Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-03-30
N0RSEMAN.
Wrecked on Tom Moore's
Ledge, Marblehead Neck.
All Hands Safe Probably Total Loss
Value, $65O,0O0 With Cargo.
Steamer kairos Disabled and Drifting About
on the Broad Atlantic.

Mafblehead, Mass, March 29.-The
large ocean freighter Norseman or the
Warren Line, which regularly plies be-
tween Boston and Liverpool. and which
was due at Boston, yesterday. is prac-
ticaliy a wreck on ledge 200 yards of
Marblehead Neck She got into this
singular predicament during dense
fog which preceded daybreak. That
she should be so close in shore is strong
evidence that her master had complete
ly lost his bearings. Strange as ii may
seem. with a fairly deep draught! she
almost cleared the ledge which the al
ter part of her keel struck and became
firmly wed2ed. This ledge is Familiarity
known as Tom Moore's rock and lies
about abreast of the fashionable sum
mer hotel. the Nanepshemet. The
steamer. tonight, lies in practically the
same position as when she struck. with
two holds flooded from large rent in
her side She has settled by the head
considerably, as there is 80 feet OF wa
ter under her fore part and half that
depth under her stern at flood tide.
A gale blew off shore all day which
was better for the vessel than if heavy
incoming seas had struck her Both
the Warren Line superintendent and
the wrecking master have hopes of
floating her with little additional dam
age. The cargo is of a miscellaneous
character. much of a perishable ma
ture. consigned to Boston firms.
Tightening will begin, in the morning.
The Norseman came from Liverpool
under command of capt. Rees. with 1902
persons on board The Marble life
savers took off many of the crew.
while a pilot boat gave similar assist
ance. The accident caused little eX-
element on board and arrangements
were carried out in admirable shape.
Capt Rees and several of the officers
remain on board, tonight.
The Norseman left Liverpool, on
March Is, for Boston. She had pleas
ant passage all the way across, till
early this morning, when she encount-
cred the thick fog and heavy seas
which prevailed off the coast.
The fog was so dense that it was i'm
possible to get II bearing and there was
no indication of danger until she
struck the ledge.
CAPTAIN Reese at once ordered the
whistle to be sounded ard three guns
were fired as signals Of distress. For
long time apparently there was no
hope of rescue. The fog still hung
over the sea 50 dense that it was i'm
possible to see 20 feet from the yes
sci and the captain could not tell
where the steamer lay.
At daylight. however, Il life boat and
the heavy sea the boat could not come
within several rods of the steamer.
Holding his position there the captain
Of the crew Informed those on board
that they were the Marblehead life
savers and that the steamer was on
the ledge inside OF Tom Moore'S rock.
Captain Reese requested that those
on board be taken off. Capt. Giles of
the life savers stated he did not dare
come any nearer but that he would
return to shore and attempt the res
cue from there. AS there seemed to be
no immediate danger of further disas--
ter to the steamer Captain Reese as
turned to their station.
AS soon as possible the men were on
their way to Marblehead Neck with the
life saving apparatus. They took up
their position on the rocks off the
Nanepashemet hotel, and it was decid
ed to try the breaches buoy. The first
shot from the gun landed the line on
the steamer
Alfred Adams one of the cattlemen,
was brought ashore. Adams could give
but very little information as to the
accident. He stated that he was asleep
when the vessel struck, but the shock
awakened him. He hurried on deck
and was told that the steamer was
ashore. but that there was no imme
date danger. He states that every
thing was orderly. All the men were
used to sea travel and seemed to take
the accident much as a matter of
course.
AS soon as the vessel struck as thor
ough an examination as possible was
made, and it was found that great
hole had been stove in her hull and
that the water had reached the height
of several feet in her hold She seemed
to be fast and the seas were pounding
her heavily.
Between and o'clock the single
line between, the vessel and the shore
was in constant use. Captain Giles
had some hopes that he might be able
to get near the steamer in a boat, but
there was no apparent abatement in
the heavy sea and the captain thought
it advisable to send another line aboard
and rig a second breeches buoy. This
was done and the work of rescue was
continued.
Hundreds of old sea captains, resi-
dents of Marblehead, gathered on shore
to watch the life savers. When they
saw the beating of the waves upon the
vessels hull, they were of the unani-
nous opinion that she could not live
long in such sea, and that it was not
likely that she ever could be floated.
Capt johnson, superintendent of the
Warren Line, has made arrangements
for quarters for the crew at the At
lantic house. tonight At 4 o'clock to-
morrow morning, the men will return
on board the disabled steamer. Capt.
johnson says that with every man at
his post and perfectly conversant with
his duties the work of Tightening the