The Portland daily press., 1899-09-06
Disaster Witnessed Only
BY a Few.
Yacht Supposed to Have Been
Carrying Too Much Sail.

Bath. September 5.-The yacht Ahadia,
owned by DR.. John II. Steadman, was
capsized In Sheepscot bay yesterday and
five persons drowned. The victims were.
DIR. John H.lSteadman, William Mason,
aged 10, Harry Higgins, 10 years, and
Frank Avery, aged "a, all OF Georgetown.
and James Martin, aged 81, Of Boston,
employed by Joel Goldthwaits company.
They had been the guests Of DR.. Stead
man during the summer.
The accident occurred between III O.
Mahon island and Nursery lodges, about
a quarter of mile from shore. The
yacht laft the Five Islassd hArbor yesssr-
day afternoon 10 company with aest of
other boats which had been there to the
races. DIR. SteadmAn's boat was under
full sail while the other craft were reefed
down on account of the breeze. The boats
became separated and none of them was
within hailing distance when she cap
sized and went down in five fathoms of
water.
The first news at Five islands about
the accident was given by little boy
named Hartford. who was up ON the hill
and saw the boat oapsIzs and go down.
Ii Is also said that there were eyewit-
nesses Of the frightful catastrophe at
MacMahans, Wegtport and Dog Fish
Head, but before any assistance could be
rendered the boat aud Its occupants had
disappeared.
MIR. Kendall of Bowdoinham saw the
boat from the piazza of Georgetown
cottage. He noticed that she was having
disagrseable experience out In the bay
and although not prepared to see her go
down, followed her movements with
some anxiety.
Suddenly he saw the yacht roll heavily,
slightly recover herself, and then capsize.
The yacht sank at once. In moment
there was no sign of the Ahadia or her
passengers upon the surface Of the bay.
Shortly afterwards the steam yacht
Louise Of Bath. Capt. Tarbox, which
was cruising in that vicinity, visited the
scene Of the accident but could find no
trace of the boat or her occupants. Soon
quite fest of coats arrived, hoping to
find survivor, tut the search was In
ain.
Last evening parties began sweepin
the bay with grapples to recover the
bodies and the work was continued this
forenoon. but according TO the last reports
nothing has been found.
A Bath yachtsman who was at Five
islands yesterday says that DIR. Stead
mans yacht was the only one In the har-
bor that carried full sail.
1t Is supposed that DR.. Steadman in
sailing home avoided the Little Sheep
scot river. which ia the usual course. be-
cause he hoped for a steadier breeze out
side. Then In going through Gooss Rock
passage 1t Is likely that a squall struck
the boat without warning. and, having
full sail on, there was nothing that could
keep her from capsizing.
DR.. Steadman was about 60 years Of
age and during his long residence in
Georgetown had become acquainted with
practically all the people of the town. He
was popular man and WAS well beloved
by his neighbors.
The ill-fated Ahadia was built by
DIR. Steadman himself. The boat was
about 25 feet long ON the water line and
a good sailer. While the doctor was thor
oughiy experienced In sailing the boat
there are many who questioned his judg-
ment In bad weather.
Mrs. Steadman was completely pros
trated by the ews of her husbands
death, Besides the widow, DR.. Stead
man leaves one son who ID In the Waak