Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-11-03
CURSED HIMSELF TO DEATH.
The Fearful scenes nj the AIBiom's
Wrecking.

The schooner Albion foundered off /
the reefs OF Chance Cove on the 9th |
inst, and not one of IL souls on board |
lived to recount the awful disaster eX- |
cept colored cook, who, after nearly |
bali an hours struggle was cast ashore |
near Chance Cove beach, when he set |
out for the Fort Amherst lighthouse. |
Early on the morning of the 9th inst,
a strong northwester began to blow, and
increased to such degree before noon
that the mate ordered the upper top
sails to be hauled down. The captain
coming on deck, drunk, cried out to the
mate
| want them - -, to give
the schooner full play, and get into St.
Shott's before night"
The mate vainly expostulated with
him, saying that the craft could not bear
any more canvas and that the wind
was freshening every minute.
"Set them upper topsails, il she go to
hell for it" growled out the captain.
The men obeyed. The cook says that
the schooner began to labor greatly, and
heavy seas broke over her decks, doing
much damage. Within an hour a large
breach was made in the bulwarks OF the
port side. Four women on their way
from the Bay OF Islands, were in dread
ful state of terror. They shrieked
piercingly whenever the schooner
lunged or seas broke over her. The
cabin became so full OF water that they
were compelled to remain in the hunks
! or stand upon trunks and chests. In
this condition of affairs the mate plainly
told the captain that il they continued
to carry that amount of canvas the
schooner would either be dashed to
pieces or founder in an hour.
Let her rip in the devils name I;
we'll strike st. Shott's fore midnight" "
cried the captain, who had grown
stupidity drunk, and employed himself
in intervals of drinking, cursing, and
a singing idiotically. The mate finally
n went up the second mate and asked him,
. firmly:
"Will your watch stand by us ii we
u rule this vessel so as to save our lives?'
: 81 know they will, and the sooner
4 we get about that the better" said the
second mate with equal promptitude.
/ The captain was below in his drunkel
u orgies, and the second made sang out:
G "Stand by there, men, and haul dow1
: your upper topsails."
Before his voice had died away in tn,
gale, the fastepings OF the upper riggi NJ
Y were swept away, and the fOremast nea
e the cap was snapped off. The .schoOne
was somewhat eased by the accident
and after Chewing foresail and taking
= double reef in the mainsail she was lai,
d to. During the second pirates watcl
e from to II p. NJ, the captain stag
q gered on deck, and, taking misty lool
at the schooner asded what headWa
II the craft was making. On being tolt
rs that the schooner was not under canvas
n bat was lying to, and that they had los
n the foremast and upper topmas
he began to snarl at everybody an
everything, consigning the craft to pei
is dition. His order 10 face the schoone
n for the shore was unheeded; and o
is being sternly told by the second mat
. that he was incapable of commandin
;" the vessel, he swore violently that II
TO would blow Hardy's (the second mates
g, brains out. He made attempts to reac
r. his cabin, perhaps for the execution {
his threat, but the women induced hiI
to lie down in the cabin until he recoI
as cred himself
es About 10 o'clock the wind Neered
,y little and blew still stronger than bC
X fore The schooner was gradually falliu
y in on the shore, and there seemed Il
A chance for her safety except in striking
OF beach or the harbOr of st. Shotts.
= heavy sea almost stove in the bowspri
T, and it was discovered that the forecast
I'll was filling rapidly. The rush OF wat,
continued to increase until the pnml
were called into demand. OFF st. Shott
lighthouse, and within the gut know
as Gillicuddy's spout, the Albion WI
h driven under water, and it was not e,
pected that she would rise again Ri
to ing, however, she was faced in for IL
at shore, and by a great risk the crew ma
IS aged to set the mainsail to give III
greater headway before she foundere
a She struck on the Gillcuddy poin
RS which is the first of the breakers know
IN on the coast, and was literally burst Il
lie. sunder Further than that is not know
or by the only one of II who survived Il
wreck of the Albion.