The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-12-29
WRECK OF A SCHOONER
The Susan P. ThurIow Goes to Pieces
Off the Maine Coast.
SIX OF THE CREW pERlSHED.

The Vessel, Laden With Plaster, Struck
on the Gushing Island Reef, Near Port
land-At the Mercy Of q Heavy Sea-
Masts Carried Away-Tale OF the only
Survivor-Narrow Escape From Death.
PORTLAND, Ne. (SpeciaD. D.-The schooner
Susan P. Thurlow, bound from Hillsboro,
New Brunswick, for New York, went TO
pieces on Gushing Shoals about three miles
from this city, st 8 O'Clock Wednesday
night. The story Of the disaster became
known when the only survivor OF the crew
appeared in an exhausted condition at the
hut of fisherman. The dead bodies OF the
mate and three sailors we're found on the
beach where they had been washed up dur
ing the night.
The single survivor Of the wreck was E.
Reimann. He was brought at once to this
city, and gave the following account OF the
loss OF the vessel:
The Thurlow, on her voyage from Hills
boro to New York, encountered: rough
weather of the Maine coast, and, as the
storm increased, the captain decided to
make Portland Harbor for shelter. He was
only few miles out from Portland Harpor
when the rudder rope parted, and the snip
became disabled and at the mercy OF me
heavy sea. The captain and crew tried to
repair the steering gear, but, while they
were thus engaged, the schooner struck on
the reef. All three masts were carried
away by the force Of the compact, one OF
the topmasts striking the captain anu
crushing one of his legs.
The men were ordered to jump for their
lives. ReimaRn was caught by huge wave
and hurled into the sea. He was washed
up on the beach of the island three times,
but was unable to obtain footh- d, pelng
swept back by the undertow.
He managed to get hold Of one OF the
spars and cIung to It for a long time. Fin
ally, he was carried on to the beach, where
the recsdine waves left him safe. He lay
there benumbed with cold and exhaus-
ted by his battle with the waves,
for some time. At length he dragged him
self to the hut of q fisherman, where ne was
cared for until morning, when ne was
brought to this city and the story OF the
disasfer became known. The bodies OF
Mate Mclean and three sailors were
washed ashore on the island during the
night. Nothing was left Of the vessel In
the morning, The beach Is strewn with
spars and other wreckage.
The Susan P. Thurlow was built at Har-
rington, Me-, in 1872, and halls from the
port Of New York. She registered 40 tons
net, 46O tons gross, was 126 feet In length,
81 feet breadth Of beam and 16 feet deep.
The vessel, valued at $4,000, was owned
principally by Captain Joseph Weldon. OF
brooklyn, who has heretofore sailed the
vessel. On this trip he placed the schoon-
or In charge OF his mate, L. Heljersen.
The crew. in addition to Captain Heller.
sen, was composed Of six men,
who were shipped at this port In
November. The names Of the
crew were: Captain L. Heljersen,
aged forty, of New York; F. Mclean, OF
Massachusetts,, mate, aged twenty-four;
John G. Nickels, Of Philadelphia, aged
fifty, cook; F. Laagadee, OF France, aged
iorty-seven, seaman; Philip Mead, Of Fall
River, aged forty, seaman; E. Reimann,
q German, aged twenty-four, seaman;
George Anderson, Of Philadelphia, aged
thirty-two, seaman.