Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-03-18
Sighted by ResCuers, Who Hasten in Effort
to Avert Death.
FIVE ON THE EkIM VI, eAz.sE LOST
Scene Of Disaster is in Tide ~F
kOnOnoy Point.
ADVERSE WIND CAUSES THE ACCIDENT
Defeats Every Attempt of Skilled
Seamen 20 Reach stranded Barge
and Finally Capsises the
Salvage Boat.

CHATHAM. Mass. March 17.-By the cap
sizing Of a lifeboat today seven hfessvers,
practically the entire crew of the Monomoy
station on the south Of Cape Cod, met
death al their post Of duty, and with them
into the sea went FIVE men from the
stranded barge wadena, whom they tried to
bring in safety to the shore. one man,
Jemuel Ellis. through the heroic work Of
Cautain Elmer Mayo. Of another stranded
barge, John c. Fitzpatrick, was rescued
from the bottom Of the unturned lifeboat.
Among those lost was William H. Mack
OF Cleveland, O., who was on the barge
rspresenting his company, the Boutelle
Towing and Transportation company OF that
city, while Captain Marshall V. Eldredge.
one Of the Oldest lifesavers OF the coast
went down with his men. All the lifesay-
ers came from Chatham and Harwich.
The names Of the lost are nfesavers:
MARSHALL W. ELBREGE. keeper,
South Chatham.
EDGAR SMALL. Harwich.
ELIJAH KENDRICK, Harwich.
OSBORNE CHASE. Harwich.
ARTHUR ROGERS, North Harwich.
ISAAC THOMAS FoYE. South Chatham.
NALEN RA0hbIN0O4Ns L1AINANh-
From the barge:
WILLIAM II. MACK, Cleveland.
CAPTAIN CHRISTIAN OLSEN, Boston.
ROBERT MOLENAUX, Boston, steward OF
tug Peter Smith.
WALTER A. sEVEDGE, Cottage City.
MANUEL ENos, Cottage City.
scene of Disaster.
The scene OF the accident was in the we'll
known tide rips on Monomoy Point. which
makes down from Chatham into Nantucket
sound.
Last Thursday the barges wadena and
John c. Fitzpatrick. on the way to Boston,
with chrgoes OF coal stranded on the Show
elful shoal about three-quarters OF a mile
on Monomoy Point. Since then every ef-
b fort has be- u made to float the barges and
all day Saturday and Sunday men from
Vineyard Haven were at work throwing coal
overheard from both of them
Last night the tug Peter C. Smith. which
has been laying beside the barges. ran
alongside Wadsna and told those on board
that a storm was coming on.
All the wreekers were taken on board
the tug with the exception OF the FIVE men
who met their fate today. Mr.. Mack. who
had come on from Cleveland, refused TO
leave and ordered the captain OF Smith to
anchor nearby.
Tries 10 Notify Life savers.
About o'clock. the weather growing
very thick the captain OF the tug decided
70 run into Hyannis. Upon arrival there
the captain tried in vain to notify the
Monomoy lifesavers that there were five
men left on board Wadena, which, being
farther out on the shoal was in a more
dangerous place than Fitzpatrick.
This forenoon Captain Eldredge. who had
been watching the barges. sighted signals
of distress on wRdenR. He got out his
crew and surfboat. The wind was blowing
nearly n gale from the southeast. so prepar-
ations were made 10 launch the boat on the
tnside Of the point where the water was
smooth. The crew had no difhculty in get.
ting on. but after rounding the point II
took nearly an hour to reach the barge By
that time the tide had turned 70 the east.
ward and a fierce cross sea had been kicket
up. Captain Eldredge steered the lifeboai
under the lee OF Wadena and one after an.
other the i've men dropped into the boat
Looking for smooth spots.
With the wind astern. it seemed com
paratively easy 10 gain the smooth wateri
behind the point. The seas were tossing
and turning in the rips. and Captain FL
dredge wss constantly looking for smootl
spots. When about half way in he though
he discovered one over what is called
hole and the boat was Sheered on for it
As Il did so q tremendous sea caught 1
over the stern and 1t went over. throwing
all the men into the water. Being used u
the sea all the life savers elung to tn
boat and managed TO pull the Wadena me-
along with them
An atterupt was made 10 right the boat
but. although all lfeboats are supple
with cork gunWales, they are heavy, and
being fun Of water. the life savers onl
managed TO get It partially cleared. The
had some hope. however. Of reaching Ian
until another wave again eapsiEed the boai
Mr. Mack was the first TO snccumb. an
one BY one the others dropped away unit
there were only four left and these climbe
on the bottom OF the overturned boat.
All Men Exhausted
All were fearfully exhausted. The fou
men drifted down in the direction OF FitI
patrick. where Captain Mayo Of that boa
caught sight Of them. With much DARN
he dropped q dory overheard. then. jump
ang into IL. started after the exhsuste
men Before he reached the lifeboat thre
OF the men had fallen into the sea Eli
managed TO hold on and caught the rop
which Captain Mayo threw 10 him. He va
draEged aboard and then Captain Mayo. be
ang an expert surfmAn. pulled around n
boint into the smooth water and landed n
only survivor Of the thirteen who stErte
from the barge.
Ellis Was too exhausted TO give any ~
curate account of his experiences for ~
or three hours after getting ashore ana d