The Portland daily press., 1876-03-28
ANOTHER WRECK.
The Schooner Harriet Newell Lost at
Bluff leland Capt. Kent and Wife both
Drowned-A Dreary Night ON HIaff Is
land

l
land.
| In the gale of Saturday night and Sunday
morning the schooner Harriet Newell, Capt.
Kent, of Boston, was wrecked on Bluff Island
| off Scarboro' Beach, and the captain and his
wife were both lost. The crew of five men
succeeded in getting ashore on the island and
were saved.
| The schooner lett Elzabethport for Bath
loaded with coal last Wednesday. All went
smooth until early Saturday afternoon, when
the wind began to blow hard and the snow fell
slowly. Seeing that they could not get into
Portland harbor, the captain made for Rich
monds Island and anchored in the Roads
about six o'clock. The schooner rode at an.
Choir until ten. o'clock at night, when she parted
herlchain and began to drift towards the west
They set their sails and did their best to 60 to
sea- but the wind and tide were setting them
hard towards the shore and it vas impossible
to overcome their great force and the vessel
struck the eastern side of Bluff Island at about
2o'clock Sunday morning She struck broad
side on the port side, but the sea soon swung
her beam out and her stearn remained fast on
the rocks. 1t was dark and the crew could not
see from one end of the vessel to the other, SO
it was decided best to remain quiet until dag
light.
AT five o'clock in the morning 1t was dark
and the schooner was rolling fearfuly, and it
was expected she would go to pieces every mo.
ment. The first mate, Mr.. Doane, made an
attempt to launch boat but it hardly touched
the water before it was smashed. 1t was then
decided that the only way to save their lives
was to get line ashore, but this was no easy
matter. The sea was running high aud the
great waves were breaking in fury over the
rocks. The mate stripped off his coat and
fastening rope to his waist jumped into the
raging sea. Fortunately he was carried up on
the shore and left high but not dry. The rope
was fastened to boulder on shore and the rest
of the crew managed to get on shore.
Capt. Kent and his wife remained on the top
of the house together for five hours. The crew
on shore did their utmost to aid them, but the
captain was not willing that his wife should
attempt to reach the shore on the single line
About ten o'clock the vessel broke in two and
the fore part was dashed to pieces in an in
slant. The after part was dashed about like an
OSS onCi1 uuv tuC CdpIdlu anu HIS WIG re.
manned on the house until the seas had washed
over it. They were now at the mercy of the
sea. They went out of sight, but soon reap
peared, Mrs. Kent having both arms about her
husbands neck. As they came to the surface
Capt. Kent struck out for the shore, but was
caught by huge breaker and both Of them
again went out of sight When the captain
Eext appeared he was alone, and that wss the
last seen of either of them, for he soon became
fatigued and was buried in the waves
The crew on the island, who had been saved
from watery grave, now began to think they
were die of hunger and cold, for the island was
desolate and few trees were all there was to
shelter Them As they were standing on the
shore watching the fragments of the schooner
come ashoreIthey discovered card Of matches
afioat and can about half full of kerosene oil.
1t is needless to say these were eagerly grasped
but the next thing was to dry the matches in
order to get light. The mate at last hit upon
plan which was successful. The matches
were placed in his hair and the heat from his
head dried them so they would ignite. Then
the crew obtained some of the finish from the
cabin which had washed ashore and with the
aid of the kerosene bright fire was soon
started. The fire was started a little after noon
Sunday, and as the crew had not eaten any,
thing since the night before they became very
faint. On going to the further side of the is
land they could see men on Stratten Island,
about 500 yards away. They signalled for help
and the men started to their assistance, but the
boat was cspsized and the men nearly drowned,
This was discouraging to the half starved crew.
and less courageous men would have given up,
but they decided as long as their fire lasted to
keep up their courage. In the meantime the
mates coat, which he had left on the deck
when he brought the line ashore, was washed
ashore, and after drying it partially he put it
on.
AS night came on they prepared fuel and
built large fire before which they lay until
morning. About five o'clock yesterday morn
ing Mr.. Boynton and another man, the only
male Inhabitants of Stratton Island, again
made an attempt to reach them. This time
they were successful. Never were men more
pleased to meet strangers The crew were in a
weak condition, but they reached the boat and
were rowed to Stratton Island. Here they
were taken to Mr.. Boyntons house, the only
building on the island, where they received the
kindest treatment. After becoming refreshed
they set out for the main land in care of John
S. Snow of Scarboro, and Mr.. Boynton.
Here they received the best of treatment and
Mr.. Snow took them to Saco, where they re-
ceived passes over the Boston & Maine road to
their homes.
The following are the names Of those on
hoard and thair nj on raciJapoo. Nsn+ II
e. Kent and wife, Brewer; f. w. Doane, first
mate, Brewer; John Gard, second mate, Bos.
ton; Solomon Landers, steward, Orland; Chas.
Newman and Henry Banks, colored seamen
New York.
The mates and the seamen went to Boston on
the afternoon train, and from the first mate
our reporter received the story of the wreck.
He lost all of his instruments and number of
valuable charts, besides all his clothing. He
came very near losing his life about two months
ago while in the Winona.. She was burned
off Monhegan, and he and the rest of the crew
were obliged to take to the boats. They were
afterwards picked up by the schooner Neptune
and brought to this port. The mate reports
that a large number of vessels were with them
just before they anchored, but he does rot think
any of them were wrecked. He saw tie briggs
Cora Green and Earnest, which arrived yester-
day, very plain. Mr.. Boynton picked up sew
eral pieces of wrecks yesterday aud thinks
some Of them must have come from some 9th.
er vessel than the Harriet Newell.
Mayo & Tyler of Boston, owned three.
fourths Of the schooner, and the captain the
remaining fourth. 1t is not thought she was
insured.
A Rough Passage.
The schooner Mary e Van Ceaf, Captain
;Ira from, Matsnzas To mont III