The Portland daily press., 1881-02-01
THE LIZZIE B. GREGG.
Particulars of Her Abandonment.

Capt. Charles M. Havener, master of the
Lizzie B. Gregg, was in the city yesterday and
narrated the details of.the abandonment of his
vessel, OF which only meagre particulars by
telegraph have been published.
The Lizzie B. Gregg was bound from Phila-
delphia to Portland with Goals. Nothing of
special interest transpired until Sunday, Dec
26, when there were strong northeast gales
and at p. M, captain wore ship to the north
ward, heavy cross seas running and vessel
shipping great quantities of water Wore
ship to the southeast when the wind suddenly
shifted to the north; slowed the foresail and
hove to under close-reefed mainsail and reefed
staysail, gale rapidly increasing with terrific
sea, crew constantly at the pumps vessel max
ing considerable water, and day ending with
perfect hurricane from the north.
Monday, fearf full gales and heavy seas, vessel
laboring heavily and shipping large quantities
of water. At 1880 p. m. shipped heavy sea,
sweeping decks clean of water-casks, coal
bunker, &C.. staving in the windows and doors
of the galley and forecastle and disabling two
seamen at the pumps At 1.30 p. M the YES
sci fell off into the trough of the sea, shipped
a heavy sea on the poop, bursting,,the mainsail
into shreds, staving in the sky-lights, washing
away the lazarette hatch and filling the cabin
with water. Set head of foresail and kept ship
before the wind. At 9p. m. the wind sudden
ly shifted to northwest, ibing the foresail and
carrying away the fore-gaff and tearing fore
sail. All hands who were not disabled, were
all night at the pumps, water constantly gain
ing on us, vessel laboring heavily and immense
quantities OF water constantly on deck. At z a.
m. gale began to abate, pumps going constant
ly but no suck.
The vessels log contains the following:
Tuesday, Dec. 2Sth, first part of the day gale
abating. Took off the broken gaff and set the
foresail leg-of-mutton fashion. Heavy sea was
still running. We sounded pumps and found
five feet of water in the hold. All able hands
at the pumps. The sea was going down but
obliged to keep vessel before it, having lost al,
sails. Long. 720 2O' W, pumps kept going con-
stantly. Men greatly exhausted byaexposure
and want of sleep, with two men and mate
disabled.
Wednesday, Dec. 29th, came in with mod
crate breeze from the northwest, heavy sea
running. Fished fore-gaff, as repaired afore-
SAID and set it. AT 10 a. m. wind backed to
the southwest Steered northeast, wind
hauling more southerly. Jibed foresail and
steered from N by W to N by E. Position as
certained by imperfect observation, lat. $50 12,
N, long. 73o w.
Thursday, Dec. 30th, came in with increas-
ing breeze from S by W with falling barome-
ter. Took off after hatch and commenced
heaving cargo overheard to tighten ship; were
obliged to desist by the heavy sea and to close
and batten matches; gale fast increasing at D.
m. Close-reefed the .foresail, wind backing to
the westward, all hands at the pumps all night.
The mate and master at the wheel, vessel run
ming dead before the wind from N E to E.
Latter. part wind abating but terrific sea run
ming; were obliged to keep her right before it,
men becoming thoroughly exhausted, their
feet and hands much swollen. So ends this
day; no observation.
Friday, Dec 31st, gale abated but terrific
sea running. This afternoon discovered that
several butts started in the waist and wood
ends aft, starboard side; stern planking coming
OFT; all hands exhausted for want of proper
food and water since the 25th, the leak in
III.
water all gone except part of one small cask
unfit for use by being mixed with salt water,
and feeling confident they could not survive
another gale, made the crew decide to
abandon the vessel, persuaded they had done
all in their power to save her and her cargo.
Kept the pumps going constantly as best they
could, but the water in the hold still gaining.
AT daylight set signal OF distress. At 10 a. m.
they saw barkentine steering SSW. She
saw their signal of distress and hauled off for
them. She proved to be the ''Ocean Pearl''
OF Portland, bound to Havana They were
with much difficulty got on board with a part
OF their personal effects; were treated with
great kindness by the captain and officers. At
the time they abandoned their vessel she had
four feet of water in the hold and was settling
fast; lat. $40 So N, long. $50 W.