The Portland daily press., 1897-12-11
THE WINNER ON THE BOOKS.
"A Schooner Wrecked on Richmond ISL
aad.

1t was thick and disagreeable outside of
the harbor Thursday night and vessels
running along the coast had many mar
row escapes from piling uo on the rocks.
Among other vessels which were in dan
gerous positions shortly before daylight
yesterday was thes schooner's Winner,
Capt. Robbins, and the schooner Annie
Shepherd, iCapt. .sStinson, These vessels
were bound into Portland and were run
ming down the coast from the westward
1t was so thick that the end of the iib-
boom could not be seen from the fore.
castle and navigation was largely mat
ter of guess work. Shortly before 5
O'Clock the Winners lookout heard the
sound of breakers dead ahead. A warn
ing shout to the man at the. helm and
then desperate attempt to throw the
vessel Up into the wind was made, but 1t
was in vain, for the little vessel struck
hard upon the outer lodges on the eastern
end OF Richmond's island and was soon
pounding hard on the rocks. Capt. Rob-
bins had on board the vessel, beside his
crew, five passengers, who were bound
from Boston to Harrington. Among
these was a lady and her husband,
friends of Capt. Robbins. A boat was
quickly launched and the ladysand pas
sengers landed upon the;island after con-
siderable difficulty. A desperate attempt
was made by the crew to get the vessel
off the rocks, but tho sea was too heavy
to accom- plish much and daylight found
the Winner in a very bad condition.
Shortly after the Winner had run upon
the rocks the schooner Annie Shepherd,
Capt. Stinson, bound from New York to
Portland with cement, came bowling
along through the thick fog. The men
on the wrecked Winner saw he Annie
Shepherd in time to set up a warning
shout to those on board. Capt. Stinson
was on deck and Immediately put the
vessel up into the wind and after q few
minutes of agonizing suspense, succeed
I'd i'll drawing off out of the danger circle
and kept on her way to Portland, where
she arrived unframed. 1t was a very
narrow escape for the Annie shepherd,
however. and If it had not been for this
warning of the men of the Winner that
vessel would have had companion on
the rocks off Richmond island.
With the dawn of day the life saving
crew discovered the Winner and started
for her. She was found to be high and
dry on shore and it was deemed impos
sible to board her. Capt. Irundy and his
brave men made several attempts, but
III 10 or, IF
the passengers or crews belongings. and
as they escaped with only the clothes they
mad on at the time Of the accident.
The Central wharf tow boat office was
notified of the wreck, and the tow boat
Z. A. Warren, Capt. George Matthews,
started out Of the harb Dor for Richmond
island at a little after eleven O'Clock.
Capt. Matthews got hawser on board
the Winner by. the aid of the life saving
ere" and made desperate enoeavor to
pun the little Evessol off into deep water.
but she was found to be wedged nrlniy
on the rocks and the attempt had to be
given up. The,Warren returned to this
city about o'clock and will make anoth-
er attempt to pull the schooner OFF today
ouV as the sea is quite rough and the yes
sci Is IN very bad place it is douotful If
0he winner can be saved. If it IS found
impossible to mill her off she will be
stripped.
capt. Robbins and his passengers and
ere" were kindly cared for at Riohmond's
island and at the house of the life say
ing crew. The Winner was bound from
Boston to Harrington and had no cargo
on board. She is.of III tons, halls from
Machlas, and was built in 1871.