Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-07-16
Of the Wreck Of the Schooner
Schmidt on Pond Island.
One Sailor Nearly Lost His Life in
Trying to Save the Captain.
The Vessel Has Gone 10 Pieces-Ihe Crew
Cared Tor at Popham.

tT,
Wednesday. was witnessed by crowds
of people from the beach and the fol-
lowing account of the wreck was OBJ
tanned from the mate and captain of
the life saving crew.
ID. c. Powell, mate of the wrecked
schooner was seen at the life saving
station and by the light from a lamp
| borrowed from the lady at the station
| the following story was obtained from
him.
Mr.. Powell halls from Philadelphia.
! He had followed the sea all his life
| having been master q years and on
| this trip of the Schmidt il was the first
| time ne had sailed as mate in that
time. He was formerly in command
| of the schooner Susie Davidson.
He said the Schmidt sailed from Saco
| last Monday night for the Kennebcc for
! a cargo of ice and came 10 anchor by
Pond island, at 10 O'Clock Tuesday fore
noon. il was thick weather and they
remained there until yesterday morn
| ing when during the gale they were
blown upon Pond island They had
both 300 pound anchors out with 80
iathoms of chain. When asked while
| they were being dragged toward the
| island, why they did not let go their
anchors, he replied that if they had
they would only have gone ashore all
the quicker.
They We're hoping the anchors would
catch hold every moment. The vessel
struck the lodges about noon time and
ct ha VIII 90 ,l,, ri ci,i a
she filed and rolled over in less than
five minutes. Powell and the captain
came up on the lee side together and
all the rest of the crew managed to go
clear and obtain a place of safety on
the bottom of the craft.
1t was then blowing right good
breeze. The captain, who was an old
gentleman and in poor health WAS as
sisted by the mate and one of the
sailors, Russian Finn, in retaining a
hold on the vessel until they We're both
nearly exhausted. They took turns by
holding on with one hand and keeping
themselves from going overheard by
the other, by holding on to the vessel.
1t was rough and they were washed
about considerably, during which time
they were quite badly bruised.
The captains strength rapidly failed
and he was washed overheard about 81
minutes before the arrival of the life
saving crew. All the rest OF the crew
We're saved. although the job was q
difficult one.
The sailors lost all their clothing ex-
cept what they had on. on arrival at
the life saving station they We're fitted
out with clothing and made as COM
Portable as possible by the captain, c.
H. Spinney and willing hands at the
station and the unfortunate men We're
loud in their praises of the entertain
ment and attention given them
Capt. Cramer leaves n Wife and two
children. Capt. c. II. Spinney of the
life saving station when seen by the
Times was busy making out his re-
port of the accident. He told the story
of the wreck in plain simple manner
and when asked if ii was not n danger
Gus and risky job replied, THE crew
did it's duty"
The people who witnessed the work
of the life saving crew all said they did
noble work in a manner deserving the
highest concentrations.
Capt. Spinney first saw the vessel in
the morning and thought she might be
in need of assistance. He went to the
Rockedge and discovered she was
drifting toward the lodges He re-
turned to the station and hoisted the
signal for the crew of the station to re-
port and inside of 10 minutes he had
a crew of six men ready for duty
The surf boat Race Point was
launched and was headed toward the
wreck, distance of about a mile.
Although it was pretty rough the trip
was made in good time. When about
half way to bhe wreck Capt. Cramer
was washed overheard. The rest II
the crew were saved after considerable
trouble without an accident of any
kind, but We're considerably bruised
They did not save anything except
What they stood in.
on arriving at the station. they We're
furnished with clothing from the ward
robe donated by the Womans Ma
tional Relief Association. Last even
ing telegram was received from the
owners Of the Schmidt in Philadelphia,
authorizing the mate to draw on them
for necessary expenses for the men to
reach their homes.
The wrecked vessel went to pieces
shortly after she struck
The wreck could be plainly seen from
the cottages and Hotel Rockletige ana
there Was great excitement along the |
shore. The women Were crying and |
praying that the life boat would reach |
the wreck in time to save the poor men |
The men folks were also excited. 1T |
was Il scene that | never want to sac |
the like of again" said one of the spec
tators.
The crew seemed to be a very hardy |
and intelligent set of men. One was |
from Nova Scotia, another from Rus |
STA and the others from Finland The |
stewards name was Joseph Martin of |
Ship Harbor, N. j. They realized that |
twas too rough for a tug. when they |
We're lying at anchor outside and said |
that the vessel was rolling so that they |
could help themselves but little.
Befare II O'Clock they had packed
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