Democratic messenger., 1889-06-01
AvEsISEL SUNK.
Accident to the Schooner Ara
bella of this town.

bella OF this town.
The schooner Arabclla belonging TO
Messrs. johnson & McAllcn Bros, Of thus
town, and manned by crew OF five men
Capt. Charles Mumford in command
struck sunkcn wreck on "Strip Niger
near Sandy Hook, ON Sunday last. The
New York Times Of Monday says: The
American schooner Arabclla struck a
sunkcn wreck on Strip Niger yesterday,
at 4.05 n. M, and sank within fifteen min
utcs. All hands were saved, and the
schooner herself, being bouyed up by n
cargo Of lumber. was gotten into port
with the sea running awash clear fore and
aft The vessel, IN her present condition,
lies Oft the Scranton coal docks, her rails
being just visible above water. II Is be-
licvcd that tugs can manage her sufficient.
ly to-day to force her on floating dock,
and II this is accomplished the extent Of
the damage sustained will bc known. One
thing is certain, had she Lccn loaded with
any non.buoyant freight she would have
gone TO the bottom like u shot.
The disaster TO the Arabclla appears to
be considered in a very serious light by
shipping people, many Of whom do not
hesitate TO say that /, was due 10 an I'M
proper placing of the spar buoy marking
the submerged wreck on Strip Niger. If
this is so the photographic Office will
have TO answer, though II is not at all un-
likely that the buoy has shifted position
during some Of the recent heavy weather
along the coast. II calls for immediate
investigation. for II one vessel has bccn
wrecked, there Is no telling how many
more will share like fate.
On Friday last the Arabclla left Chin.
colleague for New York with a load Of
wood. She had a good breeze but was he.
calmcd on Saturday nearly all day. Just
after day.brcak on Sunday.whcn the mate
relieved Capt. Mumford's watch they were
OIL Sandy Hook. There were several
schooners ahead Of the Arabclla and the
mate was sailing her along little thinking
Of the danger ahead. But the captain had
hardly turned in when the vessel struck
a wreck with crash. lie rushed TO the
deck and ordered the jib pulled down, and
the sheets Stacked oil, ut the same time di.
rcciing one hand 10 examine below the
forccasilc. AS the man forward raised
the hatch he called out "Shc is half full
Of water" the Captain observing at the
same moment that she was fast settling
tO one side. There was no chance 10 save
the ship, and all hands rushed to save
what little they could. The Captain laid
hold Of pair Of trousers containing all
the money he possessed, but n few minutes
later found that the wrong pair had been
taken, while the right pair had iloatcd
out to sea as The cabin filed with water.
The schooner Ellcnora on seeing the Ara.
bella sinking, stood by her until assistance
came from The tugs, AMI the crew render.
eel NIL the help that lay in their power
The buoyancy of the cargo kept the
schooner from sinking below the top of
her rails. and though the seas had clean
run over her. she was successfully hauled
up the hay to her prcscn, berth.
The Captain Of The Arabclla claims that
the stake buoy was no less than 200 or
400 yards Off at the time he struck, and
feels sure that il was either improperly
placed in the first place or has since shift
c'l position by reason of storms.