The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-03-03
MARINE DISASTER.
WIRE ck of the Schooner ''Little Fanny"-
One Man Frozen to Death and the whole
Grew Badly Frost Bitten-The Schooner
Total Wreck.

The thick snow storm of Monday night
caught number of our fishing vessels many
miles out from land, but as far as heard from
they all succeeded in reaching the harbor ex-
cept the schooner Little Fanny, Capt. Daughty,
which was wrecked on Trundys Reef. One of
the crew, Nelson Day, was lost. The captain
gives the following statement Of the disaster:
The crew consisted of the captain and five
men, named Geo. w. Witham, Charles E.
Doughty, William Taylor, Turner Jewett,
the cook, and Nelson Day. The schooner was
returning from the fishing grounds when
thick snow storm set in. She made the Cape
Lights at little before six o'clock, but soon
after LOST sight of it. The men were unable to
hear the whistles at the light house. They
ran, as they supposed, far enough to make
Portland Light, but failed to see it. 1t was
dark and storming hard. They put in towards
the land in hopes to make the light, but soon
found they were inside of Trundy's Reef, and
before they could change the course of the
schooner, sea washed her on the rocks. The
skipper gave orders to lower the dories. The
order was obeyed and the meu made haste to
leave the sinking vessel. Taylor and jew EFT,
the cook, took one dory while the other four
men took another. The boats were nearly fill
ed with water by the sea making over them,
and it was with difficulty that they were kept
from capsizing. The captain and his men
made for Portland Light, while those in the
other boat, fancying that they could not land
at the light, made for Cushing's Island where
they arrived about midnight, after three hours
hard rowing. They were badly frost bitten.
They received kind treatment on board one Of
the vessels lying there.
The crew in the captains boat found great
difficulty in rowing near the shore, owing to
the ice and they were unable to land on &C
count of the breakers. 1t was between eight
and nine o'clock when the vessel was wrecked,
and they did not reach the Portland Light I'M
til four o'clock in the morning. The captain
thinks that they rowed at one time over two
hours without going half mile owing to tie
ice and heavy sea which was running. Soon
after midnight Mr.. Day became thoroughly
chilled through and once or twice dropped his
oar. but his companions cheered him up and he
continued to row short time longer, when he
dropped his oar finally and sank into the bot
tom of the boat. He was taken up but to all
appearances was dead. His companions decld-
ed to keep the body and take it ashore if they
ever found the light house.
A little before four o'clock they sighted the
light and were about ready to land when a
heavy sea upset the dory, throwing the men all
out. The body of Mr.. Day sank, but the 9TH
ers succeeding in reaching the shore. The
captain made his way to the light house, fol-
lowed by his brother and Witham. They were
all nearer dead than alive when they reached
there but under the treatment of Mr. Strout,
the keeper, they were revived and were able
during the day to reach their homes in Ferry
Village. The captain had his hands and face
badly frozen. He lost oneof his mttens and
was obliged to row for over two hours with one
hand hare. The other men were not SO badly
frost bitten.
The men who went to Cushing's Island stop
ned until morning, when they rowed to this
city and gave the news of the wreck.
Mr.. Day, who died, was over seventy years OF
ace aud has been fisherman all his life. He
leaves a widow His body was recovered yes
terday lust where the boat was upset.
Tine schooner was built in 1862 and was about
% tons burden, and valued at $1,000. She was
owned by c. P Ingraham and others. There
was no insurance on her. She is total wreck
The crew lose all their travis and a large
catch of fish, which is no light loss for hshe-
rmen.