The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-10-12
Many Marine Disasters
Might Have Occurred.
Wild Gale all Along the At
lantic Coast.
The Schooner Alsatian Was Wrecked
Off Bakers Island.

Boston. Oct. 12.-Never before In the
history OF the local weather bureau in
this city have the warnings OF this de-
partment been so generally needed, as
during the past "a hours. With a per-
fectly blue sky and a light east wind.
the dreaded hurricane signal was hoisted
at 2 o'clock Saturday afternoon. and has
remained up ever since. With the ex-
ception of two or three large ocean
steamers, every craft In the harbor re-
mained at her anchorage, and there IL
scarcely a.vessel outside OF Boston light.
The advancing QJest India hurricane
made itself evident about o'clock Sun
day morning, II hours after the hurri-
cane sigoal was hoisted The wind
shifted TO the northeast, and since that
time has increased constantly in force.
As usual. Block island reported the
greatest wind velocity, 6S miles an hour
while Nantucket was not far behind
with j2'miles. Both places reported the
wind increasing, so that those vessels
which have not reached safe harbor are
probably havlug-a hard time in the gale.
A big fleet of fishermen arrived in port
yesterday from the Georges. and all re-
ported heavy weather outside, especially
off Highland light. while a number CT
vessels were seen off Chatham yester-
day. hurrying for safe harbor.
While the southern part OF New Eng
land experienced extensive rains all day
yesterday. ii was not until an early hour
this morning that the wet part of the
present storm reached this city. The
downfall. however, is light while the
wind has decreased considerably. 1t APP
pears now as if the storm was nearly
over in this section.
A dispatch from Gloucester reports
that the Bath (Me.) schooner Alsatian
with a cargo of lumber, after a hard
tussle with the tremendous seas kicked
up by the northeast gale. lies a total
wreck on the breakers off Bakers ISL
and.
The Alsatian left Bath Saturday morn
ing with a cargo of lumber, consigned
TO Boston She was sighted off Thatch-
er's island early yesterday morning by
Captain Young of the schooner Lewis III.
Giles. and appeared TO be In distress
The Giles ran down to her. and found
her leaking badly, with her cargo shifted.
Captain oliver, however. refused TO be
taken off, as he thought his chances
were good for reaching Salem. The
Giles, upon arriving here. reported the
plight Of the Alastian. and Captain
Young of the lobster smack Helen NJ.
Butler immediatelysput out after her.
BY this time the Alastian had been
blown past Eastern point, and was ap-
rarently heading for Salem. The But
Ter reached her when off Bakers island,
but Captain oliver still refused to
abandon his ship, although he had given
up all hope Of reaching Salem, and WIS
heading for Boston. The Butler then
turned back, but had not gone far when
a tremendous sea was seen to strike the
Aisatian, throwing her over on her beam
ends, and taking her mainmast out OF
her. Captain Young Immediately put
back for her. but the lobster smack could
not get very near the schooner. Cap
tain Young, therefore, with the help OF
one of his crew. launched and manned
dory and powed off to the ll-fated ves-
sci. BY this time the seas were making
clean breach over the Alsatian. and
her crew of two men were clinging to
the rigging. After hard work on the
part of Captain Young the three men
managed to reach the dory. and all were
soon on board the Butler.
Captain Oliver stated that everything
was all right until he was off the SAL
wages early yesterday morning, when,
with no wind, the vessel got in the
trough OF the sea. which shifted her
cargo and started her planks. The AL
satan is a small schooner, about 70 feet
long, and 70 tons burden.