The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-01-28
CAUSED WRECKS.
Many Vessels Driven Ashore by the
Gale.
THE LOSS OF LIFE REPORTED Is
SEVERE.

Crew of Twelve The Gloucester
Schooner Leader on Norman's Woe and
Four Drowned-Numerous Wrecks on
New England Coasts.
Gloucester, January 26.-The storm
claimed flashing vessel as victim this
morning. 1t was the schooner Leader, and
four of her crew were lost, Frank Brier.
Joseph Kingholm, Albert :. Viator, Joseph
Francis. The scene of the disaster was
Norman's Woe ledge, which the peot Long
fellow made famous in the Wreck of the
Hesperus."
The vessel had a crew of fourteen men
Last night she left here to set her travis on
the banks. 1t was after they had given up
fishing and started for home that the acci-
dent occurred.
The Leader is 57.6S tons reister. was built
at this port in 1891, and is insured for S4239
on the vessel and $500 on outfits.
Soon after the men left the vessel the tide
bore her IF from the ledge farther in to-
ward the shore, where she struck heavily,
carrying away her masts and bowsprit,
rendering her total wreck.
Three OF the four bodies of tho crew OF
| the Leader We're recovered about nightfaIl
the bodies were almost naked, and We're
pounded by the cruel rocks to jelly. At
nightfall it would have been impossible to
find piece of the Leader more thar five
feet in length. 3 he recovery of the bodies
was attended with much difficulty. The
rocks snelve abruptly into the water and
the footing was extremely precarious.
Whether the action of the waves tore their
n hing he r,1an haiti her tbrav had
stripped for final and desperate plunge in
to the sea in hope of gaining the shore is a
matter of conjecture.
A noticeable feature of the recovery was
the action of the Portuguese gathered by.
When the bodies were taken ashore they
fed precipitately, perhaps from super
stitious reverence. nor could the under
takers induce them to take hold and render
| assistance. The fourth body was seen in the
water, but darkness set in before it could
be recovered. About $50 tonight delega-
tion of portuguese called at the under
takers ana identified the men as Albert S.
viator. Joseph King Holm and Franz Brier.
The fourth man WAS Joseph Francis, the
cook, who was married to Viator's sister.
A large three masted collier at anchor
near Ten-Pound island dragged in the storm
secure the services of II towboat to drag her
back to a safe anchorage before she struck.
The schooner which was in danger of be-
ing driven on Handkerchief shoal yesterday
was the Lizzie Lane. with cargo of guano
fo1 Eliza beth2ort. She had lost an anchor
and was driving TO leeward and lost the
other anchor soon after Ca plain Tuttle and
cew of the Monomoy life saving station
reached her. aLd with their assistance
sufi Gent sail was made to work her out in
to deep water. She proceeded for Vineyard
Haven under sail.
AT dark last night a big four master was
at anchor near Pollock Rip shoal, but it was
impossible to tell where she is this after
noon, as the storm is followed by dense
fog.
The easterly gale has mod and is
veering to southwest. The barometer is
down to $685. and old salts here predict
that it will blow great guys from the west
ward tonight.
The wires gave out this morning, and
there is little prospect of any telegraphic
communication between Boston and the
Cape toni ght.