Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1896-05-14
A NIGHT OF TERROR.

crew Of three that manned the little q
ton schooner Ornament, which la.
moored in Monhegan harbor-a deep
narrow strait between the islands O
Monhegan and Manana, Maine. Tht
entrance is from the south, and is IN
obstructed, while to the north the pas
sage is barred by rocky islet called
Smutty Nose. This is separated from
Manana by a narrow passage on tht
westerly side called Drunken Gut. Tht
harbor is fairly good shelter excep
when the wind is from the southwest.
At daylight on the morning after oul
arrival at Monhegan there was a stiff
breeze, with rain from the southwest,
and by noon it had risen to heavy
gale. All day coasters, traders ana tish-
ing vessels ran in till about 20 sail were
in harbor when night fell.
They were anchored as near together
as they could be and yet swing clear Of
each other. This compact gathering
would be we'll enough in a smooth har.
Dor, but on little Monhegan, exposed to
the increasing gale, with night coming
on and the probability of a heavy sea
running into the strait, the prospect
looked serious. Should vessel part her
cables or drag her anchors, collision
with those to leeward of her would be
inevitable, and the result Of collision
might be disastrous.
When darkness came, the gales fury
inpraacal Tho II !,
into the narrow harbor in huge billows
that dashed against Manana or Smutty
Nose, or ragged as breakers ON the reefs
about Drunken Gut The vessels, ham
pered by their anchors and unable to
rise freely on the surges, strained at
their cables, plunging and rolling wild
ly, while nearly every wave toppled its
crest upon their decks, or swept them
from stem TO stern.
About 9 O'Clock, when the gale SEEM
ed at its height, little craft that had
been anchored all day just on our port
bow dragged her anchors. Her crew,
like some others, had sought safety on
shore long before night. Swinging to
our broadside, she began to pound against
us and to break into pieces.
Her bowsprit snapped, her bulwarks
crushed in fore and aft, her masts went
over her taffrail. At last, plunging from
the top of big sea, we crashed down
upon her forward deck. Her windlass
bits gave way, and off she went, broad
side TO the wind, till she was lost in the
gloom and rain.
Anxiously we crouched by the wind
lass, the captain s hand almost constant
ly upon either one cable or the other,
that he might detect the first vibratory
motion, indicating that the anchors were
being dragged over the rocky bottom.
But they seemed to hold securely. Our
danger was Of another sort.
Twas crouching in the lee of the fore
mast to shelter myself from the wind
and spray, when heard the captain sud-
denly shout:
up, up with you, boys, quick
There's coaster adrift, coming right
for us |"
Through the driving rain, sure enough,
came big schooner stern first, wildly
swinging to and fro, now toppling ON a
crest, now wallowing down in the bol.
low depths. Her gunwales almost rolled
under, and her main boom, free from its
lashing, swayed madly from side to side.
Just as we were receding from a roll.
ing swell she crashed into us and snap.
ped our bowsprit. Then she hung souare
across our bow.
"Quick, quick Give me the axr"
cried the captain.
In a moment he severed both cables at
the windlass, and we were drifting with
the gale. No vessel lay directly astern
OF us. The captains hope was that we
might not only go clear of the coaster.
but drive upon small, sandy beach at
the end of Smutty Nose. But the heaye
OF the sea and the slant of the wind
drove us to one side, and we went upon
the rocks instead.
There was q shock, a grinding crash
as she struck. Then we seemed TO ston
and now the sea broke over us in fury.
TO the dory, boysl The schooner
will go to pieces I" shouted the captain
Without much difficulty we got the
dory into the water to leeward. Jack.
my shipmate, flung his clothesbag into
the stern Of the boat, while threw a
coil Of small rope into her ere tum.
bled in myself. There was but one pair
OF oars These the captain took and be-
gan to pull toward Manana.
Away from the lee Of the schooner
we were exposed to the full fury of the
gale, and the course to which we were
compelled kept us in the trough Of the
sea- Every moment it seemed as though
We must be swamped. and in spite Of all
that we could do we were drifting
rapidly toward Drunken Gut
Suddenly thole pin broke. Before
another could be put in the place we
were afOul of fha stapd;po r;,o;,. -