Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-02-15

Les Of the Schooner Mary Ann, Of Hamp.
den. Me,

The schooner Mary Ann, of Hampden
Ne, Capt. Lehman, from South Amboy
Tor Portland, with cargo of COAL was dis
eorered near Nantucket bar on the 4tt
inst, in distress. Capt. Lehman, after
describing his fruitless efforts to weather
Cape Cod, makes the following report OF
tia su6erings of his crew, and the suose-
quent wreck Of the vessel:
The Captain states that the vessel had
bseoa1e nearly unmanageable from the
sresf uuantitv of ice that had accumulated
upon her during the severe cold weather,
and being unable TO get into Holmes Hole
harbor. Eat 6P NJ, kept away for
Brant Roint.LigAt, as being the most like
" place to bring them in the vicinity of
human aid; and at P. NJ she brought
up. From this time until IL, the sea made
constant breach over the vessel. They
were obliged to take to the rigging, and
their sufferings were dreadful. When the
vessel beat up SO as not to feel the lea so
much, they were enabled to get into the
cabin. Everything movable had been
washed away, including their boats, and
the ice had made till it formed coating
two or three feet thick all over her.
Early on Sunday morning they were
driven out of the cabin by the rise of the
Tue, anu spent tHc WHOlc udy Oh ueck,
having nothing to eat or drink, with hard
~ any chance to walk, though they were
forced to keep continually moving to pre-
serve their lives. 1t was not until Sunday
evening that they got fire in the little
cylinder stove, but even this in the open
air was of little avail against the pierre
i've, who had wet and frozen their feet,
oil
During Sunday, they had watched, with
alternate hope and despair, the attempt of
the steamer Island Home to come to their
relief, as also the fruitless efforts of men
who had left Nantucket on the ice with
dories; and the Captain says AT dark on
Sunday night, had made up my mind
that cur friends on shore would give up
any further trials until morning, giving
the ice time to strengthen, and l knew
that all OF US could not live until daylight
At 3 O'Clock P. M. the steward, who had
both feet badly frozen, gave himself up to
die, actually bidding goodbye to his mates
who covered him up as best they could,
and left him to his fate.
At about ten O'Clock, party of eight
men, provided with two dories and several
long boards, pushed out from the Cliff
shore, feeling their way cautiously toward
the distressed vessel. The night was
beautifully clear, but the air was singing
cold, and the ice, in some places, unfit to
bear the weight of the dories. At such
places, the boards came into play; and in
two instances, they were obliged to take
TO the ,dories and pull for it. Thus, alter
ing the different means of locomotion to
suit the circumstances, the party of heroes
toiied on for some two hours and a half, |
in passing distance estimated by them |
at two miles.
They reached the wreck all safe, and
found the captain and crew, five in num-
Der, nearly worn out with cold and ex-
haustion. The vessel lay well over on
her beam ends, in about ten feet of water,
with her deck partly out, and every part
of her numbered with ice to such an ex-
tent that only the general form of the hull /
could be distinguished. All hands were
taken of, and after great difficulty were
brought safely over the ice to the land.
The captain is confident that had relief
been delayed but short time longer two,
at least, out of the five, must surely have
persisted. But the sound of the voices of
the approaching party sent thrill of Joy
and1 gratitude to all their hearts; and the
touch of rough but kindly hands put new
vig0r even into the poor steward, and
reused him to make another effort for his
life."
The survivors were taken to the Adams
House, where comfortable quarters were
provided for them, and those who froZe
are doing well under good medical treat
ment. The vessel lies imbedded in the ice
near the Inner Bar, and will probably
prove a total loss.