Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-04-08
STEAMER ASSAYE
Wrecked, Monday, on Blonde
Rock, Seal Island, N. S.
All on Beard, GA Souls, Saved and
Landed at Yarmouth.
Crab Of 3S30 Tons Liverpoo! for ST. John
A Tota! Loss.

Yarmouth, \. s. April THE Beaver
Line steamer Assayc. 1880 ions. from
Liverpool fer St. John, went ashore,
Monday afternoon. in a thick fog on
Blonde rock, Seal island. loaded with u
general cargo. The crew. consisting of
s.. were brought off here by the
steamer Wanda. The ship is in a bad
place and will probably be a total loss.
The story as told by one Of the crew
of the steamship Assaye is about as
follows;
we left Liverpool, March %. with a
valuable cargo Of about 2000 tons. The
ship was commanded by Captain Car
ruthers, a commander of 20 years ex-
perieuce. having made one or more trips
to st. John. The crew numbered &c,
with II Montreal cattlemen and one
passenger. The ship is 4 large Z
masted one, built IN 1881 by the Elder
Dempster Co, tonnage 5l29 gross, and
chartered for this voyage by the Beaver
Line people.
The voyage was = succession of rough
weather and sales, ard on the 9th the
steamer shipped heavy sea which dis
abod two boats ana did other damage
on the 5jth. tire steamer was in heavy
field of ice for IA hours. Strong winds
prevailed 10 to y O'Clock noon on Mon
day. ~ which time ii was raining and
It 1870. the ship struck with grating
sound on the Blonde Rock, 3i2 miles OIL
Seal island. The engines We're reversed
but she failed 10 come off. The water
very soon after nut the fires out and the
ship was pounding hard.
The only available boats. three small
ones were got out and manned, but one
parted painter and went adrift with
four men who could not manage her in
the strong sea with much dif1crlty sha
wuS got back to the ship by another boat.
In the meantime the usual signaling
was going on but it was deemed unsafe
to attempt to reach the island which WAS
barely diScernaSie.
The boats were held alongside, the cap
tain and Is OF the crew remaining on
board until 40 p. Nj. when the life boat
arrived from the island, aud all started
for the land which they gained. nj 6 I.
NJ in Il cold wet and exhausted condition.
but fortunately none injured or lost.
They were well cared for by those on the
island.
Tuesday. the captain with five others
succeeded, after four hours search. in
again boarding the wreck and rescuing
the wearing apparel and valuables. They
found the Steamer full OF water, pounding
hard and apparently about breaking w
and the foremost had broken down.
Wednesday Afternoon, the little steamer
Wanda owned by II. u. Cam & Son.
Yarmouth arrived at the island and
brought to Yarmouth all excepting the
captain five of the crew and the paSsen-
ger. Mr.. LiGhtbound of Liverpool. The
captain remained on the island to Try
to save the cargo with the assistance OF
fishermen The crew remain at Var
mouth for orders. Two officers viii so to
St. John, tomorrow.
The conduct of Captain Carruthers is
highly commended by the crew He was
the last to leave the ship and the best Of
order prevailed during the trying expert
,nce. why the ship was off her course
does not transpire A rumor is current
that the buoy which marks the Blond
rock was out of position.