The Portland daily press., 1885-10-31
LAsHED TO THE HOUSE.
Six Hours on the open Sea In a Ter
rbIe Storm.
Thrilling Experience of the Crew of
the Schooner Express.

Yesterday there arrived at this port Otto Wilson
mate, and Everett Stanley, seaman, of the sehoon-
erEXpress, Capt. John Rich, of fremont, Me-, on
their way home to fremont. On being interview
ed by PRESS reporter, they told him thrilling
story of the wreck of their vessel. The Express
was a schooner of SO tons, owned by H. Fl. Clark
and Capt. Richmond of fremont She was bound
from Perth Amboy, coal laden, to Machas, and
her crew consisted of Capt. Rich and the two men
previously mentioned Thursday night, about 10
O'Clock, during heavy gale, the vessel went
ashore on Odiornes Point near the entrance to
Portsmouth, and was wrecked. The crew were
saved, although they lost everything they had
with the exception of the clothing which they had
on at the time.
Mate Wilson thus narrates the particulars of
the wreck: "The Express left Perth Amboy
Thursday, Oct. 22d, with a fair wind but light
Nothing of special interest occurred till Wednes-
day last, at about O'Clock in the morning. We
then sighted East Point, at the mouth OF Glouces-
ter Harbor, the wind being about south. Capt.
Rich then concluded to run for Portland. we
sighted the Cape Light about dark Thursday, but
the wind shifting to the eastward we were obliged
to put back. We then made for Portsmouth, ana
sighted Whaleback Light about O'Clock.
1.-THE weather shut in very foggy, accompanied
u
o'clock, in trying to beat up into Portsmouth har-
Dor, the peak halliards parted, and the schooner
wore around and went ashore on Odiornes Point
Our boat was washed away almost as soon as We
struck, and the captain ordered the masts cut
away, in hopes that the vessel would hold togetE-
er longer. 1t was soon found, however, that the
vessel was rapidly breaking up under the merci-
less blows Of the angry waves and expecting mo-
mentarily to be swept off we Invested our
selves of all unnecessary clothing and with moth
ing but our underclothng on stood shivering on
the deck awaiting we knew not what. The night
was intensely dark, and the sea was making
clean sweep over the vessel, and each moment we
expected we should be swept away.
81 could not swim a stroke, and finding the
house was breaking away, concluded to lash
myself to it and trust to luck The other two
men soon followed my example, and we then
awaited for wave to sweep us away from the
vessel. About 10 o'clock the house was lifted by
a heavy sea, and we drifted away from the wreck
1--WE were tossed hither and thither by the huge
waves and suffered intensely from the cold, our
scanty clothing affording us but poor protection.
At o'clock yesterday morning we drifted ashore
in a small cove in a completely exhausted condi-
ton.
During the night, and while.drifting about,
Stanley was struck by piece OF WreckdSe anu
sustained severe injury to his ankle but despite
this we were not long in getting ashore and max
ing for the nearest house. Here we were unable
to raise the inmates, but seeing light little far
Their on we made for that as quickly as possible,
and happier men you never saw than were we
when the good old farmer cheerily said "Come in,
boys, and get warm" The kind-hearted man and
his wife soon provided us with good breakfast
and comfortable clothing, and after having got
thoroughly warmed we set out for Portsmouth,
where myself and Stanley were provided with
tickets to Portland through the kindness of the
Collector of Customs From this port we expect
to sail today or tomorrow for home. L only regret
that am unable to give the name of the whole
souled farmer who so kindly cared for us in our
diStresS.v