The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-03-17
WRECK OF THE ]. W. SAWYER.
Thrilling Experience of the Survivors.

Capt. Abbey, of the Revenue steamer Wood
bury, who brought the survivors of the schoon-
er j. w. Sawyer, from Burnt Coat Harbor,
obtained the following particulars from Cap
tain Orchard, who with Mr.. Bolton, whose leg
was broken, occupied his cabin on the passage
| up.
The Sawyer left Georges Bank on the 9th
| of March for Portland, and on the night of
seventh, on account of heavy westerly gales
and intense cold tried to make Burnt Coat
| Harbor Swans Island, which is harbor. of
| refuge with range lights. Owing to vapor
they could not clearly distinguish the range,
and went too far I o the northward, and struck
on Black Ledge,a barren rock hundred yards
long and forty wide over which high seas fire.
quently sweep. Part of the men dropped
ashore from the bows at once, almost dry, but
the vessel broke up rapidly and the others
could not follow Immediately, and remained
clnging to the quarter rail, with the freezing
spray dashing over them. One by one they
watched their chances to drop into the waves
and reach the shore, in which all but three
| succeeded. These three were sucked back by
the undertow and drowned. One of these was
swept by the vessel and and line was thrown
to him. He grasped it, but the surge was too
strong and tore it from his hold Another
landed safely on an outer rock and attempted
to cross gulch to the main rock, but hesitat-
ing moment too long rushed into the chasm
just as breaker filed it and swept him to
destruction.
Capt. Orchard, his son and one man remain
ed clinging to the wreck from eight o'clck
until past one in the morning, nearly perishing
with cold. the Captains toes being frozen.
Finally the son made the passage to shore sue
cessfully, followed by the man, and last of all
the Captain. Less then half the vessel was at
that time left. The men on shore had in the
meantime been using every exertion to
save their sbipmates, Selling them as they were
swept in MIR. Bolton had his leg broken soon
after the vessel struck by chain box sweep
ing against it. Thus almost helpless and unas-
sisted, he had the nerve to drop overheard and
trust himself to the surf. 1t seems wonderful
that with a broken leg he should have been
able to push through the surf and ice, with the
Thermometer at zero, but he reached the shore
Captain Orchard, who had waited until he had
seen every man leave the vessel, succeeded in
reaching the rocks at the first attempt, but be-
fore he could secure his footing, wave tore
his grasp from the rocks and swept him back
under the stern. The next surge swept him in
again, when he grasped an icy rope which he
! could hold but moment, for he was again
swept back beneath the wreck. The third
surge carried him violently against the rocks,
from which he fell back crushed; but one
foot protruding above the swirl was fortunately
seen by one of the watching crew, who rushed
in, grasped and held him until the wave re
ceded and he was saved.
The twelve men were now upon a barren
ledge, exposed to the bitter blast and flying
spray, with the thermometer below zero two
mile from the nearest habitation, shut out by
field ice. A fire was their only hope Fortu-
nately one man was smoker and had just
three matches in his pocket. The men collect
ed wreck stuff and made careful preparations
to build their fire. Two .fs the precious
matches were lighted successfully and extin-
guished by the blast. With the third, upon
which their hopes depended blaze was secur-
ed, and with piece of sail shelter Yves i'm
provised to protect the injured men. The
fires were kept going all night, the next day,
this following night and part of another day.
when rescue reached them. They succeeded
in patching up dory which was thrown up,
and three men pushed through the ice to Mar
shall's Island, whence word was sent to Burnt
Coat Harbor, and relief party went in a
schooner and took off the remainder. AT
that harbor they received the kindest atten-
ton. DR.. Phillips oil Ellsworth went down
and attended to the wounded men, The
Woodbury. was telegraphed for, and took them
off Thursday the 18th and brought them to
this port. The bodies of the three drowned
men were not recovered.