The Portland daily press., 1897-12-31
CREW TOOK TO THE RIGGING.
Schooner ArcOIa Wrecked on Out r
Green Island.

OASOi Ao1anNs
Went Ashore in Thick Snow Storm
Schooner Owned in Bath and Is a Total
Loss.
The schooner Arcola of Bath loaded
with lumber and bound for Boston from
Randolph, ran ashore on Outer Green
island about 1.S0 O'Clock Thursday morn
ing during thick snow storm and south
west gale. Captain Sydney F. Weeks and
the two men of the crew made their
escape TO the shore after having been in
the rigging of the vessel for several hours
and were brought to this city Thursday
morning. The schooner was only SO tons
and will probably prove total loss. Her
cargo of lumber was nearly all saved.
Captain Weeks Of the wrecked schooner
gives the following account of the disaster:
1.-THE Arcola was loaded with lumber
at Randolph by Putnam and Closson and
sailed from there the 10th. We had not
time to spare for [ understand thu river
has since closed up. The cargo was spruce
good many bundles of Iaths and
shingles. When we reached Bath we
hauled into a pier and here we stayed
nearly week fitting the Arcola out with
new sails and replacing such rigging as
was worn and needed looking after. In
fact, the vessel was put in thoroughly
good shape for winter service and when
we left the mouth of the Kennebec we
felt that we had good craft under us.
My crew consisted of but two men be-
sides myself. They were Charles W.
Weeks and Everett W. Leonard, which 1
considered crew enough to handle the
schooner as she is only a trifie over ninety
TONS
After we left Seguin it came in thick
with a heavy snow storm and gale from
the southwest. We could see absolutely
nothing in the gale that was blowing.
could not tell where we were. 1
thought we were by Green island and
then l didn't know as we were, in fact,
it was impossible to make light, buoy,
or hear fog bell. 1t was high tide and
the wind was from the southwest and the
seas were running very high. We were
way over Half Way rock when it breezed
up and from this time the wind steadily
increased in force. I think my compass
must have been out of order for I could
tell nothing from it nor could l get hold
of any landmark that recognized. I
finally decided that must be by Green
island ali right and thought could run
into Portland harbor all right through
the thick, wet snow.
''We had got about mile to the west
of Half Way rock when we lowered the
mainsail and put in a reef, it was getting
so rough. 1t was about one O'Clock in the
morning, I should say, when the lookout
heard breakers ahead.
Il put the wheel hard down, but saw
that she could never come about in time
to clear the breakers, SO with all the speed
we could we let go the anchor. We were
in the surf when we did this but had not
struck then. The rope ran out like light
ming and as the anchor caught the rope
frightened under the strain, and after a
terrible moment of suspense, snapped like
thread and we knew our last hope of
keeping off shore was gone. With one
great plunge the schooner struck and the
splintering of wood and swapping Of rig
cling could be heard above the roar Of the
ocean. Even then we did not know where
we were and this added to the horror of
the situation for the surf was something
terrible and we knew not what to expect
even if we succeeded in getting our only
boat safely launched. However, it seemed
to be the only thing we could do so hasti-
F y taking our money and gathering what
''othes we could we put them in the
all boat. I put most Of mine into a
valise and there was in all goods and
money to the value of $50. There were
many other things that Of course I can
never replace for twice that.sum.
"The other men besides putting all
their clothes in the. boat, lost about Sl2 In
cash between them.
'sWe started to lower the boat overheard
and went to cut it away with knife
when the blade doubled up and cut a ter
rible cash in my hand. At the same time
wave struck the boat, wrenched it loose,
and in a second it was lost with every
thing in it.
"We have been fortunate and unfortu-
nate at the same time,'' interiected
Captain Weeks, "for if we had succeeded
in launching that boat not enc of us
would have been here to tell the story for
she could not have lived minute in that
sea and we would have been dashed to
pieces on the rocks.
"Our hearts failed US when we saw our
boat go. Not one Of US ever expected to
escape OF live to see daylight, for we did
not think it possible that the Arcola
could hold together until light and help
came We were obliged to take to the
rigging to keep from being washed over
board.
THE deokload of lumber was high out
Of water, but the surf broke constantly
over this and drenched to the skin we
mad tosforsake 1t. For four terrible hours
we chung to the rigging, soaked through