Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-12-25

Schooner Calvin B. circuit
Wrecked on Chatham Beach.
Life Line Shot Over Vessel But Crew
Were Dead in the Rigging.
Vessel Pounds 10 Pieces All Hands Gone
No Bodies Recovered.

Chatham. Mass. Dee. 24-Last night s
storm was the most severe of the sea
son here, the gale being accompanied
by snow and sleet. During the storm
the schooner Calvin b. circuit of Perth
Amboy. was wrecked and her entire
crew lost. The gale rapidly increased
during the afternoon and the falling
snow added to its fiereeness. Toward
night. some fisherman on the north
Chatham shore noticed d large four
masted schooner very close into Chat
ham bars. The schooner was walow-
ing and pitching heavily, and the sea
was sweeping over her deck every min
ute. She was too close in to fetch out
by Pollock Itip,and the gale was crowd
ing her on shore with mighty force
Her sails We're in ribbons. and the
snow encased the canvass as if in a
vice The sails We're blown from the
bolt ropes and the ropes were big as a
man arm. me vessel hove to, as If
to make soundings. Finally the an
chors We're let goa most periIious pro-
cccding. as in the Schooner'S position
she would ride bottom AT low tide max
ing her destruction sure. 1t was high
tide and in the gale and binding snow
storm it Is thought that the captain
misjudged his position.
The schooner was first discovered
coming under sail. but after she an
chored she vas seen to be hedging
down on the bar with signals of dis
tresS flying from the main rigging
Nothing could he done by the fisher
men. SO they tramped three miles to
notify Captain Doane at Chatham sta
ton. The place where the ship
stranded was just across a wide cut
in the beach. on the south point of the
north beach.
owing to the heavy breakers the Chat
ham crew could not launch its boat. The
Orleans crew was the only one that could
possibly aid the schooner but owing TO
the government telephone cable being
broken. that station could not be notified
Private subscription could not secure a
messenger to go 10 the superintendent
house. owing to the severe storm. 1t was
II before the Orleans crew was aware of
the disaster. 1t was a long distance to
the wreck and it was 40 before the crew
reached the scene.
A line was shot from gun. The force
of the gale caused the first one to go
wide. The second shot threw the line
directly over the masts and ii caught on
the spring stays. The snow had ceased
falling and the moon was shining. Men
We're seen dashed to the rigging and the
line hung over them. but no man moved.
showing that the last spark of life was
gone. This Was at , O'Clock. and u min
utcs later the mastS fell the schooner
split open. and the sea claimed as fine a
vessel ever sailed
At daylight this morning. only the keel
of the vessel remained. The maSts and
broken pieces of the hull Were scattered
about in the greatest confusion. 1t is
thought the bodies are yet in the rigging.
but the is rough and they will be
torn TO pieces before it will be safe for IA
boat to get out to them. badly stove
boat came ashore. long before the vessel
broke up. 1t is thought the vessel rode
the bottom after dragging down to good
holding ground. The beaches are strewn
with wreckage. but no bodies have
reached shore