Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-11-29
At VINEYARD HAVEN.
twenty-five Vessels Ashore, Four Dlsmasted,
Three Sunk and Others Damaged.

Vineyard Haven, Mass, NOV. Co.
The fierce northeast storm Whlcn
struck this port, Saturday night, ana
continued all day Sunday with great
violence, swept out Of existence large
fleet of sailing vessels which anchored
off this port to escape its fury. 1t is
known that at least four men have
persisted, and it is very probable that
as many more have lost their lives.
Twenty-one schooners, nearly all
heavily laden, and one barkentine are
ashore; four schooners now lying at
anchor are totally dismasted, two
other were sunk and one bark Is rest
ing on the bottom, entirely suDmerg-
ed Many other vessels were battered
and partially stripped of their rigging.
Sunday was the most eventful day
that Vineyard Haven has known In 40
years From early morning until late
at night the water about this port was
strewn with wreckage, and vessels
constantly were being driven ashore,
many of them to be dashed to pieces.
A large fleet of coasting schooners
from st. John and other ports in the
provinces and from Maine We're bat
wells driven ashore We're obliged to part
their cables owing to the great danger
from collision with other vessels which
had broken adrift.
A terrible sleet storm added to the
dangers of the gale. the driving snow
preventing the life savers and people
on shore from seeing distress signals
or giving assistance. OF the fleet of
probably two score vessels that came
10 anchor before the storm, hardly one
escaped damage. Many that were
able to maintain safe anchorage had
their headgear carried away by being
fouied by other vessels adrift.
1t is believed that Capt. Nelson OF
the Rockland, Me-, schooner Island
City and his entire crew have persisted.
The Island City was bound from Port
Liberty, N. s., for Cohasset with
cargo of coal. She put in here, Satur-
day morning, and later started for her
destination. but in the afternoon. when
a severe blow threatened she put back
for Vineyard Haven. She was discov-
cred. Sunday morning, off Cottage City
ashore, the seas making a clean breach
over her. Capt. Nelson and his crew
Of two men We're in the rigging. The
vessel was sighted by residents of the
Island, but they were powerless TO
render aid. No surf boat or life saw
ing apparatus was available, and the
nearest life saving station was at Gay
Head, 20 miles away. All wires We're
down and ii was impossible to commu-
nicate with the station.
All the forenoon the men chung to the
rigging. During the afternoon one
man was seen to drop overheard, evil
IDENTIFY having become exhausted. The
lifeiess body of the sailor was soon
afterwards washed upon the shore by
the mountainous seas. Soon after the
helpless watchers on the beach saw a
second man relax his hold in the rig
ging and fall to the deck. He was
quickly washed overheard. The third
man remained in the rigging, appar-
emily limp, and unconscious. If not
dead. He was dashed in the crosstrees
and undoubtedly persisted. The
schooner is total loss.
The schooner Leora NJ Thurlow of
Bath, Me-, Capt. Roberts, bound from
Hallowell, Me-, with a cargo of paw
ing stone, was sunk near the east side
Of the harbor, yesterday afternoon
She lies in seven fathoms of water.
! The crew climbed into the rigging anu
set distress signals. AT sunset a vol
unteer crew consisting of F. II. John
son, Isaac Norton and Alvin Cleveland.
all skilled boatmen of this port, pro-
ceeded to the rescue in a boat which
was towed by the tug Robert Lock
~ \;
in saving the mate and two seamen,
but Capt. Roberts had persisted from
exposure before succor- came.
The three men rescued We're almost
exhausted and would have persisted in
short time. The life savers work
was attended with the greatest diff
| Guilty and many times they were in
danger of being swept overheard and
lost. The body of Capt. Roberts was
left in the rigging, it being impossible
! for the men to lower it into their boat
| in the violent tempest that was rag
| ing.
| The Thurlow registered 2l3 tons
| gross, IFS net, was los feet in length.
~ In breadth and feet deep. She was
! built at Bath, Me-, in 1891 and hailed
| from that port.
The schooner Annie A. Booth Capt.
French, from st. John, n. b., for New
! York. with cargo of lumber is at an
chor in the harbor in a crippled condi-
ton, all three masts having gone by
the board. Capt. French and his crew
were finally taken off by the same vol
unteer CREW that rescued the men on
| the Thurlow. Capt French and his
men were placed on board the schooner
| Samuel c. Hart.
The schooner E. j. Hamilton. Capt.
| Soule, of Bridgeton, N. j.. bound from
Perth Amboy for Portland. with coal,
was fouled by the schooner NJ E. Ed