The Republican journal., 1898-01-27
The Wreck of Sch. N. q. Symonds.

| Capt. Snow man, mate Melvin Abbott, and
schooner N G. Symonds were on steamer
Penobscot last Saturday morning on their
way to their homes in Bucksport The
schooner les bleaching in the sun on the
rocky shores of Porto Grande, South Amer
ica. Her crew were doubly fortunate in es-
Gaping with their lives. The Symonds was
engaged in carrying young banana trees
from Jamaica to Porto Grande. On Jan 1-t
the vessel discharged cargo at Porto
Grande and was preparing to sail for ia
maica
She was lying offshore with three cables
| out, when, without the slightest intimation
a tremendous hurricane from the north
started. The sky, which moment before
had been clear and cloudless, became as
dark as night, the sea, which had been
as smooth as glass, became foaming, seeth-
ing mass.
Giant white-tipped combers engulfed the
vessel; the timbers cracked under their
thunderGus force and the ropes snapped like
threads before the gale. The minutes SEEM
board. There was little thought of seeing
the shores of New England again.
Then there came a lull in the storm and
then monster wave swept tiercely on. The
three cables parted, one after the other, and
the next instant the schooner was hurled
with lightning speed towards the shore The
last vestige of hope had gone, when with
crash that shook the vessel from stem to
stern, she ceased her lightning speed. She
had struck on hidden reef. Then hope re-
vived. Despite the heavy rollers, boat
was lowered, and after struggle which
taxed the energies of every man the shore
was reached.
There danger began again. The exhausted
men had barely placed their feet on land,
when a host of half-cad and half civilized
l1,l IN,
They yelled and danced around the men for
some few minutes, until luckily enough
another wave swept the vessel from the
reef, and landed her high up on the beach.
Half OF the natives swarmed up on the bat
tered hull and began to loot her. The other
half surrounded the seamen more closely
and began to threaten them 81 don't know
just what would have happened" said Capt.
Snowman, land have wondered more than
once. but then it doesn't matter now. You
see just as we were ready for most any thing
eight soldiers came along.
"Now you can just bet that we owe our
lives to those soldiers, l tell you that.
They sent the savages flying and had
no more trouble in that direction You
notice I said savages. I suppose you really
couldn't call them that but I, who know
them, do so.
"On the following morning I made my
way to Porto Plata and informed United
States Consul Simpson of the wreck The
crew were then brought to Porto Plata.
"Consul Simpson aided me in pressing
into service the little vessel Alsatia, and the
shipwrecked crew were sent to Porto
Grande. The steamer Cherokee carried
them to their homes in Bucksport later.
II remained with the wreck until JAN
II. saving sails, blocks and all the gear
possible. This was shipped to Porto Plata
and sold by auction on the 18th.
II suffered greatly from hardships, being
three days with but two so-called meals
Ny only shelter was tent made from a
staysail from the schooner. 1 am glad that
am on my way home at last. 1t was the
most disastrous voyage ever made"