The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1891-08-01
WRECK OF THE ADA MELMoRE,
A True Tale OF the sea from the RocISbound
Coast Of Cornwatl

"TIave sailed?" said one OF the hard
est looking of knot of scribes loung-
ing in a corner of the Press Club, "yes |
rave, and l oftep think of the wreck of
boat off the coast of Cornwall that
only my hardness saved me from being
aboard Of"
"Tell you about ito All right"
"Of course everybody blamed the
pilot. They said he was drunk and
mistook Pentire Point for Trevose
Head. He had been washed overheard,
however. Whether he was drunk or
sober mattered then but little.
ada Melmore was the barque's name.
1t was her first trip. She was loaded
with steam coal and bound for Alex
andria. She had come down the coast
from Liverpool and when the gale
struck her was off the coast of Com
wall, between Tintagle Head and PEN
tire Point. Trevose Head and it's light
house were just below, across the
mouth of the camel, and there is where
the trouble came in.
Somebody erred. Somebody didn't
know the two heads. And in a few
minutes the Ada Melmore was on her
beam ends in a spot from which to all
appearance no power could bring her
out.
"With the first sea that broke over
the deck went the pilot and two men.
Then she drifted-at the mercy of the
gale.
''The captain rallied his men. Every
anchor was thrown out and every chain
but one snapped like twine And just
when big wave would have dashed the
Ada Melmore against those cruel, blacl;
Cornish rocks she was checked and hung
there, right in the jaws of destruction,
the lives of the twenty-five men on
board all depending on the strength OF
the weakest link in that solitary chain.
''When the coast-guardsmen found
her she was still on her beam ends
The seas were pouring over her decl,
and not living thing could be seen
save big black dog, who clung to the
slippery planks and looked piteous and
| forsaken.
''All that night she lay there. The
chain held out. In the morning the
Port Isaac lifeboat, the albert Ed
ward" sent some men on board.
''If the pilot had not been drunk hC
would have felt lonely in that crew
From captain to cook every one was
loaded to the guards" They realized
though, that the gale had abated ant
that their chain had not parted. The
barge was, however, still on her beam
ends and in all probability would never
again sail the seas.
'"The captain was obstinate when the
boat crew insisted on taking every
soul ashore. He dared any of his mer
to make the attempt, but discipline was
over. The men went. Every sou
deserted the captain, and it was only
when a rocket life line had been made
fast to the ship from the shore that the
life boats crew left the drunken cap
tain and his barque.
'"That day passed. All night the crew
of the barque and the coast guardsme1
watched for signal from the captain
They believed that he would soon Sc,
the folly of remaining on the ship anC
make up his mind to desert her.
Morning came. The Ada Melmor,
still hung over the destructive rocks
The captain was not to be seen. Moor
came. The captain was on deck. IL
half an hour he was ashore and was be
ing warmed and dried, and forced t.
drink many a cup of hot coffee.
"Then he came to the edge of the elf
and looked down upon the Adj
Melmore.
Poor fellow. Even the eyes of tn
rough sailors and tough, hardened
wreckers and fishermen were not entire
ly dry as he talked of his ship, ant
apparently to her alone.
"He commenced in plaintive manner
and when he reached the end, woun,
up with tragic gesture and tone o
voice that as it rolled over and over tn
rugged cliffs echoed and vibrated as
the rocks and hills We're in sympath
with the wretched man.
His father had been sea cap
tain His ship, called, too, Ada Me
more, had been lost with all on board
After many years, his wife-after whor
the ship had been named-succeeded i
fitting out a new Ada Melmore. Her so
was in command. This was her first TRIP
There" shrieked the captain, as h
pointed to the barque, is the Ada Mel
more. All | have and all my mothe
has is in that ship. If she goes on thos
rocks she goes to-, and if she goes
go with her."
ellis appeal made a few minutes late
to his men had it's desired effect. AL
the men, save one, a grizzled old sailor
agreed to go on board. A tug was to b
sent for and an effort made to save tn
barque.
"And as two days later the old sailo
who had declined to continue the voy
age looked at the fast receding sails o
the Ada Melmore and heard somebod
remark How beautiful she is h
turned and said: Yes, she's beautiful
She's too beautiful for the seas. She'
make nice mantel ornament, but She
too narrow. One of these days she'l
make beautiful coffin for lot of goo
fellows
"The Ada Melmore was sighted a
she passed Lands End, but to this da,
has never been sighted again.
"And that's twelve years ago" -
Inter Ocean.