Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1888-03-23
TERRIBLE TALES FROM THE
SEA,
Numerous Vessels Wrecked and Many
Lives Lost in the Gale.

Numerous Vessels Wrecked and Many
Lives Lost in the Gale.
A dispatch from Philadelphia, Pa, March
10, says it is believed that all the schooners
which went through the Delaware capes since
the storm commenced were lost, but no de-
tails are at hand. During the gale at Della
ware Breakwater a schooner came up with
all hands on the mainmast. When she had
almost reached the pier, the wind in
creased and started the mainmast from
its braces. Soon the mast fell, and the
men with two exceptions, lashed them
selves to the foremast. Two of the
men, unable to extricate themselves in time
from the wreckage, were washed overheard
and drowned. OF those in the rigging, one
was frozen to death and four were SO seri-
ously frostbitten that they had to be re-
moved to the hospit u. An unknown tug
boat with barge in tow sunk with all hands
off the Hen and Chickens shoal. The tug
Thomas Crawford crashed into the pier and
carried away her hawsers and decks. She
foundered shortly after and her engineer
and fireman lost their lives.
The captain OF the tug Samson, while in
side Hampton bar Monday night, saw a ten
ton soop capsize and sink with men on
board. The number of persons on board is
unknown.
A Princess Anne (Md) dispatch says that
in making the river on Monday three vessels
were capsized and many others driven
ashore. In the Wicomo river at Mt. Vernon,
nine vessels are Ashore, greatly damaged.
The names of the vessels and the fate of the
crews cannot be ascertained. Many lives
are supposed to have been lost.
AS the waters are abating off the Delaware
coast, where such havoc was wrought among
the shipping the scene along the breakwater
and along the coast near Lewes is one long
picture of wreck and devastation. Three
bodies were washed ashore, while the hospi
tai contains n seamen crippled by frozen
limbs. No doubt more victims will he
thrown up by the sea. Two schooners are
sunk in 20 fathoms Of water off the Break
water. and as far as the eye can reach
vessels are stranded along the coast, 81 being
already reported. To show the enormous
force of the storm, 25 vessels Of all sizes and
tonnage are lying inside the breakwater, fly
ing signals of Distress During the height of
the gale on Sunday night they dragged their
anchors and were stranded among the piling.
The storm was aided also by large
blocks of drifting ice. The sailors say
they never saw such furious, ire
mendous seas and old mariners who have
braved storms without number appeared to
be panic stricken by the violence Of the
waves. They lost all control Of vessels, and
jumped overheard in hopes of washing
ashore. The waves were literally mountains
high. Capt. Holt of the flagship tells of his
perilous fight with the storm. Together
with two other tugs he laid tied up at the
steamboat pier when the gale opened on
him. One of the tugs was
forced against the pier piling, and they
for some time, he and his family and crew
were rescued by the Protector, at great per-
sonal risk. Ire following vessels are known
to be ashore: Zephyr and Eva Lynch; barks
Flora A. Newcomb, r. P. Crammer, Lizzie
Wall, Iondex, A. w. Anderson, Hall A.
Thompson, William E. Bartlett, Isabella, AL
bert,, E. L. Dow, Earl P. Mason, E. A. Sea-
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