The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-23
TWENTY SEAMEN LOST
THE BRITISH SHIP ASIA WRECKED
NEAR NANTUCKET, MASS.
Bodies of a Man and Girl Found
Lashed to Part of the Vessel
Other Marine Casualties.

BOSTON, Feb 22.-There is scarcely
doubt that the British ship Asia, command
ed by Captain c. M. Dakin bound from
Manila for this port, was wrecked near
Nantucket during the gales of the past few
days, and that her entire crew of twenty
men have periShed. This conclusion is not
only borne out by wreckage, consisting of
the stern of the boat with Asia painted
on 1T, yards and other materials which
were cast ashore at Monomoy, but Captain
Haley, of this city, telegraphed from Wood
shell tonight that while the tugboat e. V.
McCaulley was steaming out to the barge
Excelsior, which lies sunk on Handkerchief
shoal, he saw positive evidence of the wreck
of a large square rugged vessel and recov-
cred two bodies from a portion of a dis
mantled hull. Captain Haley stated that
while near the Handkerchief shoal the tug
passed through a large amount of wreck
age, including bales of hemp, broken spars
and broken ship timbers Drifting in the
midst of this mass was a portion of the
wreck, on which the bodies were lashed.
1t was discovered that the bodies were
those of man and little girl, apparently
ten or twelve years old. They were fast
in the mizzen chains. The tug was quickly
headed in the direction of the wreck, the
crew released the bodies, and the tug re-
turned Immediately to Woodshen, where
the news was sent to this city
A later message from Captain Haley
states that the wreckage was fallen in
with about five miles north northwest from
the Handkerchief lightshp. The starboard
quarters of the vessel was all that remained
intact. The mans body was hanging to the
mizzen rigging with the child in his arms.
He had apparently made frantic efforts to
save the little one when the seas over
whelmed them. The body was not that of
Captain Dalxin, judging from a masters
certificate found IN the clothing of the
dead man. The certificate was issued at
Weymouth, n. b, to John Cook, and gave
the year of the mans birth as 1s4S. The
man was light complexioned and slightly
bald. The little girl was also of light com
plexion and bore a striking resemblance to
the man. As the tug was ordered away
from Woodshal, the bodies were later
taken ashore and given in the keeping of
the residents TO await the medical ex
aminer
The vessels cargo of hemp was consigned
to Henry w. Peabody of Salem, and con-
sisted of about S,724 bales. The vessel was
valued at $2500O. She is thought to be
only partially insured. She was owned by
Taylor Bros. of st. John, n. B.
Captain Rich, of the Pamet river life
saving station, reported from Highland
light that a schooner's mast, broken off at
the cross trees, and part of a hatch COM
bining had come ashore near his station
The wreckage apparently came from some
vessel of about one hundred tons and had
not been long in the water. heavy fog
has prevailed since Sunday the tides have
been very high, and a terrific sea has been
washing the cliffs for miles. even at low
water.
Tne bodies of two men, supposed 10 be
from the Inflated schooner MarceIlus, of
Seaport, Me- which was wrecked off Doll
Vers Neck during the blizzard OF Feb. /.
We're discovered on the beach near Glouces-
ter to-day few hundred yards from where
the wreckage came ashore. Both bodies
were badly decomposed and could not be
identified.