Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-04-10
HANCOCK CAPTAIN LOST.
Capt. r. b. Dix, of West fremont,
Goes Down with Schooner "Hyena''.

NOco DOWh WIN 9CnOOutE --1yeua.
The old Calais schooner "Hyenan was
wrecked at Eastern point, Gloucester,
Mass, just before daylight Sunday morn
ing. Within an hour after she struck on
the jagged rocks, the schooner had gone
to pieces. Two of the four men in the
crew-Elmer and Bennett Stanley, man
aged to reach shore and dragged their
half-drowned and bruised bodies up on
the rookie, but the skipper, Capt. r. B.
Dix, OF West fremont, and Steward Full
Ter, whose home is not known, failed to
gain the land, and were probably either
drowned or killed outright by being
dashed on the reefs.
The two battered sailors reached Glou-
cester Sunday morning, and after short
rest told the tale of the wreck. The
"Hyena", with 206 tons OF coal from Perth
Amboy for Calais, sailed out OF Vineyard
Haven early Saturday morning, and had
good weather until off Highland light,
when the wind freshened from the south
east, and 1t came on to rain. Captain Dix,
after standing some time to tine northeast,
decided to steer for Salem, and after
making out the Twin lights OF Cape Ann,
kept along shore, hoping to pick up
Eastern Point light, six miles to me west
ward.
1t was some time after midnight, Elmer
Stanley thinks about a. M, when he
sighted surf Of the starboard bow, but
ficient water, kept right on, until sud-
denly the waves were sighted breaking
right ahead.
The schooner was jibed over, but it was
too late, and great wave gathered her up
and threw her on the rocks just off
High Peoples at East Gloucester, mile
to the eastward OF Eastern point. The
schooner Immediately began to pound
and strain, and the crew hearing her
timb ers crashing, cleared away the only
boat in the hope OF reaching shore.
Bennett Stanley was the nearest to the
little craft, and as she bot bed up he
jumped in. The next wave parted the
painter and swept the boat far out of the
reach OF the other three men. Bennett
Stanley YVES in the boat scarcely minute
when 1t capsized, leaving him to battle
with the great surges among the jagged
rocks. Most miraculously, he was en-
abled to thread his way among the rocks
until he felt the beach beneath his feet.
Then came the terrible struggle with the
footing, and after a little while pulled
himself up beyond the sea.
When the vessels boat with Bennett
Stanley in her was washed away from the
"Hyena", Capt. Dix, with the other two
men, being driven forward by the heavy
seas which were sweeping the decks,
sought refuge on the bowsprit in the vain
hope that the schooner might hold to-
gether until morning, when the life sa-
vers would see her. But no ship, however
strong, could have long withstood the
fearful onslaught Of the seas, and within
short time one after another OF the
masts were carried away, until, finally, one
gigantic wave lifted the "Hyena" and lit
orally smashed her to pieces.
How Elmer Stanley, thrown like his
brother into the raging SURF managed
like him to finally reach shore, only a
Divine Providence knows. His struggle
against the undertow was as terrible as
that of his brother. Bennett soon joined
him, and the two men went to one of
the little houses at East Gloucester,
where they were cared for.
The two men fingered at the scene of
the wreck for some time in the hope that
the captain and the steward might reach
shore, but nothing was seen OF either.
The "Hyena" was one of the oldest ves-
sells engaged in the carrying trade on the
coast. She was built in St. George, Me-,
in 1861. She was retopped about five
years ago and has.always been considered
good strong craft. She was owned by
Howard Boardman, OF Calais. She was
ninety-five tons burden, ninety feet over
all and drew eight feet OF water. 1t is
thought that both the vessel and cargo
were insured.
Capt. Dix has a wife and a married
daughter in West fremont.