Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-11-09
SHIP JOHN MCLEOD LOST.
Goes on Rocks Near the Entrance to Halifax
All Hands Saved.

Halifax. n. S., Nov THE ship John
LcMeod. Captain Stewart, from lilo, via
Delaware Breakwater. with a cargo of
sugar, bound to this port. struck on
Black rock. one of the Sister shoals, near
Sambro. entrance of this harbor. at S
| o'clock this morning, during thick fog.
The vessel commenced to make water
fast and the crew all took to the boats.
The ship sank soon after the crew left,
going down in about 80 fathoms, and is a
total loss. Sne was 1919 tons and u years
old and owned by Troop & Son of st.
John. She was worth about 100000 and
her cargo was valued at about 100000 and
was for the Acadia refinery, and is in
sured in New York. The captain and
crew lost all their effects.
The Mcleod hit Black rock three times
with terrible force. each time backing off
and finally floating away. helpless
wreck, with water eight feet deep in her
hold and gaining so rapidly that going
to the bottom was a question of only a
short time-how short. it was impossible
for the crew to determine.
Early Saturday night. the ship was off
Sambro. but the weather was very
thick. Capt. Stewart decided to stand Oft
till morning. there being signs of the
wind coming around to the westward. He
accordingly wore ship and stood off pro-
ceeding as he thought about 20 miles to
the southeast. According to the patent
log. the ship had covered this distance.
and at 8 A. NJ. Capt Stewart once more
shaped his course under easy sale for
Halifax harbor. The fog whistle on Sam
bro could be family heard on board and
the captain felt sure of his position. But
an hour later he was startled at the
sound of the Sisters bell buoy right under
his bows.
Captain Stewart hurried below and was
looking over his chart when the male
shouted: There is land dead ahead"
This was quickly followed with: There
are breakers dead ahead" Captain
Stewart called. Put the wheel hard
down." and hurried on deck. mis- feet no
sooner struck the deck than they We're
knocked from under him. The ship was
on the rocks. with the seas running
mountains high and gale of wind blow
ing. She had struck the end of Black
rock about aft the foremost and a
mighty sea lifted her up like a feather on
the rock. Back she slid into the water.
only to be picked up by another sea and
lifted again onto the rock striking on her
beam the second time.
Again The ship slid back into the sea.
and for a third time was caught up in its
mighty grasp and flung against the rock
striking this time about aft the main
mast and completely cutting away her
waterway on the port side. Then she fell
back into the water and cleared the rock.
The captain ordered the pumps to be
sounded and it was found there was eight
feet of water in the hold.
1t was case of life and death. The
ship was fast settling. There was no
chance to beach her. The seas were
breaking over her and the crew expected
every moment to be their last. After a
hard struggle the boats were launched.
The captain. Second Mate Malley, the
steward. sailmaker and four seamen took
to one boat. and the rest of the crew of
q men to the other. II. Petersen, a sea-
| man. had his arm broken in two places
by one boat crashing against the ship
This crew rowed for DEVILS island, where
| they landed.
| The captain returned to the ship later
| on to secure the ships papers and his
nautical instruments. Then he again put
off from the ship and was working %
ward the harbor when pilot boat No. 4
came along and picked up his boat.
Captain Steward explained that al
| though the log showed he was at leas.
20 miles clear of Sambro. he was actually
only a short distance from the rocks. He
| attributes the mistakes to currents run
| ming swiftly to the westward.
| Pilot Latter and two other men boarded
| the Mcleod shortly after daylight and
| finding her abandoned, attempted TO work
her into port. The water gained on them
| too rapidly and at noon they had I" take
pilot boat that came along. Shortly
| afterward the ship went down, several
miles from shore