The Portland daily press., 1883-09-05
LAST WEEKS GALE,
Loss OF the Schooner Welcome
and J. W. Russell.
Nineteen Men Lose their Lives.

Sr. JOHN, N. B., Sept. 4.-The first reliable
information of the loss of life In the recent
terriple storm on the coast Of Nova Scotia has
come 70 hand. Information has been received
OF the swamping of the schooner Welcome of
Lunenburg near East Cape, Prince Edwards
Island, and the wreck OF the schooner J. W.
Russell at Malone Bay. by which disaster
nineteen lives were lost. The Welcome hove
to Off the Cape at the beginning OF the storm,
lowered both anchors, and for several hours
rode safely on the sea. Late at night, howev-
or, when the gale became more furious the
vessel began to strain seriously and mountain
ous waves struck her violently and swept over
ner oecEs, carrying everything movable before
them. The eleven fisherman on board were at
last compelled to take to tha rigging for safety,
unable 10 move hand for the control of the
schooner. About o'clock in the morning a
wave of great size struck her with disastrous
violence and the next moment she sunk, carry
ing with her all on board. One of the crew
young man named Spindle, rose to Itbe surface
and fortunately fell In with a floating spar
from the wreck which he seized and * MIN.
ntes later was carried high snd dry on East
Cape Spindle states that after the schooner
vent down he saw nothing of his comrades and
undoubtedly all were drowned. The sunken
craft lies on her beam end in 10 fathoms OF
water The schooner j. w. Russell OF Malone
Bay captain Ernest, was on her way from
BaeS Qasro to Lunenburg with $50 quintals
OF fish. The gale came on her early Wednes-
day evening when about 60 miles to the south
east of Sambro light, and to increase the
chance of riding through safely she was
brought to and cast anchor. The wind rapidly
increased in strength and shortly after dark
ness set In accompanied by thunder and light
ming. About 10 o'clock violent gust struck
the vessel and hove her on her beam ends, the
sea washing over her continually. Everything
on deck was soon swept away and the matches
being stove, water in great quantity was
shipped into her hold. The forecaslle in which
the steward of the schooner and boy had TAX
en refuge, was broken in and filled with water,
its two occupants perishing, unable to make
struggle for their lives By this time the re-
mainder Of the crew had taken to the rigging.
hoping to bold on there until the storm was
spent. But one after another, seven OF them
were carried away by the seas, and after vain
and heartrending efforts to regain the vessel,
sank before their surviving shipmates' eyes.
Four only we're left and thess aft0r many ter
rible struggles were finally rescued by the
Gloucester fishing schooner Flora Delmar.
They were afterwardf transferred to the
schooner Elsie and last evening arrived at
Lunenen.
ST. JOHN, N. f., Sept. f. Saint Pierre wires
this morning fresh intelligence OF the fatal
disaster on the Great Banks resulting from the
lowing, Between forty-fye and fifty OF the
French banking feet have arrived in the roads
at st. Pierre in shattered condition. Their
sails are blown into tatters and their gear, Ca
bles, chain anchors, batteaus. dories and lines
are all swept away. The loss of life is awful
to contemplate. One banker owned by John
Jaoquil has lost men; Handy's banker lost 6;
ViDcent's, 6; Leanico1ti's, 4; Demalvilllaria's,
2; and the remainder of the fleet with few ex-
eeptions two to three men.
Ins,x xtc \ mn
crew were saved. Over thirty vessels are miss
ing, for whose safety grave apprehensons are
entertained.
The French captains are unanimous in re-
porting the storm of Sunday aud Thursday the
most violent within their memory. Neither
gave any warning, but pounced fu riously on
fleet at q time when most Of the dories were
away from their ships ogerhauliDf and set
ting travis. Not more than half an hour
elapsed from the first indication before the
gale and sea had reached their greatest vic
lence.
The Gloucester schooner w. E. Mcdonald
arrived this morning from Great Banks towing
the dismasted and abandoned Newfoundland
banker Undaine. Eight Of the crew of this
vessel we're saved by Luneburg schooner that
tor and two men who left the banker in dories
are missing and reported to be lost. Capt. Nc
Donald brings three hundred and fifty tnous-
aud fish, Crew all we'll.
Transatlantic Vessels.
!. NEW YeRK, Sept. 4.-Vessels arriving con
disaster The British steamer Macedonia from
Marseilles which arrived today, reports that
August 31st at 430 p. m, in latitude 37.30.
longitude Go, she sighted bark with foretop-
mast gone and a signal of distress flying and
shortly after sighted brig with the letters III.
c." flying. Kept ship away and bore down for
the bark, which proved to be the David Swede
from Ssmarang April II, via Batavia, May
the captain, second mate and carpenter had
been washed overheard, and the crew wished
to abandon the vessel. She took the crew on
board and stayed by till daylight when she
took the bark in tow. The tow rope broke at
D. m. and the wind and sea increasing they
decided to abandon her, there being over 9
feet of water in her and the pumps being
choked. They took from the vessel and land
ed at New York the captains wife and two
children and servant, the mate and six men.