The Portland daily press., 1886-01-15
LOSS OF THE wITHERsPooN.
Additional Particulars of the Sad
Disaster.

DlSaSt0rs
The Nantucket, Mass, Journal, in an extra,
gives very full and graphic account of the
loss of schooner T. B. Witherspoon of
Bucksport, Me-, on the South Shore of the
island on Sunday morning. 1t appears that
Clark, the veteran crier, discovered the
wreck from the tower at about the same time
that it was observed from the shore.
A wrecking crew was promptly mustered
and the Humane Society's boat and life-raft
were carted out to the scene of the disaster,
where the crew of the Surf-side Station were
found on hand with their apparatus. De-
pite the severity of the weather numerous
vehicles and pedestrians locked to the spot,
and the beach was soon thronged with an
eager crowd anxious to render assistance to
the hapless crew, who were apparently be-
yond the reach of human aid and seemed
doomed to perish before the eye and within
hailing distance of the sympathizing throng
on shore.
The vessel lay about two hundred yards
from the beach. A fearful sea broke over
her continuously, sending clouds OF spray
masthead high and threatening her immedi-
ate destruction. Her boat was washed away
and the fragments lay scattered along the
shore. Several of the crew had taken refuge
in the rigging and their movements were
eagerly scanned. Finally the station crew
succeeded in shooting line over the vessel,
to which was fastened cable, and word was
shouted to them through the speaking trum-
pet to haul in. Family above the roar of the
Seaand hoWhng wave came back the answer,
I'VE can't, we are frozen" Finally one of
the crew more active than the others secured
the line and attempted to haul it in. By
some means he lost his footing and fell into
the sea, but clung to the line tenaciously
Willing hands began drawing him toward
the land, but when halfway ashore the line
parted and he was swept along on the resist
less current for some distance parallel with
the shore. He was evidently good swim
mer and struggled manfully for life, but
without avail, and those who followed his
course along the beach ere long saw him
swallowed up by the angry sea. A second
line was shot over the vessel and secured,
but those on board were still unable to haul
off the larger line.
At this stage an heroic and daring attempt
was made to reach the vessel from the shore.
The life-raft, manned by Messrs. Joseph NJ.
Folger, Jr., Benz. Beekman, Charles Small,
Charles III. Cash, John p Tabor, William
Morris, Horace Orpin, Benz Fisher and
Everett Coffin, was launched, and at the risk
Vi Lll6lI llN6S LIl6y sud- W HAUL On Ny LILO
small line attached to the vessel, at the same
time plying the oars. When about third OF
the way from shore big combing wave broke
over the raft, knocking Mr.. Beekman over
board and drenching the rest to the skim
Beekman chung to the raft and was taken on
board The shock snapped the line and the
raft was hauled back by a rope fastened to
it, which had been paid out from shore.
Meantime these efforts were watched with
intense anxiety by the men in the rigging,
-I,o-o had loCo
active. Indeed, one of the number was evil
IDENTIFY already dead, and soon after another
succumbed. One arm and leg were thrust
through the shrouds, the others hung listless-
ly down. His head dropped and he hung by
the rigging in horizontal position until a
list of the vessel shook off his hold and he
fell into the sea- His body was washed
ashore, secured and brought to town, where
it was taken tc the Humane Society's house
on Water street. The body was subsequent
ly identified as that of the captain.
In the afternood third line was fired from
the mortar. The shot struck the mizzentop-
mast, glanced and landed far outside the yes
sci. A fourth attempt planted the line
squarely across the vessels bow. At this
time but two active men were to be seen on
the vessel, and one of these only occasional
ly-the other only issuing forth occasional
ly from the forecastle. This line was se-
cured to the forerigging. To it was attached
a running block with the lire rove through,
When this block was securely fastened a
large hawser was attached to one end apd
thus hauled off to the vessel by those on the
beach. The hawSer was finally secured 10
the vessel after considerable trouble ana de-
lay and an effort made to send off the breech-
es chair, but the lines had become so tangled
that those on the vessel were unable to haul
it off at this junction Mr.. Joseph Al. Fol
ger, Jr., volunteered to make the attempt to
work himself off to the vessel in the breeches
and had proceeded short distance, but the
line sagged so that it was evident that he
must have been submerged long before reach
ing there, and he was drawn back to land.
Meantime by dint of persistent effort those
on board had succeeded in hauling the chair
off little by little, until night coming on
obscured the vessel and the movements of
the hapless crew from those on shore, and
many left for home with heavy hearts. A
number remained, however, and their ears
were soon gladdened by hearing voice from
the vessel calling to "haul ashore" Willing
hands seized the rope, and soon man, more
dead than alive, was drawn, part OF the way
through surf to land. Eager hands conveyed
him tenderly to a carriage in waiting and he
was wrapped in blankets and quickly con-
veyed to the life-saving station. He proved
to be the mate. Meantime another man was
similarly landed, though in better condition,
as during his transit the vessel heeled off
shore, drawing taut on the hawser. From
him it was learned that they two were the
only survivors, four bodies remaining on the
vessel and three having been washed over