The Portland daily press., 1886-12-11
HEROES OF THE OCEAN.
A Thomaston Sailor Dies While Try
ing to Save Others.
Story Of a Gallant Struggle off FiYe
Fathom Bank.

| ~ 4. ITlDuuc.
The steamship KnickerbOcker OF the Cromwell
Line running between this port and New orlean
arrived in New York "wednesday and reporte,
| that her first ofncer and four men had been los
| in gallant attempt to rescue distressed yesse
of the Five Fathom Bank
The Knickerbocker had stormy weathe
throughout her trip, and as she ran up the cOas
the violence Of the wind and waves increased A
8 a. m. Tuesday, a schooner was sighted aheat
showing signals OF distress. IL was the schoon
er Mary d. Cranmer, bound for Philadelphia. She
was yainly struggling to make an offIng and ever,
minute was being blown nearer the snore. 1t wa,
certain death for every one ON board in the incle
ment weather II the schooner ever struck the
beach
When the Kniekerbocker came up with the
schooner the latter sIgnalled that she wanted to
be towed into port, as she was unable to beat of
shore. The steamer lay TO and b. j. Henry the
first officer, and four sailors volunteered TO make
an attempt to get ling from the schooner to the
steamer 1t was an extremely perous undertake
ing, for the wind had now hauled TO the northward
and a terrible cross sea prevailed. The Kneker
boeker's life-boat was lowered away and First
johnson, George Harris, Frederick johnson and
William Mltgaten, started for the distressed
schooner. The lfe-bOat was tossed about like
a cork by the great waves and the spray that flew
over the sailors froze on them In sheets Of lee
The pulled at the oars as only sailors can when
life and death are In the effort. and Mr.. Henry
steered the boat toward the schooner with the
skill born Of life Of experience. ExerV minute
the violence OF the cross sea increased.
AT last they reached the distressed vessel and
the sailors on board threw them hawser Tax.
Ing the end Of the hawser In the boat, they
started on their hazardous return trip 10 the
steamer. IL was terrible battle with wind and
waves, but two thirds Of the distance had been
&C omplished when those who watched the heroic
struggle from the deck Of the Knickerbocker saw
a great wave seize the llfebOat In its grasp and
wood.
Then from out the thunder Of the waters. the
emerged In the hollow OF two great waves, still
cllnging To the boat and trying to right her. A
great mass OF green water swept over them hid
ing them from sight. Again they were SEEN rid
lng on huge wave, but with the boat Tighted
Inc sailors were at the oars again tolling FOR
life- The boat was full Of water and the icy and
angry seas broke over the men again and again
The hawser OF the schooner had been torn from
the boat and the sailors were numbed with cold
and exhausted by their severe work. Stil they
struggled on toward the steamer, where their
snpmates, powerless TO aid, were watching what
had now become fight for fife.
The wind had shifted to the northwest and the
schooner was borne Of-shore. She at least was
safe The men In the life-boat struggled on to-
ward the steamer. They had accOmpli shed half
the remaining distance when a wave with great
Ioamlng crest eurled over them and they were
buried o,iI irom sight. Once more they appeared,
70 right her now, but Mr.. Henry kept his head
through all the terrible experience and directed
and encouraged the efforts Of his men.
After long and painful effort the boat was right
ca again, and again the people on the Knicker-
DockerS deck saw the gallant crew struggling to-
wara dnem. The sailors were coated with Ice,
their limbs were numbed with cold and the an
CRY seas contested with them every inch Of ad-
vance they made toward the steamer. They had
almost reached her when great billow lifted the
boat and held IL and It's occupants for a SECOND
suspended over f0aming abyss Of water. A line
was thrown them from the steamer but their
hands were frozen and then limbs so numbed
Win cOld tndt they could not grasp lt, aud then
the llfe-boat and its crew were hurled down and
swallowed up in the waves, boat was lowered
from the steamer and crew OF volunteers man
ned IL. They pulled to where the lfe-boat was be-
ing whirled about by the waves but the angry
seas swept beyond their grasp the stifened
In tho sea.
The body OF Mr. Henry, frozen stif. was found
eenlitangled In the lifeline OF the capsized boat
win the greatest exertiOn it was extricated and
taken on the rescuing boat. Then a wave caught
the steamer The men in the second boat manag-
ed, by great exerti0n. to keep their boat OF, but
the great seas, with final roar OF triumph, dash
ed tne life-Doat against the steamers iron side
breaking It into kindling wood. After consdera.
Die dinlculty the second boat was got aboard with
Its crew In safety. The steamer brought the body
Of Mr.. Henry to this port
First Officer b. j. Henry was generally known
as Captain Henry. He had been In the employ OF
the Cromwell line for three years and was former
" captain OF one Of the smaller steamers OF the
llne. PREVIOUS 10 that he was captain OF several
large sailing vessels belonging TO Snow & Burgess.
lie was 40 years old, and leaves a wife ana two
sons IN his native place, Thomaston, Me, All
speak Of him as a sailor and q gentleman Of great
ability and most estimable qualities. The men
who died with him, John JOensOn, George Harris
Frederick johnson and William Mitgaten, were
all Seandlnayians, OF whom nothing Is kR)wn here
except that they we're good sailors ana died like
heroes.