The Portland daily press., 1896-11-18
SANK In TEN MINUTES.
Schooner Pathfinder of Gloucester
Goes Down ON Green Island Ledge.

She Was Attempting to Get Back Into
Portland From Which Port She Had
Sailed Monday Afternoon and Run On
the Ledge in the Thick Fog.
The Gloucester fishing schooner Path
finder, Capt. William E. Slade, ran into
Green Island ledge Monday night about
$50 O'Clock during the thick fog and
sank in ten minutes. The crew of IA
men escaped by launching their dories
and made their way TO this city.
A very heavy sea was running outside
of the. harbor Monday night and the fog
was SO thick that 1t was impossible to
vessels which were obliged to put back
into this port on account of the rough
weather had narrow escapes from run
ming ashore or colliding with vessels al
ready at anchor In the lower roads. The
ear was the one guide to safety and Capt.
Slade of the schooner Pathfinder, with
the two men on lookout ON the forecastle
of that vessel. were depending almost
entirely on their ears to pilot them into
port. This vessel had sailed late Mon
day afternoon from Portland for fish
ing trip. but when the thick fog came
in and the heavy sea, which was run
ming, commenced to toss the little vessel
about like a chip in a mill stream.
Capt. Slade determined to put back in
to Portland and wait until the weather
should clear up. At little after s O'Clock
the Pathfinder, under easy sail, was
sailing rapidly along towardssthis port.
Capt. Slade and his lookouts ON the
forecastle were straining their eyes to
penetrate the thick fog and were hoping
to shortly pick up Portland Head light.
the sound of whose fog horn could
already be heard near at hand.
Suddenly without warning the Path
finder struck solidly and the heavy sea
crashed the vessel forward still higher on
the rocky lodges off Green Island. Fort
unately all of the Pathflnder's men, IL
men, besides.the cook and captain. were
on deck at the time of the accident and
as soon as it was found that the
schooner was filling with water, Capt.
Slade ordered the vessels dories to be
| launched and the vessel to be a BAN
doned. The Grew was unable to saw e
any of their belongings and within few
minutes after she had struck, the Path
finder went down.
| Capt SHADES course had been laid a
little too close to Green Islands danger
Gus reefs, and yesterday his vessel lay
| with her masts and a portion Of her
| hull visible above the water. total loss,
although an attempt will be made today
| to save the schooner If possible.
Capt. Slade and the shipwIeoked Grew
rowed to Portland and at about II
O'Clock laid up alongside the schooner
Albert W. Black. where the men were
taken In and cared for. Last night the
most of the crew went to Boston on the
boat and then to Gloucester, where the
most of them belong.
The Pathfinder hailed from Glouoes-
ter, Mass, and was owned by William
Palmer of that city. She was built in
Bath in 1871 and was registered SO tons.
The vessel was valued at $500, and the
| captain did not know whether she was
insured or not. Nearly all of the crew
lost their personal effects and property.
Today an attem pit will be made to raise
| the Pathfinder or as much of her proper
ty as possible.