The Portland daily press., 1894-03-14
CAPT. DUNCAN'S VESSEL.
A Disaster of the Great Hurric ane Of
August Recalled.

A Great Array of Attorneys Gathered to
Adjust Claims Against an Unfortun-
ate Craft Proceedings Yesterday
Before Judge Webb.
An interesting admiralty case was on
trial in the United States District court
yesterday, before Judge Webb. The title
of the case is Hezekiah P. Brown VS..
schooner James B. Boyce, Jr.
The schooner Boyce was formerly
owned by Captain A. A. Duncan of
Rockland, and about thirty others,
who live in various states from Maine
to Indiana. Captain Duncan owned
eleven sixty fourths, and managed the
vessel.
The event which brought about the
unusual legal proceedings of yesterday
was that memorable hurricane of the
9th of last August. The schooner
James B. Boyce. Jr., a three master OF 693
tons, and considered worth 1928, 900 was
on her way from Charleston, Sc, to,
Weymouth, Mass, with phosphate rock.
Captain Duncan was in command. The
hurricane struck them about eighty
miles S. S. e. of Wilmington. That was
the storm that few if any vessels stood
the full force of. The Boyce's masts
were torn out, her centreboard and
rudder were torn away, her pumps
smashed, and she drifted dismantled
hulk to a point off the bar at George
town, S.. c. During all these disasters
the captain chung to his vessel in which
much of his fortune was invested.
He had the hulk towed north, and
finally taken to Bath where the New
England Shipbuilding company re-
paired her. The captain was sailing the
vessel for one half the net profits after
port charges were paid. The other
owners do not seem to have wished TO
bear the expenses of reftting, SO the
costs were charged up against the vessel.
By the time the repairs were completed
these charges amounted to about $11 800.
At this juncture Brown & Co., of New
York, who had a claim, became uneasy
and through their attorney, Benjamin
Thompson, Esq, of this city, libelled
buS VESSEL. uCn OAO OuACI ClCbAoolo
swooped down also; and the vessel was
sold to satisfy their claims. She brought
about SIS, 900 at this sale; and the pro-
ceeds will be used in satisfaction of
those claims. The proceedings begun
yesterday are in the nature of dividing
of that money among the claimants.
There was present formidable array
of counsel Edward Woodman. ESQ.,,
appeared for the owners of the schooner;
Benjamin Thompson, ESQ.,, for Brown q
Co., of New York, whose claim is for
$780, for Farrand, Spear & Co. of Rock
land, whose claim is $1,000, and for Miller,
Bull & Knowlton of New York, whose
claim is $500. Also with Charles W.
LARA bee of Bath. Mr.. Thompson appears
for the New England Shipbuilding COM
pany, who have claim for $3452, and
for Samuel Dane of Bath, who claims
$3.50. With Hon. Charles E. Littlefield OF
Rockland, MIR. Thompson appears for
George F.kaler & Co. of Rockland, and
their claim is 1915. Hon. Charles f.
Libby appeared for the Davis Coast
Wrecking Corporation of New Bedford
(cIaim $685. Hon. Isaac W. Dyer for
Henry R. Worthington Of Boston (claim
$500; Drummond & Drummoud for
Thomas S. Clark & Son of Baltimore
(claim about 5000; E. E. Blodgdett, ESQ.,,
of Carver & BloIgett of Boston for James
f. Bliss & Co. of Boston, whose claim is
a mortgage of S2249; Edward S. Dodge,
ESQ, of Boston, for Horace M. Dunbar,
George Matthews & Co., (claim S94),
Fitch & Joy, and John S. Emery & Co.,
whose claim is a mortgage of S1264.
Judge Webb heard several Of these
claims yesterday, and appointed Hon.
George Il. Bird a master to ascertain
certain facts in relation to the claims of
claimants who are also part owners.
The case will continue today