The Republican journal., 1901-01-31
WRECKED OFF CHATHAM.

Sch. E1ecta Bailey Total Loss Crew Saved.
CHATIl AM, Jan. u, 1901. The three
masted schooner Electa Bailey was
caught out in the blizzard which swept
up the coast yesterday and was driven
! ashore off IIarding's Beach lighthouse
last night Capt Clay and his crew of
| five men were rescued from the vessel
at noon to-day by Capt. Herbert Ell
dredge and crew of the Chatham life
saving station.
The schooner was sighted by the life
! saving crew soon after daylight, and
they at once launched the surf boat.
| There was ice many feet thick between
| the schooner and the shore, and this
! blocked their way for a time, but after
hard struggle they gained the passage
out into the bay, which was dashed in
! furious seas. To those on shore hud-
died together to watch the life-savers it
seemed as though the Inflated craft in
| the distant breakers. miles away. would
be swallowed up any minute.
Launching the boat at length into
clear water Capt. Eldredge made a
/ roundabout course almost circling the
| schooner. He was successful in get
/ ting the vessels crew into his boat, but
| ing on Chatham shore was impossible
and a course was made for Deep Hole
| shore. The boat finally reached South
| Chatham, landing the men in safety.
| The vessel was left to her own fate
/ The lifesavers were obliged to return
to their station by land.
| Capt. Clay of the stranded schooner
| was seen tonight He said:
1--WE were on our way from POOLS
Landing, Me-, for Portsmouth, Va,
with cargo of ice. When we had got
up off Chatham we struck Saturday s
| blizzard in all its fury. So | let the
craft drive before it over the shoals
We shortened sail as much as possible,
as she was unmanageable and all of us
on board could not steer her Hoping
to get into VINEYARD Sound we fought
for our lives. The only place that
looked good in that wild night was
Vineyard Haven harbor.
But our suffering and misery en-
countered off Chatham bar did not
make patch to what we went through
in the later hours. There was not a
man on board in condition to manage
the vessel in such bitter weather. Every
drop that was washed over the side
was soon frozen, the rigging and sails
were stiff, and not a rope would run. 1t
meant death to us all to remain on the
shoals, SO | squared her away through
the sound for Chatham roads, where
you find her to-day.
"That trip was an awful one. We
pounded ice all through it and it seemed
as if | never saw ice make so fast. The
wind blew furious and ripped the sails
right out of the bolt ropes. That night
we were in the sound, and had nearly
reached Cross Rip, when the seas board
ed us and nearly swamped the vessel.
All OF us on board were soaking wet,
which made the bitter cold of the night
more horrible.
after midnight we worked the YES
| sci in near the anchorage northwest of
| the Handkerchief shoals. Here we
chopped ice for hours, and after getting
the anchors over we were Mortified to see
the chains snap off like wrapping Irvine.
Then l put the helpless craft before the
gale and we are all thankful to get out
OF her alive. We are all frost-bitten,
and it was the worst trip of my seafar-
ing life.
collector of Customs Bearse of this
port at once sent me assistance, and
this, it is thought, will save the mer
from permanent injury. They are all
| harbored safely in farmhouse tonight
The vessel lies in bad position, and
the crew will po tn RoSton tn mnrrou -