Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-02-16
Now Hard and Fast on the
Rocks at Cattyhunk.
The Steamer Will Probably Be a Total
Loss--AlI Saved.
Rest q Wm. lawrcnce's Crew Sate-Oiher
Wrecks and Disasters.

sengers on board were safely transfer
red to the steamer John j. Hill, which
came up, this afternoon, and with their
baggage, and the mail, were taken to
Newport. II. l., from which point they
were brought to this city. this evening.
by special train over the New York.
New Haven & Hartford.
Capt McGrath and the officers and
crew Of the vessel Still remain on
hoard and every effort will be made to
save the vessel. but as she lies in a
very exposed position and a large hole
in her bottom, any severe blow from
the southeast will undoubtedly cause
her To go To pieces.
The cause of the wreck has not yet
been fully determined although all the
passengers agree that there was mist
on the wafer at the time the vessel
struck.
The Dewey left Port Antonio, Feb. 10.
having on board besides the passen-
gers. a very large cargo of fruit. She
experienced good weather until off the
Delaware Capes. when the storm of
Sunday struck her and for IS hours she
had a fearful battle with terrific seas.
On Monday. a terrific wave boarded
the steamer, and the qnartermaster
John Anderson. Swede. was swept
overheard and lost.
The weather calmed considerably.
yesterday, and the steamer made good
progress. Block island. South East
light was sighted about midnight and
the Dewey was then headed over to-
ward Gay Head. The steamer had not
run very far before a thick mist began
to rise from the water. and enveloped
her. and with the heavy masses of ice
floating out Of Vineyard Sound, navi-
CATION became difficult.
The entrance to Vineyard Sound is
about six miles wide, from Gay Head
on the south to Cuttyhunk on the north
on the south to Cuttyhunk on the north.
Three miles west of Cuttyhunk is the
Vineyard Sound lightship, equipped
equipped with steam fog whistle, but
for some reason, probably because the
mist was so light. the whistle was MOI
sounding when the Dewey went by
Capt. McGrath was on the bridge as
the steamer, under reduced speed ap-
preached the entrance to the sound,
and there was the usual lookout for
ward.
For some unknown reason the light
ship was missed entirely or disregard
ed. for, instead Of shaping her course
after passing it, a little north of east
the Dewey was headed considerably
north of northeast and after running
in that direction few minutes
brought up sharp on the Lodges on the
south side of Cuttyhunk island.
The weather at the time was calm
and with only an ordinary sea break
ing on the rocks. SO that there was no
immediate danger of the vessel going
to pieces. The steamer began making
water, however, and within two hours
there was 10 feet of water in the hold.
While the shock of striking was not
severe, it was sufficient to awaken
every one on board. but there was lit
tie excitement. the passengers dressing
and remaining quietly on deck, waiting
developments.
Within short time after the Dewey
went ashore the famous Cuttyhunk life
saving crew came off in their boat and
offered to take the passengers ashore,
but as Cuttyhunk is a small and bleak
island. some 90 miles from the NAM
land, all the passengers elected to stay
on board until some better means wa,
offered of reaching their homes.
Two boats were dispatched at day
nreak up vineyard SOUND with direc-
IONS 10 iahd at WOOD Hole. and wire
Tue company once III Inns CITY Tor as
sis'arce.
A few hours after they had left the
ship, the thited States cruiser Topeka
was sighted coming from the westward
and signals of distress We're set to attract
her attention. The Topeka after round
ing the Vineyard Sound lightship not :
miles off, at 10 O'Clock i'm the morning
with the air perfectly clear. instead OF
answering the Dewey's signals, steamed
rapidly by and soon disappeared up the
sound On the way mp, when off Tarpan
lin Cave, the Topeka overlook the Dew
ey's life boats and taking the crew OF
board dropped them within a mile o.
Woods Hole. where they rowed ashore
and wired this city for help.
At this time there were two tugs "a
Woods Hole. xhe Dudley Pray and th'
Herald, and both Immediately starte'
down the sound for the wreck. Befor
they arrived, however. the collier John J
TIMl. bound up from Norfolk. was sighted
but unlike the Topeka, she immediatel.
answered the Dewey's signals for help
The work Of transferring the passenger