The Portland daily press., 1888-03-14

The ship Grand Turk seems allied to disaster.
Letters from Portland, inform, THAT on Wednes-
day night last she had both her cables cut by
body of ice, when she went on body OF rocks,
from which she was run ashore at hlgh water;
about seven s feet water in the hole As third Of
her cargo of teas was between decks, we nope
the damage the concerned viii sustain, Is not so
great as the public fears have reported.
In the paper of the 18th find the follow
ing:
A letter from Portland, to the Editor, dated
Jan. 10, 1898, says: "The ship Grand Tnrk ar
rived In this port, after an unprecedented long
passage Of months on the 26th ult., destitute Of
provisions, in almost every sense; her sails and
rigging much impaired. and with the residue of
her original crew, (haying lost iive) nearly ex,
hausted by the necessary severity OF duty; all
which were replaced as expeditlously as possible.
pilot went on board her on Wednesday last, in
order to proceed for Boston, having fair wind +;
wind changed to the southwark which compelled
them to delay their departure. The next day a
change of weather being apparent, the pilot had
her mo0red, the officers continuing on board,
when alas! at about IL O'Clock at night, a storm
commenced, which created instantaneously such
immense quantities of ice, as to surround the yes
sci, which forced her from her anchors, and drove
her on shore. Guns were fired as signals Of dis
tress. Notwithstanding the GOODNESS and
deA the wind " and I snow s"' upwaTds "' Of 100 100
persons had got on board to her assist
ance before day; TO the credit and alertness Of
ahe inhabitants OF this town. Her guns and other
cumbersome articles were cast overheard. in Or
der to get her afioat at high water which was eff
fected; but 1t became necessary TO run her ashore:
Although the storm increased, most of the small
vessels in the harbour, proceeded to her assist
anee, andIso indefatigable have this community
perishabie article is nearly discharged. Her low
hold is full of water, at the height Of each tide,
which must prove great injury TO the teas.
ticularly due to Mr. Robert Boyd, merchant, and
Messrs. Green and Person passengers in that
vessel) whose exertions and Judgment, have great
ly contributed to the preservation Of property In
great demand In this country realized by the en-
terprisng and persevering disposition OF Ameri-
can citizens after so long and hazardous space
of time greaterlin respect to value than ever ar
rived in America from that part of the world, and
almost incalculaoe IN its advantages save ior
As every class Of our readers appear interested
in the fate of this vessel, we have been thus par
ticular in publishing the above account
During my investigations at the Cape 80
years ago, found at Sim0nton's Cove, Mr..
Joshua Pillsbury, who was II years of age at
the time of the wreck, and supplied the ship
with vegetables, which were very much
needed as the crew had the scurvy. After
the disaster, he went in vessel with Major
Weeks and recovered the ships anchors, one
of which had a broken fuke. Mr.. Pillsbury
heard the alarm guns, and fastened to the
point and saw the ship beat over Stanford s
Ledge. where the breakwater now is, and go
on shore at Cushing's Point. He said that
the next day there was a winnow of\tea on
ent ferryway. This tea was gathered by all
who wanted it, and sold net at small prices
throughout the State. Every garrett floor had
a spread of it. 1t reminded the old people
of the contraband tea of 1878. Boston har
Dor was the original salt water teapot, but
Portland witnessed good imitation 25 years
later-Salem furnished the tea. The valua-
BILE porcelain ware in the ships lower hold
was washed out, and the most of it was de-
stroyed, Before the building Of the break
rNrwv
bic pieces. Many cases OF silks drlfted
about and were secured by covetous people,
and secreted. For years after, people who
could i'll afford to buy such goods
appeared at meeting on both sides Of
the harbor, in rich silk gowns.
The same plunder of the wreckage was re-
peated on larger scale at the wreck OF the
English steamship Bohemian near the Cape
Lights in February, 1851 There is a silk
scarf in the Public Library that is relic Of
the cargo of the Grand Turk. 1t was placed
there by E. M. Patten, whose father, Stephen
Patten, schoolmaster, obtained it at the
time. The Crank Turk was fOated across
the harbor to Weeks wharf, at the foot of
India street and repaired The expression in
the letter fromP0rtland in the Centinel that
''the pilot had ber (the Grand Turk moored,
the offlcers continuing on board" was un-
doubtedly inserted for fear of knowledge
of their absence at the ball might effect the
insurance. Capt. Barnard Magee, master of
the Grand Turk was one of Derby's noted
India captains. He sailed from New York
in the ship Hope in February, 1856, He
next went in the Astrea, belonging to Derby
in 17S9 Thomas II. Perkins, the famous
China merchant, was relative by marriage
with Capt. Magee, and went supercargo Of the
Astrea his first voyage. IL was Capt. Ma
gees long service in the hChina trade, his
distinguished connection, and the bringing
safe to port the Grand Turk and her very
valuable cargo, after being nine months al
sea (259 days. that caused the Portland mer.
chants to entertain him at a ball, March 1st
a