Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1883-11-15
TEN MEN DROHNED.


A Schooner Wrecked on the PENN
sular Constructing Loss OF Life.
The oyster schooner Willie +. Thomas,
Of Deals Shore, was lost in gale on this
Chesapeake bay at 4 O'Clock Monday
morning of James, Point, and her captain
and crew Of nine men were drowned.
The captain was Preston Webster OF
Baltimore. The schooner had just left
the James Point snohoring grounds when
she was struck by the gsle and foundered.
Captain Lybrand Thomas of the sloop
Annie Gertrude reported the loss in Balti-
more Tuesday and told the story Of the
wreck. About 80 a. m. he was bound
down to the dredging grounds, when he
WAS struck by fierce westerly gale. He
ran before 1t, and was in the act Of reef
ing sail when he discovered oapsized
vessel ahead. The stern was visible, and
he made her out to be the Willie L.
Thomas. He saw men olinging 10 the
rigging, and heard Capt. Webster hail
him by name and appeal for assistance.
1t was impossible to run close
enough at the time, as the wind was ter
rifle and the sails Of the Annie Gertrude
we're down for ree6ng. Captain Thomas
sang out that he would soon return to
help them. Upon putting tine vessel
about Captain Thomas made for the
wreck, but was driven of by the sea and
wind. Three unsuccessful attempts were
made to reach the unfortunate men,
during one of which che got 80 near that
the bowsprit of the Annie Gertrude
actually hung over them, when suddenly
abe was lifted away by ssa that carried
her beyond their reach. Before the last
attemp: was made the Thomas sank and
the men were washed of and drowned
One, uamed Andrew Jones, who had
dashed himself to the rigging, was
reached, but he was dead.
Captain Preston Webster, who was lost
on the Willie F. Thomas, was son of
Silas T. Webster OF Deals Island, Somer-
set county, who, with his son, owned the
vessel, which was valued at ~, 800. He
was 81 years old ana unmarried. There
we're about 500 bushels OF oysters on
| board the Thomas when she WAS lost.
The crew were all colored men. The
names OF so are not known to Captain
| Thomas Fhs others we're Andrew Jones,
| John " eeks, Robert Harvard, Burmsn
| JCnes and John Palmer of Baltimore, and
| Jehn johnson of Paramount, Somerset
county.
The schooner g. A. Krvip of Balti-
more, Captain j. s, Kiryiu, near by,
foundere Ths crew, with exception of
one man reported lost, was picked up
and saved by the crew OF the schooner
Annie i Rogers. The schooner Sea
mans Bride was also cspsized of this
point, but the crew was saved. From
wTeoksg- along shore 1t ia evident that a
nun Der of smallr Graf; have been lost,
which will greatly add to the list OF
casualties OFF Sandy Point, two large,
unknown sohooners espsized and went
down. 1t was impossible to save their
crews, which are estimated at ten men
each The names of those lost cannot
now be ascertained, as no regular list is
kept by captains of oyster vessels of their
men.
| James Point is at the extreme OF a
long narrow peninsula on the Dorchester
| county coast, at the mouth Of the Little
| Choptank. The scene of the wreck Is
| about tsu miles In al air line from Cam
bridge, an perhaps fifty miles below
| Baltimore.