three o'clock
in the afternoon
A revenue cutter was sent out to look for them , first , however , having been in communication with the ocean liner the girls had passed by wireless , learning from the captain of the ship of their having sighted the `` Sister Sue '' and giving the latter 's position at the time . This served as a guide for the revenue boat , which steamed through the great seas until daylight . There were no signs of the missing sloop ; but , reasoning that , if the boat was still afloat , it must have been blown down the coast , the revenue boat headed in that direction . It was not until three o'clock in the afternoon , however , that the lookout reported seeing something floating in the far distance , off the starboard bow . A study of this object through the glasses led the captain to turn his cutter in that direction . An hour later he was close enough to see that it was a dismantled boat , and that there were people aboard it . Full speed ahead was ordered and the revenue boat rapidly drew up .