Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-12-02
At GAY HEAD.
Schooner Clara Lsasit and Amelia G. Ireland
Wrecked-Six Sailors Perish.

of the Gay Head life saving station
has reached here bringing news OF the
loss or the schooner Amelia G. ireland
Of New York, and the Clara Leavitt
of Portland. Me-, and Of the captain
mate and four seamen from the Clara
Leavitt and of one seaman from the
Amelia G. Ireland. The names OF the
lost and the survivors had not been
learned when Mr.. Calhoun left the Gay
Head station, as those who were res
cued were two greatly exhausted to tell
who they were or to name their COM
panions. The wrecks occurred Satur-
day night. The captain, mate and
four men of the Ireland were saved and
one seaman from the Clara Leavitt.
The usual patrol of the shore in the
vicinity of Gay Head was begun on
Saturday evening and the men were
expecting a heavy storm on account of
the barometric conditions. BY s O'CLOCK
the northeast gale was upon them, in
creasing in force every moment. AT
$50 through the storm the fiashlight of
troch in the direction Of Dog Fish
bar was seen by the patrolmen. The
signal has but one meaning and that
was that the vessel was doomed as it
was impossible that one could escape
the dreaded rocks In such seas. The
life savers FASTENED to the station and
Captain Hayman quickly mustered his
crew and in a few minutes life boat
and all the apparatus necessary,
drawn by a yoke of oxen was on its
way to the nearest point to the wreck
which was two and half miles from
the station. The wind was blowing al
a frightful rate accompanied by blind
ing snow and ii was at IL O'Clock be-
fore they reached the Joint nearest tn
bar.
By that time the greckage of the
vessel was coming ashore. Nothing
could been seen of her and it was soon
apparent that she had gone to pieces
Soon larger pieces of the schooner APP
peared and later clinging to fragment
one man was driven in and rescued
from the waves. He was hurried 10
the station and made as comfortable as.
possible.
While the life savers were peering
into the storm in an effort to discover
another possible survivor, another sig
nal torch was seen from a vessel which
was at that moment almost upon the
rocks. The next moment she struck
but went on in a position a little less
exposed to the fury of the waves
Quickly the life boat was run down TO
the edge of the surf Then with six
stout men at the oars an attempt was
made to launch her. 1t was swept
back like chip and no sooner had 1t
struck the beach than it was picked up
by the wind and blown 20 rods away
Captain Hayman then decided to try
shooting line to the wreck but this
could not be done until daylight.
With the first appearance of dawn,
the gun carriage was drawn up for ser
vice. Seven men could be seen cling
ing to the rigging of the vessel. The
line was shot toward the schooner It
fell short. The effort was repeated with
the same result. Again the apparatus
was put into operation and again, until
II shots had been fired in vain. Mean
while the wind had shifted a little
more to the northerly and was colder
and hail began falling.
Spurred by the sight of the men in
the rigging. and the thought of the in
creasing severity of the storm Captain
Hayman called for another trial of the
surf boat The craft was tossed back
on the beach. Seven times the boat
was launched and the most persistent
effort of the crew to breast the waves
was fruitless and the boat each time
was driven back.
On the eighth trial, however success
came and under the fury of the strokes
of the men the boat was driven on from
wave to wave, now nearly Swamped
and again on the verge of capsizing
When they reached the vessel she was
found to be the Amelia G. Ireland. One
seaman had persisted, but the captain,
mate and four sailors were rescued and
taken to the station. Calhoun left soon
afterwards for South Orleans for medi-
cal treatment as he was injured inter
nally by the life boat as she was driven
on the beach in one of the Attempts 10
launch her.
BEFORE Calhoun left, however. from
the wreckage which was picked up i,
appeared that the schooner which first
struck on the bar was the Clara
Leavitt. When Calhoun started, the
rescued men We're all in cerious con-
dition from exposure and their battle
with the sea. The life saving crew was
giving them every possible attention
Several other members of the crew be-
sides Calhoun We're more or less in
jured while engaged in their attempt
at rescue.
AS soon as the work at the schooner
Ireland was completed the men were
compelled to return to the lookout, and
from IL o'clock. Saturday night until 5
O'Clock, Monday morning, they were al
most necessarily on duty.
The Clara Leavitt was a three master
OF 455.1O net tons. 127 feet long and was
built at Cape Elizabeth, Me, in 1874.
The Amelia G. Ireland also was a
three master. owned by the Water Oil
Company of New York and was bound
from Bayonne. N. j., to Boston, with
cargo of oil in tanks. She was of
21O31 net tons. 124 feet long and was
built in Somerset county, Maryland, in
1896. She will be total loss
The leavitt's Crew.
Portland. Me. Dec. 1.-The schooner
| Clara Leavitt, reported lost near Vine