Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1885-12-24
The Loss of Schooner James NJ. Riley
OWNED AT HARRINGTON, ME-, AND COM :
MANDED BY CAPT. T. NJ. sTRoUT OF THAT
PLACE.

From The Royal Standard, published at
Grand Turk, Turks Island, Dec. 5, 1885.
This whole community was aroused at
daylight on Sunday morning last, at the re-
port that large vessel, stranded en- the n.
+. reef, was on fire. 1t proved to be the
three-masted American schooner James NJ
Riley, Captain F. NJ. Strout. of and from
New York for Havana, Cuba, laden in the
hold, with crude petroleum in tins and bar
rels and deck-load of carboys of sulphgrlc
and murialc acids. The captain reports
that his vessel struck about o'clock on
Sunday morning. while heading out north
| westerly, with, as he supposed. sufficient
otfng to clear the reef, the light being in
sight, and, from its appearance. about eight
miles off. Shortly after striking the reef.
on which was very heavy sea at the time,
the gas, in the after part of the vessel ex-
pioded, blowing the captain into the milzen
| rigging and the mate. who was beside h.m.
some distance forward The boat. which
| had been cleared away at great risk from
| the deck load of acid, was immediately put
out and all hands took to her and left the
vessel In less than five minutes after leay-
| ing, the whole decks fore and aft. were
blown off with terrific explosion, leaving
the hull one shee, of fame. \ few minutes
later. the boat was completely turned Over
| them by heavy sea, and from that moment
| on, until daylight. il was one continual
struggle for life. The second mate. a Rus
sian, and one Of the seameu, Dutchmau,
we're never after the boat cap>izad
the captain was washed away, but fortunate
/ ly caught piece of plank and was. as be
/ says himself, almost miraculousv saved
/ lhr mate. steward, and the three men taai
were saved, chung to the swamped boat a,
best they could, until assistance came q,
them in the morning, when, with much skd
I and daring they were a. rescued by two at
| our pilots and their crews These pilots
/ Samuel Forbes and J. No>e IgAibourn and
the men with them-are especially alluded
/ T., ese~ here, by the captain we OF tL--a
/ islands who know the danger, Of tt4t ~ d.
ref during heavy surf and the r~N ,h.t
mast be run and the courage necessary .u
I approaching it, Wsh to add our msea at
praise to these men f,r their gallant conduct.
and hope with the captain, that they mas
I he suitably rewarded. Another commest4-
. Die act came to Iignt during Monday. laam
as Smith, one Of the boatmru working 81.
he wreck found a purse on the BAY. gaa-
tanning a dollar or two IN silver and .wara-
lately forwarded it To- the agents nti
! The purse was nearly burned TO a e.na.t.
but was Identified as the property rt tte
mate Such aCt, under such circumstance
are worthy Of pralse,
\ small portion Of the cargo was saved
and brought 10 town with The boats aa.
YER! few other aftjcIc> larger portion oE
the cargo that dritted on shore ou tha ,aH
side, was partially saved but tA, azl -.g
Of thursday swept it of again, after II ta.
been sold for nominal sum. THAT Hrs-
ryon saved and put in the warehouse, vos
not bring bid and was. therefore. salaa-
doued and viii be thrown overheard % 5g>>
vent an accident by fire Aeerts, Nes
Firth < Murphy
ln another column OF IN, same a
Cap' Strou,'s letter as follows a
II tie E3itor Of tbe HoYal >ean5y n
DEAR SlN:-AlIow ne. thrauss
ium Of your journal, TO expressly
teit .ralllud---a gratitude M
Who ike myself anil crew, ~
rescued from the jaws of 4, 4,
TO pilots Samuel Forbes T..
! 4+rttFIg.t,r1 4,.l ka ,