OUT OF THE JAWS OF DEATH.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1207, 11 June 1872, Page 3

OUT OF THE JAWS OF DEATH.

[kkws of the woeld, maboh 29.] The Vineyard Haven Gazette gives the following interesting account of the disaster to the ftyhooner White Swan. The sudden cold and terrible blow of Monday night, the 11th March, drove ashore on the reef which makes off from the northernest point of Cape Poge the schooner White Swan of and from Calais for New York, which was anchored in, the Sound. She dragged her anchors and struck about j>ne-thira of a mile from the shore at five o'clock on Tuesday morning, and in one hour filled with water. The unfortunate Teasel and crew were seen early in the morning by the keepers of Cape Poge light, and Mr Jethro Worth, assistant keeper, at once walked to this town to advise our people of their perilous situation, and to secure help if possible to rescue the men. A boat was soon manned by eight brave men, and notwithstanding the high wind and sea and the terrible cold started on their errand of mercy, at the risk of their own lives. The boat landed on Cape Poge in the afternoon, but the sea, which was running at a great height, made it fool-hardy to attempt to ~ board the vessel. Early on Wednesday morning Captain Seth Marchant and others of the boafs crew, having walked tip from Cape Poge, reported the men of the vessel still alive. But without shelter, having to keep on deck all the time, with the sea continually breaking over them. Captain Cromwell at once ordered steam tip on the Martha's Vineyard, and at eight o'clock left this port for the wreck, making her way through heavy ice, for the humane and noble purpose of trying to save the lives of fellow beings. A whaleboat was taken on the deck of the steamer, and upon approaching near* to the windward o! the wreck, the boat was launched, and manned by the following named crew :— Daniel Fisher, 2nd, Seth Marchant, 2nd, Harvey WUbur, George Fisher, Richard J. Marchant, and Wm. M, Fisher. They went alongside the vessel and rescued the entire crew of But men, they having been exposed to the bitter cold wind and sea for about twenty-eight hoars without fire,

food, or shelter. They could nbt possibly have lived much longer but for the timely arrival of the steamer. Meanwhile, owing to the heavy sea, it being impossible to pull to the windward, the steamer ran down to the leeward of the reef and took the men and the boat on board. The rescued men were in a perishing condition, and so thoroughly benumbed with the cold that they had to be hauled on board the steamer with ropes. Here they were kindly cared for, and made happy by a good warm breakfast and hot coffee. Thus were these men rescued out of the jaws of death. All the men have their feet frozen, and some are slightly frozen in the face and hands. They have beep cared for by the marine hospital physician, Dr Pierce and O. B. Marchant, Collector of this port. Several members of the boat's crew of rescuers were frostbitten in face and hands ; and also some of the deck hands on the steamboat froze their fingers and ears. Too much cannot be said in praise of all concerned in rescuing the lives of the crew of the White Swan, at such personal risk of life and suffering.