Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-07-23
CAPT. HiaBeE's sToaY.
A He Saw The schmidt Wrsehed, On Pond
Island, from HE Vessel.

The schooner Horace G. Morse, which
was within almost stones throw from
the Schmidt schooner at the mouth Of
the kennebec last week when she went
ashore on Pond island, was in the
stream, last night. with a cargo Of $50
tons of ice for Philadelphia.
The times went out on board the
Morse and enjoyed pleasant chat with
the captain, ID. =. Higbee of Atlantic
City. He said he has been sailing into
the Kennebec for the past 20 years but
the experience he had last week dur
ing the storm was the worst he ever
had and for while it was doubtful
whether his vessel would not go ashore,
but 1t was hardly so bad as 1t was
thought to be by the people in this city
The Morse dragged as far as l
wanted her to and l could slip her
chain and go clear of the island. The
only time ! was going toward the is
land was at ebb tide and then it was
terribly rough place / could have
come in Tuesday but was expecting a
towboat every minute. There was no
tug came out or spoke U.S. We set color
Tor towboat Wednesday more for the
Schmidt than for ourselves, as she was
gradually going toward the island.
The crew of the unfortunate vessel
knew they We're going ashore and
thought they would rather go ashore
IN the day time than at night. NV
crew begged of me to slip my anchor.
During the heavy rain squat the Morse
swung around stern to the sea and il
was terribly rough. We had no extra
hold. One of the Schmidt horse pipes
was torn out and the anchor jammed
and she dragged half way around the
island before it let go. l was watching
the vessel all the time. They did all
they could to save her. They had no
| rudder and could not gain any head
way although they had foresail jib on
and tried to put on foresail, trying to
get her to keep off.
Things We're jumping about on the
Morse in great shape, turning over !,
full barrel of beef in the store room
which was damned, | had IS fathoms
of chain out on one anchor and so
fathoms on the other, which gave her
chain enough. The sea was the
toughest j had seen in my whole last
trip of 5000 miles. ! didn't look 70.
such weather at the mouth of the Ken
nebec. in the month of July The tug
Seguin came out TO us, Thursday, AMI
wanted us to ship our anchors. She
would not come near us, being afraid
of getting ashore. AS | had had con
siderable experience during the last As
hours previous | thought | was better
off where | was than to try and slip my
anchors. If the boat had come out,
Wednesday, / would have slipped the
chains as the glass was falling and it
was blowing right smart. We laid
head too on the ebb tlue and the masts
We're nearly rolled out of her We
used the trysail which kept her up well
10 ii. She was making good weather of
II. | was rather afraid of the chains
and the windlass. but they stood we'll
The windlass VAS Hyde make |
would have sold out very cheap on
Wednesday.
1T was hard picture to watch the
men on the Schmidt. and had the life
boat not put out as she did we would
have sent boat to her. We saw some
of the men climbing Town the bobstay
chains trying to get ashore but they
would have been dashed To pieces had
they attempted it. There is no doubt
that the crew and probably the vess. /
might have been saved had the tdx
boat been on the scene Wednesday
morning. Bath Times, July 81