The W.F. Marshall - March 9, 1877

Battered by a heavy storm, Captain James Wright found himself in a common situation for those who traversed the seas—his vessel was surrounded by thick fog and visibility was down to mere yards. And like many of his seafaring colleagues, he quickly lost his bearings. The Marshall came to a sudden and brutal stop as it hit a shoal. Luckily for Wright and the Marshall, they were very close to the shore of Nantucket, though it was hidden by fog.

On shore, surfman Horace Cash was patrolling the beaches.  For a brief moment the fog lifted, and Cash was astonished to see the outline of a large ship appear close to shore.  It hovered there for a mere moment, before the fog closed in and it was gone.  Nevertheless, Cash hurried back to Surfside Life Saving Station to sound the alarm. 

When the rest of the surfmen arrived, there was no sign of the vessel due to the heavy fog.  The surfmen waited, listening intently for any noise.  They fired warning shots, but there was no response.  The fog lifted again, and the vessel was visible.  It was being pounded mercilessly by the seas. 

 

The ocean was so rough a surfboat could not be launched.  Luckily, the vessel was close enough to the shore that a breeches buoy was set up.  The captain, thirteen crew members, the steward’s wife and six week old child, and one Newfoundland dog named Marshall were all brought safely to the beach.