, for each man realized the awful peril which surrounded them. With a steady pull the two boats were making good headway for shore when a wave of great power struck both boats, capsizing them instantly and pitching their twentytwo occupants into the boiling sea. Then began a desperate struggle for life, and with many of the men it was a prolonged one. The horrified life-savers on tho beach were poweiless to assist their diowning comrades or the unfortunate strangers. The drowning men were carried southward by the seas, and some of them were washed ashore. As they came within reach they were picked up, and endeavors were made to revive them, and in two instances with success, although one of the two is badly injured. The vessel is 'the German ship Elizabeth, Captain Halberstadt, from Hamburg to Baltimore, and not one of her (few survives her wreck.