The herald., 1898-11-29
In the Harbor

BOSTON. Nov. 2S.-Not until daybreak
did the awful havoc wrought by the storm
in Boston Harbor and vicinity become ap-
parent Not since 1852 has a storm caused
such destruction of property and loss of
life so near the city. The tugs that started
early today to explore the harbor and offer
assistance where it was needed found con-
dition of affairs almost unprecedented in
the marine history of Boston. On every
shoal and reef in the harbor was found some
wrecked craft, over which a wild sea still
dashed, carrying the vessel higher up en-
the shore or slowly grinding it to fragments.
Many wrecks were covered with ice and this
and the fact that terrific sea was running
made it impossible to learn their names.
The raging waters also prevented an at
tempt to recover bodies known to be in some
OF the wrecks, and it is probable that it will
be several days before complete list of
those lost can be obtained.
At Hull beach, where two barges and two
schooners went ashore, more than dozen
bodies were visible in the surf, but it was i'm
possible to get at them. At Shag Rocks,
between Boston Light and the Brewsters,
where the schooner Calvin f. Baker was
ashore, two sailors were taken from the
rigging by the life savers, nearly exhausted,
and the dead body of another was recovered.
Three others from this vessel were drowned,
but their bodies could not be found
BOSTON, Nov. 2S.-Tugs returning to
this city at noon after tour of the harbor
report about thirty five vessels of all sizes
ashore or sunk in and near Boston harbor
Seven large schooners and two Baltimore
coal barges are completely wrecked and it
is estimated that between twenty-five and
thirty lives have been lost. Only one body
has yet been recovered.
More than dozen are reported in the
surf at Hull and efforts are being made to
recover them.
The steamer Ohio is high and dry on
Spectacle Island. 1t is very doubtful if she
can be foated until a channel has been
dug.
The ocean-going tug Tamqua is on the
rocks at Rainsford Island and will be a
total wreck.
The management of the Portland Steam
ship Company announces at noon today
that they had no information as to the
whereabouts of the steamer Portland which
left this city on Saturday night for Port
land. During the forenoon report was in
circulation that the Portland was at an
chor in Gloucester harbor, but the captain
OF the steamer Gloucester, which arrived
from that port says the Portland is not
at Gloucester. The company has received
dispatch from Portsmouth stating that
their vessel had not put in at that port.
number of steamers are Mt anchor in
lower Boston harbor, but owing to the thick
weather thei-' names cannot be made out
The Portland Steamship Company people
think possibly the Portland is among the
number. The Portland had far-sized
cargo and about 25 or 80 passengers.
Every harbor between here and Portland
on the north shore has been heard from and
one on the south shore, and in no case has
the steamer been seen. The only remaining
harbor which she could have reached is
Provincetown on Cape Cod, and news from
that point is anxiously awaited, as it is still
impossible to reach that port by wire. She
carried siXty-fve passengers and a crew of
fifteen men.
Among the tugs which started down the
harbor as soon as daylight came, was the
police boat Guardian, which, last night was
caught in the thick weather off Deer island
while endeavoring to ascertain the meaning
of distress signals flying from the lighthouse,
She mado for the beacon which marked the
inner harbor channel again this morning and
with tossing sea and strong incoming tide.
tried to answer the signals. Finally it was
learned that the lighthouse had no fresh
water, for the heavy seas had broken the