January 7, 1922
Craft Bound Here Lost on N. S. Coast
Gallantry of Skipper Saves Crew- Jumps Overboard
With Rope Tied to Body and Reaches Shore
A remarkable case of life saving was accomplished some days
ago when the British sch. Alexandria, Capt. Matthew
Munro, bound for this port from Ingonish with a cargo of fish for the Frank C.
Pearce Company, was cast ashore on the Nova Scotia coast. Capt. Munro
threw himself overboard with a rope around his waist, and brought five men to safety.
The vessel and cargo are a total loss, according to a
dispatch received in this city. Loss on the cargo is covered by insurance, carried through
the office of John A. Johnson, Inc.
On last Monday, the Alexandra was
proceeding around the coast from Sydney, and the storm shut down very thick and the last
land sighted was in the vicinity of Louisburg. Night coming on, Captain Munro hauled
into Chedabecto Bay by dead reckoning, planning to keep jogging inside till daylight.
About midnight the vessel struck on Black Point just above Fox island.
This is a terribly rocky point and there seemed no means of
escape. The ships boat was lowered, but before the crew could board it, it had crashed to
atoms. In this terrifying plight, Capt. Munro tied a rope about his body
and throwing himself overboard battled for the rocky shore on which after repeated efforts
he was able to gain a foothold.
He then, with the line he had dragged ashore, was able to
pull the members of his crew to safety. Two hours after she struck there was not a vestige
of the vessel left. After receiving food and drying their clothing at the home of Stephen
Daley’s, Black Point, the captain and his crew tramped to Canso, a distance
of seven miles.
A continous storm of wind and snow since Wednesday last has
completely tied up traffic except by water. |
