The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-12-03
WRECK OF THE LENA SMITH.
Capt. A. b. Smith Master of tho Ill Fated
Schooner Tell the Story.

Sitting in the small but comfortable
cabin of the coasting schooner Watch
man, which is lying at the end of the
Grand Trunk elevator dock waiting for
an opportunity to load grain for some
port in the eastern part of the state, a
PRESS reporter found Capt. A. B.
Smith of East Machias, who recently
passed through as trying.an experience on
a wrecked vessel as has ever befallen
those who go down to the sea in ships
Capt. Smith is man about 40 years
old, and although 1t was nearly two
months ago that he lost his vessel in the
Gulf Stream, during one of October's Sc
vere hurricanes, he has not yet fully re-
covered from the effects of his terri BILE
experience, and it will probably be many
months before he is again able to take
command of vessel. He is typical
duwn-east sailor, and one of those shrewd,
fearless N en- who have made the Maine
shipmasters respected and admired the
world over.
Capt. Smith told the story of the
wreck of his vessel, the Lena Smith, in
a modest manner and as if such OCCUR
rences were hardly worth spreadin g
about at all. He said: 'We sailed from
Wilmington, N. c., on October l, with
a cargo of hard pine for Beverly. Mass,
and for 10 days Lad very fair passage.
On October 18th the barometer began to
fail rapidly and early in the morning q
hurricane was blowing and the sea
rapidly assuming threatening aspect.
''Ihe schooner Lena Smith carried q
crow of seven men besides myself and
my Is years old daughter, who had TAX
en- this trip with me. We cid every thing
that it was possible for man to do to save
the vessel. but with the wind constantly
increasing in force and the sea running
higher evory moment, we at last began
to realize that the Lena Smith had made
her last cruise. Late in the afternoon
the vessel WAS thrown on her beam ends
and at once filed with water. Every
sea was breaking over the schooner, and
having dashed my daughter to the
quarter rail, we set about cutting away
the vessels masts. When this was ac-
complained the schooner rode tho sea
little better, but every wave broke clear
boats, deckload and everything movable
On the deck were swept away. All of us
were firmly dashed to the quarter rail
now, ard as the sea washed over us we
were under water a greater part of the
time and 1t was a wonder that some OF
sells deck.
My little daughter seemed to bear the
terrible S6 hours which followed with re-
markable fortitude. and. in fact. she
stood the awful strain better than any
of the men. All through the night and
until noon the next day we remained
Iashcd to the quarter rail, almost hope
less and utterly helpless. Since noon of
the previous day we had not had drop
of fresh water to drink or mouthful
of food and the terrible strain was be-
ginning to tell upon the mon.
A bout noon on October 10 we sighted
steamship bearing down upon us and
when about mile or SO away she sighted
the wreck and changed her course some
what and ran as near to us as she ooull.
In the awful sea which was running and
with the greatest danger, the brave men
on this steamship launched boat, ana
after four hours of hard work at last suc-
ceeded in taking us all of tie wreck.
The steamship was the Gates City of the
Boston and Savannah line, and the way
the officers, crew and passengers of that
vessel took care of US and ministered
to our needs is beyond all words Of mine
to speak of. -
At this point in his story Shpt. Smith
showed great feeling, end almost brol Q
down when he told how the kind heart
ed peoples tho Gates City cared for his
little daughter and the crew OF the ILL.,
fated schooner.
We were landed in Boston by the
Gates City and my daughter and I at
once went homo to Fest Machias Strange
to say my daughter recovered EInore
quickly from the effects uf that terrible
10 hours on the wreck than any of the
rest OF us. She ia now almost as strong
as she was before, but the mate of the
schooner, Mr.. Foss, is rapidly declining,
and the physicians say he is going into
quick consumption. Some Of tbs men,
bsrs of the crew are also still very i'll and
it will be long time before get rid of
the terrible cold l contracted and am
able to get about my work again. The
only thing that saved our lives was the
cargo of lumber which prevented the
Lena Smith from sinking. The wreck
was picked up on October 18th by the
schooner B. I. Hazard and was % ed
into Philadelphia, by her from wbere l
have just returned from that city where
have been settling up the vessels sal
Vage and her insurance.