The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-02-23

| Have Been LOST
Vineyard Haven, Mass, February a.
The tug L. V. NcCauley arrived here to-
day from Handkerchief Shoal, where she
has been inspecting the wrecked barge
Excelsior, Captain O Brien, reported that
when about five miles from the barge he
found the water covered with wreck Of
every description, many pieces of which
were recovered and two bodies, one a
man and the other little girl about
twelve years old. AS great quantities Of
hemp and jute were floating near. Capt.
o. Brien came to the conclusion that the
wreckage was part of the British ship
Asia, bound to Boston from Manita and
that the two bodies are the only two
human remains of those who were on
board. When the wreckage from the Asia
was discovered the tugs speed was re-
duced as the great mass Of spars, rigging
and cargo proved somewhat of an obstruc
tion to navigation. and soon somewhat
larger piece was sighted. On nearing it
the two bodies were seen lashed to some
of the rigging and with scme difficulty
the tug was run alongside and the two
corpses were out away. When discovered
the mans arm was about the waist of the
little girl rs il protecting her from the
| fearful pillows.
The child was scantily clothed and
havirg on only night dress and night
slippers, which seemed to indicate that
the ship must have struck the treacherous
shoals off Monomer during the night
time and broken up within a few
minutes, SO that the little girl had no
time to dress, as she was snatched from
| her bunk and taken to the deck to meet
her death in the waves.
| AS both the bodies and papers were
landed at Woods Hole, Captain o 'Brien
could not give an aoco lrate description of
either the man or the girl. He said that
in the mans pocket was captain s GER
tifcate, issued at Weymouth, N. s., bear
! ing the name of "John Cook" There
was also found in the same pocket a
mates discharge. bearing the same name,
given two years ago in New York. The
man was about 35 years of age and was
thought to have been the mate of the ship.
Captain O. Brien also reported that there
was so much wreckage in Nantucket
Shoals that navigation is extremely
hazardous, especially at night.
AGENTS NOTIFIED.
Boston, February 22-Mr. Herbert Hall
of the firm of John q. Hall & Co., of
this city, the agent OF the Asia, was
notified tonight and Immediately placed
himself in communication with the own
ers of the vessel, Taylor Bros, of st.
John, N. b., The vessels cargo of hemp
was consigned to Henry w. Peabody of
Salem and consisted of about 8, 724 bales.
This was to have been discharged at Con-
stitution wharf. Mr.. Peabody said that
the cargo was probably insured. The
vessel was valued at $4,000 and is
thought to be only partially covered by
insurance.
ASIA BUILT AT ST. JOHN.
St. John, N. B., February 22-The
ship Asia was built at Courtney, ST.
John, NIB, in 1883 and was owned by
Taylor Brothers of this city. % She was
1893 tons register and we'll and substan-
italy built. She has not been here for
some years and nothing is known as to
the names of her crew beyond Captain
Dakin. 5tat eeat
THE REPORT CONFIRMED.
Chatham, Mass, February 22.-From
the wreokage immense quantities OF
which came ashore today, it is believed
that the British ship Asia was wrecked
on the Handkerchief or Great Round
shoals, during the gale of the past two
days. Much OF the wreckage was OF
light character and included part OF a
deck house, evidently from q big foreign
vessel, also broken yards, but the most