The Portland daily press., 1872-03-14
The White Swan.
THE pERIIoUs ADVENTURE OF CALAIS CREW.
3 The Vineyard Haven Gazette gives the follow

The VINEYARD Haven Gazette gives the Iolio"-
inc interesting account of the disaster to the
schooner White Swan:
The sudden cold and terrible blow of Monday
NIGHT drove ashore on the reef which makes OF
from the northeast point OF Cape Foge the
schooner White Swan of and from Calais for
New York, which was anchored in the Sound.
She dragged her anchors and struck about two
thirds of mile from the shore at o'clock on
Tuesday morning, and in one hour filled with
water. The unfortunate vessel and crew were
seen early i'll the morning by the keepers of
Cape Poge light and Mr. Jethro Worth, assist
ant keeper, at once walked to this town to ad-
wise our people of their perilous situation, and
to secure help, if possible, to rescue the men.
A boat was soon manned by eight brave men,
and notwithstanding the high wind and sea
and the terrible cold started ON their errand of
mercy, at the risk of their own lives. The boat
landed on Cape Poge in the afternoon, but the
sea which was running at great height, made
It fool-hardy TO attempt to board the vessel
Early on Wednesday morning Capt Seth Mar
chant and others Of the boats crew, having
walked up from Cape Poge, reported the men
on the vessel still alive, but without shelter,
having to keep on deck all the time, with the
sea continually breaking over them. Capt.
Cromwell at once ordered steam up on the Mar
tha's Vineyard, and at s o'clock left this port
for the wreck, making her way through heavy
ice for the humane andsnoble purpose of trying
to save the lives of fellOw-beings. A whales
boat was taken on the deck of the steamer, and
upon approaching near to the windward OF the
wreck the boat was LAUGHED, and manned by
the following named crew: Daniel Fisher, "a,
Seth Marchant, I'd, Hervey Wilbur, Geo. Fish
er, Richard j. Marchant and William +. Fish
er. They went alongside the vessel and rescued
the entire crew of six men, they having been
exposed to the bitter cold wind and sea for
about twenty -eight hours without fire, food or
shelter. They could not possible have lived
much longer but for the timely arrival of the
steamer. Meanwhile, owing to the heavy sea,
it being impossible to pull to the windward, the
steamer ran down to the leeward of the reef
and took the men and boat on board. The res
cued men were in perishing condition, and SO
thoroughly benumbed with the cold that they
had to be hauled on board the steamer with
ropes. Here they were kindly cared for, and
made happy by good warm breakfast and hot
coffee, Thus were these men rescued out Of
the jaws of DEATH W
All the men have their feet frozen, and some
are slightly frozen in the face and hands. They
have been cared for by the marine hospital ply
stefan, DIR. Pierce and G. B. Marchant, Coilec-
tor of this port Several members of the boats
crew of rescuers were frost-bitten in the face
and hands; and also some of the deck hands on
the steamboat froze their fingers and ears. Too
much cannot be said in praise of all concerned
in rescuing the lives of the suffering crew of
the White Swan, at such great personal risk OF
life and suffering. The White Swan was a good
vessel, of AL tuns, and had on board a cargo of
lumber consigned to Simpson & Clapp, New
may be saved, but it is doubtful if the vessel
will be worth repairing. The crew is composed
of the following named persons: George Il,
Kinds, master; John Coleman mate; Ira Han
ma, Henry Ross, Albert Preston. all of Calais,
and Edwgrd Short of Eastport