Tuesday, February 7, 2012

But What Happened to the Rowena? ~ 12 August 1887

Annual Report of the Operations of the United States Life-Saving Service for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887:

At about half past 2 o’clock the small schooner Rowena, with a load of wood, ran ashore off the Gull Shoal Station (Sixth District) coast of North Carolina. The keeper, who was on his way to pilot her in to the station, where she was to discharge a part of her cargo, found, after getting on board, that it would be necessary to lighten the vessel to float her. Accordingly a large canoe belonging to the schooner was loaded with wood, and the captain, David C. Midgett, a regular surfman of the Chicamicomico Station in the active season, and his brother, a boy about twelve years old, started for the shore. When near the middle of Gull Shoal Channel the latter, in reaching over the side of the boat for the jib sheet, which was trailing in the water, fell overboard. Captain Midgett at once brought the canoe to the wind, and quickly divesting himself of his shoes and superfluous clothing, sprant to his brother’s rescue. The keeper, who was in his own skiff, several hundred yards in advance of the others, seeing the mishap, speedily went about and put back, but before he could reach the scene the boy in his struggles had drawn the surfman under twice, causing him to lose his hold. Just as he was going down the third time, the keeper succeeded in grasping him and pulled him, apparently lifeless, into the boat, but the boy being unfortunately out of reach sank and did not rise again. No time was lost in getting the rescued man ashore, where the methods employed in the service to restore vitality were immediately put in practice. The keeper of the Chicamicomico Station had arrived and diligently assisted in the work. The case at first seemed hopeless, but after three hours of most vigorous and perservering effort, the prescribed treatment being carefully adhered to, the patient was completely resuscitated. The body of the boy was recovered the following morning and delivered to the parents. 

BUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THE ROWENA?

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