The Portland daily press., 1886-08-05
A Sail Boat Capsizes Near Great
Diamond Island
And Only One of the Occupant %
Is Saved.

Yesterday morning about eight o'clock
merry party left the wharf at the smelling
works for days sail among the Islands.
They occupied two small, open sail boats
and in all numbered fifteen persons, as fol-
lows: Wellington Masters and wife, John
r. Cleveland and wife, James Whitten and
wife, Emma and Harry Cleveland, children
of Mr. J. r. Cleveland; Benjamin, Maud.
James and Owen Whitten, children of Mr..
James G. Whitten, and three members of the
family of Mr.. Edward Masters, Misses Lin
nv and Maud Masters and Jane Masters.
Mr.. and Mrs. Whitten also had with them,
their young baby. Mrs. Cleveland, Mrs.
Whitten and Mrs. Edward Masters are sis
ters, daughters of Mr.. Wellington Masters
and the party were consequently all related
The morning was pleasant, but the cool
breeze blowing across the water from the
northwest came in treacherous flaws.
The boats were got under sail when all
were aboard, and proceeded in the direction
of Great Diamond Island. The old gentle
man, Mr. Wellington Masters, had charge of
one boat This boat belongs to Mr. Frank A.
Fossett, and is centre-board, having
but one SAIL Mrs. Masters was in
this boat with her husband, and with them
were jamie Masters, Emma and Harry
Cleveland, Maud Whitten, Benjamin Whit
ten, and his older brother James. The re-
mainder of the party were in the boat under
charge of Mr. Cleveland. All went well un-
til about half-past niue, when the two boats
hovnpd fha wharf of the
Diamond Island Company on Great Diamond
Island, both of them being near the shore.
The boat sailed by Mr.. Cleveland which is
owned by Mr.. Joseph Smith, was then some
distance ahead of the other.
THE ACCIDENT.
Mr.. Cleveland, looking back at the other
boat, saw her in the act of coming about.
She rolled from side to side, and suddenly,
right before the eyes of the Mortified watch
er in the foremost boat turned completely
over One of the ladies screamed that the
boat had been capsized, but Mr.. Whitten,
who had also seen the accident, pointed out
another boat short distance away and for a
moment the women were satisfied that this
was the boat containing their friends. Mr..
Cleveland at once made for the shore, but
before he could render assistance to the oc-
cupants of the other boat all but one were
beyond help. The returning boat encoun-
tered first, floating upon the surface of the
water, 4he body of Mr.. Wellington Masters,
and this was taken inshore. The ladies
and children in the boat could no longer be
deceived as to the accident. Some distance
away was floating the upturned boat, and
H. tbo o6v nf Mr. Mocfare
reached. jamie Whitten was seen swimming
in the direction of the capsized boat. Nearly
exhausted, the boy was taken on board and
the boat then made landing.
THE SURVIVORS, STORY.
James Rhitten, the boy who was saved,
is the only survivor of the occupants of the
boat and alone can tell of how the sad acci-
dent happened. He said that as the boat ap-
preached inshore she was put about, but the
centreboard, which had been drawn up while
the boat was running before the wind, was
not lowered. The wind filled the sail as the
boat was turning and she rolled from one
side to the other and then turned completely
over, plunging those in her into the cold
water James swan towards the shore.5 He
looked back once and saw his grandfather
and Emma Cleveland standing upon the bot
tom of the boat. When only short distance
from the shore, young Whitten turned and re-
traced his course, swimming back to the boat
Before he reached there he was picked
up by the other boat, nearly worn out. Had
the two who succeeded in getting upon the
other boat lain down they would in all prob
ability have been saved, but, either from ex-
citement or possibly desire on the part of
Mr.. Masters to see If he could aid any of the
others, they attempted to stand upright
upon their insecure footing and when the
first heavy wave washed over the boat they
were thrown again into the water and drown
ed before assistance could reach them.
AT THE ISLAND.
When Mr.. Cleveland after landing those in
his boat, looked back, there were three bod
les floating upon the surface of the water.
Help was now arriving and the bodies were
brought ashore, that of the old lady, Mrs.
Masters, being the first to be recovered, and
then the bodies of Emma Cleveland and
jamie Masters.
rhe news of trouble at the shore spread
rapidly from cottage to cottage on the is
lard, and before long ten or fifteen ladies
and a number of men and boys were gath
cred at the wharf ready to render any SER
vice. The ladies made every effort to resus-
citate the children, in whom it was thought
sore spark OF life might remain. They
worked for over two hours upon the body of
little jamie Masters and were assisted by DR..
Walter Woodman, who was on the island,
but their efforts were useless.
The steamer Isis made an extra trip to
convey Undertaken Rich and Coroner Gould
to the island, notice of the accident being
given them by the captain of the steamer,
who was probably the first person to bring
the sad intelligence to the city. The remains
were brought to the city on the half past
two trip of the Isis The bodies had been
suitably clothed and followed by the sur
vivors and some of the residents at the is
land, Were drawn slowly to the wharf and
then placed upon the upper deck of the
steamer. The parents and relatives of the
victims of the accident stepped on to the
steamer, which Immediately steamed away
for the city.
SAD HOME COMING.
The news created an intense excitement in
the city where so many have friends and rel
atives stopping at the islands. The captain
of the Isis when he notified Mr. Rich and the
coroner could give no particulars in relation
to the affair and many rumors were soon af-
ter in circulation, it being reported that the
persons dro Sned were cottagers at Peaks
Island, while as it was known that it was
near Diamond Island the drowning occurred
people having friends there naturally were
apprehensiye as to their safety. When the
Isis reached Burnham's wharf a crowd had
collected who silently witnessed the removal
of the bodies.
The survivors of the party bore themselves
calmly. The ladies seemed stunned by the
shock. On the trip to the city, they with the
children occupied the cabin of the steamer,
while Mr.. Cleveland and Mr.. Whitten re-
mained on deck. Mr.. Cleveland was some
what excited and showed his grief by means
and in wringing his hands. On the wharf,
while waiting for the arrival of carriages the
ladies remained in the waiting room. Mr..
Cleveland paced back and forth outside. The
bodies were taken to Rich's undertaking
rooms where a crowd Immediately gathered
and learned the names of the unfortunate
ones. eJy