The Portland daily press., 1895-03-20
BIG BLOW OUTSIDE.
Narrow Escape of the Schooner Abbie
X. Bentley.

Struck Snow storm and Gale off Cape
Cod and was Nearly submerged-sails
Blown Away-One of the Crew Badly
Injured-Another Schooner Has Hard
Time of 1T.
People living in this city had but very
little idea of the great force of the wind
off the coast during Sunday and Monday.
The PRESS! of yesterday indicated that
news from the shipping might be expect
ed and it proved to be right. it was
fearful wind outside, and shipping suff-
cred greatly.
The schooner Abbie K. Bentley, of
Providence, was towed in yesterday
morning by the tug c. Warren. She
was in an almost completely disabled
condition, but Captain W. B. Pierce, her
master, was disposed to congratulate
himself that bad as the condition of his
vessel was, it was no worse for himself
and crew.
Captain Pierce is a well known master,
and he spoke by the book, when he said
that ne never knew worse storm, OF
more sudden one. He was off Cape Cod
Sunday. and was making good progress
for Boston, when he was suddenly struck
by heavy northeast gale accompanied
ny thick snow squall that shut them
in like wall, and made it impossible to
see even few feet ahead.
In an instant the gale tore the foresail
into ribbons. They had full sail up at
the time the storm rose out of the water
and struck them with its awful force.
When the foresail went as it did in a
second. being rent away. an attempt was
made to take in, the nainsail. 1t was
found impossible to do it. No living
nlau could stand on that wave swept
deck, and rs a last resort the great sail
WAS cut down, but it was too late Be-
fore it struck the deck it was mass of
tatrers. The sea had been moderately
calm Lefore, but the wind and the storm
dashed it into instant fury, and the
schooner was laboring through noun
tains of water. A great wave passed
completely over her, tons of water rushed
in and out of the cabin, and stood five
great food swept every thing from the
deck.
Then it was that all anyone could do
was to hold on for life. The schooner
was completely at the mercy of the
storm, and without bit of canvass up
WAS going like racehorse before the
tremendous wind.
A second great sea boarded the schoon-
er and swept her decks. Mr.. Cameron,
the first mate and a sailor were taken
and despite their best efforts to keep their
grip on the ropes to which they chung,
were carried clear of the schooner. As
they were taken along by the wave they
saw the rail slide by them, and in an in
slant they were riding on the very top of
the great wave that threatened the de-
struction of the vessel that at the mo-
ment was beneath them. Then the wave
fell downward on the deck, and they
were grasped by their shipmates and
saved. All on board Ihad to cling for
their lives once more until the wave
that threatened to submerge the schoon-
er had passed, and the Bentley had once
more righted herself.
Then there was short respite, and the
mate and the sailor were carried aft,
and looked after as well AS possible un-
der the circumstances. The tempest was
at its height, the storm was still driving
against them half snow and half sleet,
and there was no power in any man to
combat such sea. All they could do
was to let the vessel race before the
storm.
Captain Pierce stood at the wheel dur
ing the entire gale and kept the schooner
eff shore. The snow squall ceased after
raging for an hour and half, but the
wind increased and the sea was running
higher than before. The great waves
that seemed mountains, had become
shorter and more choppy, and as mat
ter of course more dangerous. 1t was
as though the schooner was rolling and
pitching among hills in motion, and
crowding her on every side.
Then to add to the terror of the scene.
and to the danger Of the situation, it was
found that the schooner had begun to
leak, and that the water was coming iu
rapidly. 1t was then that all the men
were called to the pumps, Captain Pierce
still remaining at the wheel. They
worked for their lives, for no boat would
have lived in that sea for moment
From the time they were called to the
pumps until the schooner was brought
in, the men stood on the wave swept
decks working at the pumps. They were
there, and had no chance to get dry
clothing. There was not word of COM
plant heard from one of them. They
n.y. 49,