WOMAN IN THE RIGGING.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LI, Issue 9065, 10 April 1906, Page 3

WOMAN IN THE RIGGING.

STIRRING SCENES AT A SHIPWRECK Rarely has there- been told a more thrilling story ol shipwreck and rescue than one which came from Dungeness late in February. During a heavy enow squall tne schooner Marie Christine went ashore at Jury's Gap a. dangerous point near Dungeness, and became a wreck. When the vessel was missed, the coastguards set out along a mile o? two of the desolate sningle, and discovered her at Jury's Gap. Only her masts w«© visible, but a number of people were clinging to tfre rigging, and among them was a woman with a baby tightly clasped ia her aims. 1-e .rocket apparatus was promptly got to work and communication was established with the show. It was seen that th* woman, who proved to be th© captain's wife, wae being persuaded to be the first to leave, and there wae an affecting scene as she parted with her child and entered the bueeches buoy. She was hauled ashore g*eatly exhausted, and one by one the others followed. But themost thrilling and pathetic scene was when the. captain, with his child, slipped into *c basket. Until they reached the land scarcely a word was spoken by the rescuers, so tense was the excitement. ' The shipwrecked people had been in, th© riggptog for five houTse, and some of them, .especially the woman and the baby, weae ia a abate of collapae. The bravery of the coasbguaTds cannot be too highly praised.