Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-10-09
AFTER THE STORM.
How the Dewitt Looks After Her Ter
rible Experiences.

Many of our readers will remember that
in the last great hurricane at sea ON the 26th
of September, among the vessels which
came near shipwreck on that terrible day,
was the three master H. A. Dewitt, Capt
VIM. Henderson. The vessel left Perth
Amboy laden with coal Sept. 18th, bound
for Augusta, her cargo being consigned to
Mr.. o. Williamson of this city. She is now
discharging her cargo at the Augusta wharf.
In conversation with her genial captain
whose home is in Gardiner, the Journal
CLEANED the following interesting facts con-
corning the almost fatal experience nnder-
went by the ship and her crew off the Mass
achusetts coast. 1--WE left" said the cap
tain, Sept 18th, having head wiads till we
anchored off Bass river light at 10 o'clock
the night of the 25th. Wednesday morning
at l.30 we parted our small chain and i'm
mediately payed out the batter end of our
sheet anchor. At 5 A. NJ. we dragged that
and struck ON the Bishop and Clerks.
She pounded over that and we went within
one mile of Hyahnis harbor where the wind
changed to the southwest, whereas minute
northeast. The gale blew living hurricane
and with loud report the sails went in the
twinkling of an eye like so much brown
paper. Nothing remained but to run before
the squall under bare poles and this we did
making for Chatham harbor. Our vessel now
had three feet of water in her and men at
the pumps, while the sea made clean
breach over us every now and then. With
our sails gone we could not make the harbor
and nothing possible to be done remained
except to pound her on Common Flats,
which we did about half past one Wednesday
afternoon. While we were making for the
Flats a new danger threatened us. Though
it was next to impossible to see in the teeth
of the pelting rain, the lookout discovered
large vessel bearing down upon us with
the probability of running us down. She
afterward proved to be the brig Ed. Waite
of Portland. went aloft and taking off my
pea Jacket waved it. She saw us and
changed her course just in time to miss us.
minute we struck the Flats the seas broke
over us with full force, carrying away every
thing movable on deck. The crew jumped
for the rigging, the boat we got out imme
diately filling"
''I don't suppose you felt particularly saf,
about that timer"
hopes that we would come out out all right
though had it been mid-winter we must soor
have frozen where we were. told the boy
to keep up their courage though they needn'
expect to be taken off till the wind abate,
somewhat. | had TO idea that life boa
could live in such sea. The storm thinl
was the worst that ever was in and Fv'
been to sea since was seven years old.
was surprised when saw the life boat put
ting off. Talk about brave men. Capt
Gould and his crew took that life boat from
the station hauled il mile over the
beach, launched it in that caldron of water
and pulled two miles in the face of that ter
rible wind At times the boat in mounting
huge wave would stand completely on end
They reached us at last aud produced if
preservers which they put on each man
When great broad chested fellow steppe'
up to me with life preserver, | noticed tha
he had none on himself. How is thisI'
asked. Il should suppose this belonged I
you if to anybody
II don't want it" he said with a laugh
''I'm paid for doing this kind of work"
"How did you finally get your vessel oi
the iats!' was asked.
"Wben the storm subsidized we lightene
off about 100 tons of coal, and Morse's tug
the Seguin, came down from New Yor
with steam pump. and after pumping tn
water out took us in tow and brought us t
this port"
"How old is the vessel, Captain?"
''Sbe is fifteen years old, built of goo
white oak and was in good condition"
"is she badly damaged?"
~ think not. Her top is strained but he
bottom with the exception of her keel, is,
think, in pretty good condition. She will
taken to Bath for repairs. The sails ths
were blown away we're very fair ones. Yo
can get some idea of the terrible strain b
looking at the stranded ropes in the mai
rigging"
| 1t may be pleasant to sit in a warm cabi
and tell of such adventures but it is mor
than probable that few of us would care fe
a sea-faring life. after one such experienc
as that undergone by Capt. Henderson.