The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1869-03-25
The Recent Gale on Georges


membcred by the fishermen of this port, VINO
were exposed to the fury Of one of the most
violent gales that was ever experienced on the
treacherous Banks Of Georges There were,
as near as can be ascertained, one hundred and
fifty sail of vessels lying at anchor, quite near
each other. The day had been spent in fish
ing, but the latter part of the afternoon there
were indications of a storm. Several of the
more cautious shippers had got underway and
sailed clear from the fleet and were compare
lively safe. But there was no time now for
others to follow their example. As the dark
ness came down the storm increased the wind
howled through the rigging, the sea rose seeth-
ing and raging in its fury. The waves broke
in feathery whiteneSs over the shoals, and the
vessels strained heavily at their anchors, as
they rose and fell with the pillows. The snow
flew thick and fast, binding the eyes OF the
fishermen, who were all on deck, anxiously
watching.
All through the night the storm continued.
Heevy seas swept the decks Of the vessels, in
several instances sweeping overheard some Of
the men, the ma jority of whom were fortunate
in saving themselves, but others met their
death. On board each craft the skipper or
some one of the crew whose GOODNESS could be
relied upon, stood ready with Ratchet in hand
TO cut the cable, should any drifting craft come
near enough to endanger their safety. Every
one who cut made the danger still greater, as
it added to the number of those that were drift
ing among the feet When Sunday morning
dawned about twenty vessels out of the fleet
remained at anchor, having rode it out and
were not obliged to cut. The remainder, or
most of them, were under easy sail, lying to,
awaiting the first chance for home, as they
could not remain on the Banks without cable
and anchors.
Thursday and Friday were quite exciting
days. Upwards Of fifty sail of vessels came in
during the two days, most of which had lost
their cables and anchors and were otherwise
damaged, Schooner Racer was towed in on
Friday by the Thomas Hunt, having become
disabled by the loss of her rudder; and later in
the evening the schooner Charles Haskell ar
rived with loss of bowsprit, head and other
damage. Since Saturday the vessels have ar
rived rather slowly, and considerable anxiety
prevails to hear from the rest of the fleet.
Schooner Charles Haskell had very narrow
escape from laundering. On Saturday night,
during the gale, dragged her anchors and was
obliged to cut. While under sail, endeavorng
to get clear of the fleet, came in collision with
another vessel, staving her bowsprit complete
ly through her, breaking it off, carrying away
her head gear then rising on wave struck
her again, and it is supposed that she founder
ed and all on board persisted. The Haskell re-
turned to port. This is the only instance
known where two vessels have coided on
Georges and one has escaped laundering. Sam
uel Smith was lost overheard from schooner
Veteran. He was about forty years of age,
and native of Liverpool, N. S. This makes
seven lives in all thus far known to be lost.
The number of vessels that have lost cables
and anchors and met with other disasters, is
seventy eight. Total number Of fathoms of
cable lost, 1892, valued at S20,960. Number Of
anchors lost, seyenty-hve, valued at $3O75
Other damages, such as loss of boats, spars
sails, repairs &C., estimated at 81 900, max
ing total of S35, OBS as the result of the par
tial losses. The schooner A. R. Andrews, lost
on the Banks, was valued at $780, which
SWells the aggregate losses thus far to S3S, 435.
Mr.. Joseph T. Weber Of Bremen, Me-, one
of the crew Of schooner A. II. Wonson. per-
formed an act Of heroism which is worthy of
honorable mention. On Sunday while the YES
sci was lying at anchor with her full string of
cable out, it was observed that the parcelling
on the bOb-stay had worked loose and that the
cable had commenced chatting. Directly astern
We're two vessels, and if the Wonson parted
her cable, sure destruction awaited two if not
three OF the craft. AT this time of peril Mr.
Weber stepped forward saying, ''Put rope
around me, and will go over the bows and
put the parcelling on so as to stop that chat
ing. Ills companions endeavored to disSuade
htn; the brave fellow was not to be deferred.
Over the bows he went. One moment the bow
would plunge beneath the foam and he would
be completely Immersed, then he would come
up and continue his labor He stuck to it man
fully, and in reply to the repeated inquiry,
finish my job" He did finish it, and the A. H.
W0nson rode out the gale. When taken in on
deck he pretty well exhausted, but soon
recovered and did not suffer any materi&l iniu-
rv from his arduous undertaking.
Sunday morning the wind blew fearfuy but
it moderated slowly during the day. Schooner
Nevada, While under sail, saw a schooner struck
by heavy squa which knocked her down.
As soon us the squat abated, saw tina: the YES
sci was III sinking condition. Her crew were
on the bowsprit, making signals for assistance.
cruel wave swept off four Of them, and then
another took the remainder. All this occurred
within sight of the men on board the Nevada,
and they could do nothing to save them. The
vessel soon after went down.
The schooner SophrOnia had narrow eS-
cape from beng burned up. A lamp exploded
during the night, and next morning, when one
ot the crew went into the forecastle, he found
The table burned TO a crisp Had the vessel
taken fire, all on board would have perished
rs they could not have been taken off. This
was providential escape.
Information received up to the hour of our
going to press, leaves thirty four vessels yet
absent, which were out in the storm. OF this
number, eighteen have been spoken with, and
are known to be safe, as i'll all robability, are
large proportion of the others. The last ar
rivals report thick weather the past week
which prevented their speaking with other
vessels OF the fleet. Another week will bring
IN the majority of the absent ones, and relieve
the great anxiety which now prevails in this
community At present it is impossible to form
any definite idea of how many are lost but
we should Judge that the number will be much
smaller than was at first feared.
DISTRESSING TIE PRESIDENT. The Washing
ION correspondent Of the New York Journal Of
Commerce writes
The President has promised Senators Sum-
ner and Wilson that Mr.. Motley's name will be
sent to the Senate as Minister to the Court of
st. James. 1t is believed, however, that if
either of the Massachusetts Senators votes
against the repeal of the Tenure Of Office bill,
some other person will be selected In Mr.. Mot
ley's place. feeling of distrust of the Pres
dents purposes is gaining ground, and mem
bers OF both Houses are outspoken In their dis
approval of the plan pursued by him in refer
ence to appointments. prominent Republi-
con member of the House remarked very en-
phatically to day: GO If am not worthy Of con-
sultation when the postmaster of my own town
is TO be appointed, am not fit to represent nv
district; | must notify my constituents to Sc
lect another representative" This remark
elected several replies like Those are nv
sentiments"
Death of Gen. Samuel Fessenden.
PORTLAND, Me-, March 20. Gen. Samue
,Il,, Il; .NI lnt,E ,;,vI,t