New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-22
SEVEN SAILORS DROWNED.
WRECKS in MASSACHUSETTS, BAY.

THE H. F. MORSE, LARGEST OF TUGBoATs,hosr
WITH HER Tow-TwENTY MEN RESCUED.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUsEI
Boston, Mass, Jan. 2l.-0n Sunday, November
%, Boston was visited by q severe snowstorm
followed by terrific gale Sunday night and
Monday, causing many wrecks and loss Of life
in the harbor and bay. The snow disappeared
on Sunday night and early Monday morning
Since that date until last night not enough snow
has fallen in Boston to whiten the pavements
Last nights storm began in Boston about 0.30,
and continued all night, increasing in violence
until about two o'clock, when the wind reached
velocity Of sixty miles an hour. Snow fell
until about daylight and turned TO rain and the
snow soon disappeared. The total snowfall was
Ia inches. The gale was severe in the bay.
causing the loss OF seven lives, two barges and
o largo tug the II. +, Morse belonging TO the
Morse Transportation Company, OF Bath. Me.
The Morse was built last summer. and was the
largest tug afoat She was 1875 feet long, 80
feet beam and 20 1-2 feet deep, and was supplied
with two boilers and powerful engine. The
Morse was going from the Vineyard to Portland
with the barges John Bunyan and Josephine in
tow, taken at the Handkerchief Lightship from
the tug KnickerboelSer. The wind came round to
the northeast soon after leaving the light. and
the tug made for Boston Harbor for shelter.
After leaving Highland Light, the wind increased
to a hurricane, and at a. IN. the Morse and the
barges went ashore on Harding's Ledge, about
four miles from Hull The wind at that time
was southeast and blowing gale, thick with
snow The captain and pilot were deceived
in their bearings as TO Boston Light They
had previously heard the fogwhistle at the light,
but could not hear IL just before they struck, and
judged 1t to be west by north. The course was
changed to bring the whistle west-northwest, and
the first thing they sighted was the spindle on
flarding's Ledge. The helm was put hard aport
but the Morse and the Bunyan, which was just
behind struck, while the Josephine went over.
Some Of the men found place to stay on deck un-
til the house went, about noon: but most took
TO the rigging. The Life Saving people went
out toward the tug early In the morning, but
could not reach her because of the sea. Later
in the day, they tried again and succeeded
The sea was running high and the transfer was
made by the men tying lifeline around their
waists and jumping into the sea TO be then hauled
aboard the hfe-boats The Morse had crew OF
eighteen men, and all but one Of them were
saved in this way. The man lost was Norwegian
coal-paSser. The barges in tow OF the Morse
Jared even worse than the tug, being older vessels
Almost as soon as the Bunyan struck the ledge
her stern was dashed in and the vessel broke
in two lengthwise and went TO pieces. Captain
Lund was In charge with three men for crew,
and by their aid life-raft was launched, to
which all clung. One by one, however the men
we're washed away. until only the captain was left
and he drifted about until nearly noon, when he
was picked up by pilot boat No. 9, and brought
70 this city. The Josephine drove clear over
the ledge and brought up on the sea-wall at
Point Allerton. She was commanded by Captain
John Hahn, of Lauris Norway, and carried crew
Of three men. but one Of whom is known to
be saved. the captain being lost. This makes
seven nves lost fPm the Morse and her tow
OF barges and twenty saved.
Il is peculiar coincidence that the Morse. the
Isrgest towboar ever built, now wrecked on her
fourth trip, Is the boat which was recently sent
out 20 the Georges Bank 20 rescue the new iiye-
masted schooner Governor Ames, which was DIS
maSted upon her first voyage.
Dispatches from various points in New-EngRnd
show that the snowstorm was general.